Thank God it's Thursday! It's the end of my third week of school. I go to school on Monday-Thursday only btw. I'm left with 1 assignment for both my modules so it's all good.

Do you know that during summer, days are longer than nights. The sun rises at 0515 and sets at 2000 hours. That's right, I have to wake up before 5 for Subuh prayers. Definitely something different from my routine back at home.  Alhamdulillah there's a musolla in school.

I am taking 2 modules. Digital Studio as my unrestricted elective and Engine Communication 2 as my GER-Core. Each student is allowed to take a maximum of 3 modules. There are 3 slots of lessons per day: morning, afternoon and evening. My classes are in the afternoon and evening, 1300-1600 and 1600-1900. My classes always end half an hour early anyway so it's not that bad.

On a typical weekday, I will prepare a sandwich for lunch. It's almost the same thing every day, just that I alternate the meat between chicken breast and sliced beef. The ingredients are basically bread + meat + tomato + lettuce + cheese + chilli. I don't get sick of eating the same thing every day but on the contrary, I actually crave for subway 6-inch sub so bad?? No, it's not that my sandwich sucks. I love it. I think I am sick of the same ingredients hahaha. Anyway, I finally get to season my own meat hahahahaha. I've always wanted to do it back at home if I ever need extra protein but you know, my mum cooks meat/fish every day so my protein intake is pretty much settled. Grateful for the opportunity to prepare my own lunch here.

Anyway, it takes at least 30mins to get to school from where I'm staying. It only takes a few minutes walk to go to the nearest train station. I alight at a station right outside school so it's all cool ahaha geddit kk diam sudah. Upon reaching school, I head to the gym for a workout. Only on certain days. The monthly gym membership here costs around $35 which is below the market price in SG so I didn't think twice when I signed up for it. Of course I wish I get to gym for free like how I do in NTU oh well. The gym here is complete anyway so it's really worth the money.

Enough about my daily routine. The weekends have been great. I rarely go out with my housemates cos I don't vibe with them much. I mean I hardly consider them as friends though but more of acquaintances, sad to say. Thus, I go out with my Seoul sisters mostly. I have yet to hike here but so far I have been to places I'd love to go so it's all good too alhamdulillah!

Last but not least, it's absurd how I experience different phases of feelings here. 

Week 1 was more of eagerness to begin school and explore Korea, while settling down into our routine at the same time.

Week 2 was more of "I'm more of less settled down and I enjoy the sights and sounds of Seoul thus far," kind of thing. At the same time, the feeling of how you are halfway through this trip begins to sink in and you feel helpless.

Week 3, which is the present moment, is more of "I can't wait to end school and you know actually go back to Singapore." Yeah. Part of it is our homesickness and at the same time we are just drained from school. It's also draining to stay in a place together with guys who I don't really vibe with but you know, just another 10 days left so it will eventually pass.

All in all, alhamdulillah for this exchange. I didn't think I'd actually go for one but I don't regret it. 1 month is just nice as compared to a 5-month semester exchange. I doubt I will visit Seoul again for a holiday unless my future spouse insists lol. With that, I look forward to be home and make the most out of my remaining time here. Till then, assalamualaikum!

sister #1

Meerkat Cafe @ Hongdae!

Greetings from Seoul! It's almost a week since I landed here. I finally get to blog cos it's malam Jumaat which means I'm done with school for the week. Oh and also, I am finally alone in the apartment. Blessed.

It has been rather tough settling down for the past week. As much as I prefer staying alone (or in a guesthouse at least), I admit that it is indeed handy to have some company staying with me. Especially when it comes to cooking hehehe.

We had planned to eat out on weekends and cook on weekdays. I have learnt a lot from my friends who are more knowledgeable in cooking so far. It has been the best take away yet. I don't think I'll get the chance to cook back at home cos there's always food at home prepared by my mum. Alhamdulillah for the rezeki. 

On another note, I realise that my time here is a much needed time to move on from the rejection I had in the first half of the year. I can't run away from reality. I try as much as I want to escape from reality but the truth is, it will be back to hurt me. I ought to embrace it rather than avoid it. There really is no other way. I know that everything happens out of Allah's wills and He is indeed the best planner. Sad to say, as long as I have yet to see the good (hikmah) behind it all, I will end up questioning my fate whenever my iman is low. Astarghfirullahalazim :(

Dear self. Take your time to heal. You may not see it now but something beautiful will happen when the time is right. Whenever you feel low, you have Allah to listen to you. I believe in you and in Allah I trust.

With that, I look forward to exploring Seoul alone or with people who I vibe with. If anyone wants to get anything here let me know ya. Face masks, shoes, clothes or whatsoever. If you want jungkook, jimin or DPR then I will try my best la ok no promises. 

Peace be upon you.