Where I live and where she lives look very different, even though they're both in Sinchon.
The biggest change I've had to learn is the recycling system. I am from San Francisco and am used to composting and recycling, but Seoul manages waste differently. While San Francisco and all of California utilize waste bins—blue for recyclables, green for compost, and black for waste— Seoul places their trash on the street, just like New York City. The colors of the bags are different. Blue is for plastics, paper, and cans, but each category must be separated into different bags. Tiny yellow bags are used for food waste, but instead of leaving the food waste on the counter, we place them in the freezer to halt the waste's decomposition. Pink bags are used for any other waste that does not fit the categories listed above. Trash pick up is on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Sometimes my housemates and I get confused about how to properly treat our garbage. If you fail to correctly separate your trash, you receive a hefty fine!
In all, I enjoy where I live. It is close to nightlife and provides many restaurants—some that are open 24 hours—for me to enjoy. One bus stop away, or a 15-minute walk, is the district of Hongdae, which is very popular for its nightlife. If I need school supplies, clothes, beauty products, or even a haircut, Sinchon has it all! There are even arcade and PC places (called PC bangs)! There are always festivals and events happening each week. There is even a public piano that anyone can play on! I am never bored and am a close distance away from my school. Most importantly, it is incredibly safe to walk the streets at night. People are always moving and are awake. I am lucky to live in such a cool district!
