The hum of the airplane engine was a soothing backdrop as Hana adjusted her seatbelt. The announcement in Korean and English signaled their descent into Incheon International Airport, and the realization struck: they were about to step into Seoul, the city they had dreamt of for months.
"You guys ready?" Hana asked, glancing at her friends.
Ananya nodded eagerly. "Ready? I've been ready since Professor Chen gave us the green light!"
Lila grinned, fixing her hair in the reflection of the plane's window. "This is it, ladies—our movie moment. Cue the epic soundtrack!"
Izzy, however, looked out of the window with a mix of excitement and trepidation. "It's going to be... different," she said, almost to herself.
"It's going to be amazing," Hana reassured her, reaching over to give her hand a light squeeze.
Stepping off the plane felt like entering another world. The airport's sleek, modern design gleamed under bright lights, and signs in Korean and English guided travelers through its vast halls. A wave of new sounds, sights, and scents hit them simultaneously, leaving the four women momentarily breathless.
"Wow," Lila whispered, taking it all in. "This is nothing like JFK."
"Or Lagos," Izzy added, her voice tinged with awe.
Ananya was already snapping photos. "The architecture here is incredible. And the efficiency—did you see how fast we got through customs?"
Hana chuckled. "Welcome to Korea, where everything runs like clockwork."
Their first hurdle was navigating the airport transportation system to reach their accommodation in central Seoul. Armed with Professor Chen's tips and a few translations saved on their phones, they approached the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) station.
"This way," Hana said, pointing to a sign.
Ananya frowned at the ticket machine, mumbling, "Why is everything in Hangul first? Where's the English button?"
Lila leaned over. "Found it! See, we'll survive this."
Izzy raised an eyebrow. "Barely. I already miss home where I understand everything at once."
Despite minor hiccups, they managed to purchase tickets and board the train. As the sleek carriage sped toward Seoul Station, the city began to unfold outside the windows. Towering skyscrapers interspersed with traditional-style roofs, neon signs flashing vibrant colors, and streets teeming with life created a mesmerizing mosaic.
The moment they stepped onto the streets of Seoul, the bustling energy engulfed them. Cars honked, pedestrians hurried by, and the faint smell of street food wafted through the air.
"Wow," Lila said, spinning around to take in their surroundings. "This is alive."
Ananya pointed at a nearby food stall. "Look at that! Tteokbokki, right? Spicy rice cakes? I can't wait to try it."
"After we drop our bags," Hana said firmly, gesturing toward a taxi stand.
The ride to their Airbnb was a mix of awe and disorientation. The driver chatted politely in Korean, and while Hana could manage basic responses, the rest of the group relied on her entirely.
"I really need to pick up some phrases," Ananya admitted.
"Yeah," Lila added. "Hana's our lifeline, and we can't let her do all the heavy lifting."
Izzy, watching the city zoom past, muttered, "I feel like an outsider already."
Hana turned to her. "That's normal at first. Give it time."
Their accommodation was a cozy hanok-style guesthouse tucked in a quiet alley of Bukchon Hanok Village. Stepping through the wooden gate, the girls were greeted by a small courtyard with a traditional Korean garden.
"This is incredible," Ananya said, running her fingers along the intricate wooden carvings on the doorframe.
"It feels like stepping back in time," Izzy added, visibly relaxing for the first time since their arrival.
The owner, a middle-aged woman named Mrs. Kim, greeted them warmly in Korean. Hana translated, and soon, they were settled into their shared room, the floor heated by the traditional ondol system.
"This is so different from the hotels I imagined," Lila said, lying on the floor mat.
"Better," Hana replied. "This is authentic."
After a quick freshening up, the group ventured back out, determined to explore despite their exhaustion. Myeongdong, Seoul's famous shopping district, was their first stop.
The streets pulsed with energy, packed with vendors selling everything from steaming dumplings to trendy clothes and cosmetics. Bright neon signs blinked overhead, and K-pop blared from every corner.
Ananya was the first to dive in, pulling Izzy toward a stall selling face masks. "We have to try these! Korean skincare is legendary."
"I'm more interested in food," Izzy countered, her eyes lighting up at the sight of skewered meat grilling over an open flame.
Lila, meanwhile, twirled in front of a street mirror wearing a colorful hanbok-inspired jacket she found at another stall. "What do you think? Too much?"
Hana laughed. "It's very... you."
Amid the excitement, they couldn't escape moments of culture shock. Vendors spoke rapidly in Korean, leaving them scrambling to understand. A few locals stared, curious about the diverse group of foreigners navigating their world.
At one point, Izzy bristled after an older woman muttered something while looking at her. "What did she say, Hana?"
Hana hesitated, then said gently, "It wasn't rude. She just said you're beautiful, but she's not used to seeing someone like you here."
Izzy relaxed slightly. "Well, that's... something."
Ananya put an arm around her. "You're stunning, Izzy. Let them stare."
As the evening wore on, the friends found themselves at a street food stall, seated on tiny stools, devouring plates of tteokbokki, kimbap, and hotteok.
"This," Ananya said, her mouth full, "is heaven."
"It's spicy," Lila said, fanning her mouth but still reaching for another bite.
Hana glanced around at her friends, feeling a swell of pride. They had made it. This was the beginning of something extraordinary.
Back at the hanok, the exhaustion finally hit. The girls sprawled out on their mats, talking quietly in the dim light.
"Seoul is... overwhelming," Izzy admitted, staring at the wooden beams of the ceiling.
"In the best way," Lila added, her voice tinged with excitement.
Ananya turned to Hana. "What about you? How does it feel to be here, considering your roots?"
Hana thought for a moment. "It's familiar but foreign. Like I belong and don't belong all at once. I guess that's what I came here to figure out."
Silence fell over the room as the girls drifted off, each lost in their thoughts.
Outside, the city buzzed on, a relentless, vibrant force that promised to challenge and change them in ways they couldn't yet imagine.