Flying to Seoul…

My five-week trip to South Korea!

In the summer of 2022, I got selected to travel to Seoul as part of an exchange programme. And this is how it went…

Airport Arrival

Somehow, even though I arrived at Heathrow eight hours early due to train strikes, I still nearly missed my flight! All students from our university departing on that day met in cafe Nero to say hi and ease our nerves. People were friendly; we all shared the same excitement and anticipation of what awaited us on the other side of the world.

As we gathered in the bustling cafe, the air was filled with a mixture of nervous chatter and laughter. Some students sipped on their coffees, while others indulged in sweet treats to alleviate the pre-flight jitters. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of baristas expertly grinding beans provided a comforting backdrop to our conversations. Amidst the sea of excited faces, I recognised no one but we all were in the same boat.

As departure time approached, the collective restlessness grew. We anxiously checked our watches, eager to board the plane and begin this new chapter of our lives. Some students meticulously weighed their suitcases, ensuring they met the airlines’ strict weight restrictions, while others frantically stuffed last-minute essentials into their backpacks.

The baggage drop process proved to be a test of patience. The queues snaked through the departure hall, filled with students and their oversized suitcases. The airport’s air conditioning struggled to keep up with the influx of travellers, making the surroundings hot and stuffy. I could feel the beads of sweat forming on my forehead as my backpack clung to my damp shirt.

Time seemed to crawl as we waited, growing more anxious with each passing minute. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we reached the security checkpoint. We glanced nervously at the departure boards, fully prepared for a delayed flight announcement due to the baggage hold-up.

The rush to the gate

To our simultaneous relief and panic, our flight number suddenly flashed on the screen, accompanied by the announcement of “final call for all remaining passengers.” Panic set in as we hurriedly collected our belongings from the security trays. The “dad” of our group—a petite girl with a baseball cap and glasses—rushed ahead toward the gate, intent on securing our seats. However, myself and another girl couldn’t bear to leave behind two Chinese girls in our group who were being questioned and wore confused expressions on their faces.

With our hearts pounding and a sense of urgency, we followed the signs leading to the departure gate, hoping that somehow, we would make it onto the plane before it took off. My chest felt like it was caving in, an asthma attack on the horizon. Me and another girl, Elsa, decided to ask someone to drive us to the gate in one of those airport carts, but it seemed even slower than walking!

In the end, we managed to reach the gate just in time, panting and flushed from the adrenaline rush. We all separated to our different seats; I was in the window seat stuffed next to an unfairly attractive and adorable Korean couple. The flight attendants offered us small cups of water, but it did not seem to quench the thirst built up from running across Heathrow airport. I guess it really was going to be an adventure…

Read my post about Korea on the Manchester on the Road blog!