Han River, Seoul, South Korea

While I was teaching overseas, I moved all over and I returned to Seoul, South Korea to teach on the USA Army Post (Yongsan) several times.   The last time that I lived there, I was in a fairly new high-rise apartment building, that was only about 4 years old, that was very close to the base.   I selected it because, there were many 'traffic lights' on the route that I would drive to get to the base/to work.  This made it a 'safe' driving route and I also lived close enough that I could walk to work in 30 minutes if I needed to do so.

That is very important in Seoul, South Korea.  I was also only about 1 1/2- 2 blocks away from a subway stop, lots of places to eat, and I have a lovely view from all windows of the Han River.  

This is the long hallway of my apartment building.   The open door at the far end of the hallway, straight back, was a guest bedroom and there was another one on the right hand side (can't really see it in this photo).   The guest bathroom is the door frame on the left side at the far end of the hallway-

The door frame on the left side (closest to the viewer) was the little entrance area to my bedroom. 

The 'no doorway' entrance, far back, on the left AFTER the standing open door... was the open area to the doorway to the lobby.   You stepped down into this tiny room.   My favorite part was the floor to ceiling storage cabinets (lovely woodwork) that was floor to ceiling shoe storage!   In Asia, you take your outside shoes off at the entrance to the door (or usually outside the apartment door in the hallway) they are not worn in the house/apartment.  You could tell if someone had lots of company or a party- there would be lots of shoes in the hallway outside their doorway.

 If shoes are needed inside- there are 'inside' only shoes to wear.  I also used these shelves for holiday storage/etc.  This area was big enough that I had a small bench along one wall.  

The door that you see on the far right (closest to the viewer) went to the dining room/kitchen area.  It was a huge room.   The areas that you don't see was the entrance to the master bedroom/bath/walk in closet area and the living room. 

I had bamboo floors throughout the apartment.   The key was a magnetic key that you scanned at the outside door panel or you could impute a code and the door could be opened that way.   Some apartment buildings had 'fingerprints' used for entrance.  My favorite part of the apartment were the views and the HEATED FLOORS throughout the entire apartment.   The underground parking and fast elevators were nice too.

This was the view out the laundry room off the kitchen. The following are views out the living room windows (my bedroom views were just a little further to the right of this photo). This is a rare clear day.  I thought that this was a nice photo of the sunrays.   The US Army helicopter is a nice touch. There was a big park area right below my apartment building.  You can see some of the green park at the bottom of this photo. You can see the effects of the air pollution here.   Many days, the air pollution (mostly from China's uncontrolled air pollution) made it impossible to see any of these buildings. To the far right of the buildings on the right side of the photo was a huge 6-8 lane interstate looking highway.   Lots of traffic.   My apartment complex was owned by the LG Corporation.   There were 10 buildings in our apartment complex, beautiful grounds, and it was very quiet. Across from my building was a building that was fairly close to me- not so close that you could see the residents inside.   Most of the newer apartments in Seoul have balconies that are actually along the outside glass walls.   It helps keep the cold and heat out- because, they are about 6-8 feet wide and big enough that you could use them for storage, a small office, a laundry room (that's where my laundry room was located off the kitchen in one of the balcony areas.)  It also keeps people from looking directly into your apartment.   Yet, while you are in the apartment- you have a clear view of outside since everything is glass.   You could keep the sliding glass doors to your balcony open to add extra space to the actual inside living areas if you wanted to do so.  The building that was the closest to me, had an apartment that was about 42-3 stories below my apartment and I would often see a Korean man working with a lamp, in the early morning hours, on his 'balcony turned into an office'... I also had a private balcony off all of the bedrooms.   The actual glass windows would slide open for air breezes on the balconies - but, they were tilted outwards for safety.   The rooms had floor to ceiling glass which gave you great views.   I did sew some 'light blocking' curtains for my bedroom that closed off the master bedroom balcony- I didn't want the sunlight to wake me up on the weekends when I could sleep in a little later than on school/work days. No problem finding the fabric because all I had to do was go to the 5 story fabric building in Tondaemun Market.     I enjoyed every location that I lived in while I was teaching overseas for 27 years.  I always enjoyed being in Seoul, South Korea.   I was there, I think 4 different times? I made many good friends, dated some really nice military men, taught wonderful students, and the shopping was always great.   It was also fun and challenging to live in a city of 16 million people.   I enjoyed the subways and I knew my way around markets very well.     It was quite an adventure living there.   I think also because it was SO DIFFERENT from the states- that it helped forge bonds of friendship with other Americans associated with the base?  The base also did a great job with activities for those deployed there.   I have many good memories of being there.   I will continue to add photos from my time in Seoul off and on.     Farewell, Seoul, South Korea...  you and my friends, from my time there, will always be in my heart.