You don’t need to be completely fluent in a language to communicate with locals. I realized that I would be interacting a lot with store clerks and restaurant workers while in Seoul. That’s why I decided to learn simple phrases that would make these interactions easier and put less pressure on the other person to speak English. Learning basic phrases such as “Can I have this please?” or “Where is the bathroom?” can make you feel more connected to your environment and will show locals that you respect and are interested in their language! As obvious as it may sound, it’s important to keep in mind that people’s English skills vary when you are not in a native English-speaking country. Before resorting to speaking English, try to use the local language. Even if it doesn’t sound perfect, people will usually understand what you are trying to say.
I give myself unstructured time to just explore. Due to resources like TripAdvisor and online blogs, it’s easy to spend all of your time going to the most highly reviewed or recommended places. I would suggest, however, that you spend time just walking around and exploring! Of course, this advice doesn’t apply to all places, but big cities are generally easy to walk around in and have lots of things to see. Taking a walk around your neighborhood and noticing the local people, eateries and pace of life can be just as interesting as seeing the big tourist attractions. You may stumble upon a hidden gem that the Internet hasn’t discovered yet! In my neighborhood of Sinchon, I found a local cafe that was built into an archery range! I’ve also found small clothing boutiques that are owned by local designers.
Integrating into a new community is a difficult task, but it’s very rewarding.
