Kamari Koonce
Although Hanyang tries its best to accommodate exchange students and make the transition into living in Korea a little easier with Buddy Programs and Orientation, there are some critical things that I think they are missing. In this article, I will share with you some information that I found to be missing from the more formal activities that are provided on campus.
- Printing Services on Campus
There are a few places that I have found that can print for you on campus. The most convenient place is Hanyang Plaza. At the back of the Plaza there is a station that can print in black and white or color for you. While white and black is only 50 won per sheet, the color printing will obviously cost slightly more at about 100 won. You can use computer lounges as well, but the printing system can be different from each other.
- Meal Plans
If you’re from North America, you may be familiar with meal plans. These meal plans allow you to purchase for a one-time payment a semester of meal plans, so it eliminates the need to pay each time you have a meal at the cafeterias on campus. At Hanyang, this is not the case unfortunately. Even though there may not be an official meal plan there are affordable eating options that may work for you. The Residence Hall where you checked in for orientation serves meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for only 3,300 won. I find these meals really tasty, but the only downside is that there is only one meal that you can buy here. To make up for this lack of variety, you should head over to the Business school cafeteria. Normally I would never recommend an on-campus large scale cafeteria back home because the food is usually bland or questionable. I find that the Business school cafeteria has many different options ranging from 3,000 won to 5,000 won and everything seems to be home-cooked rather than pre-frozen. Lastly, Hanyang Plaza offers a variety of food with similar price ranges and is in a more central location.
- Converter/Adapter
Before I came to Korea I brought along both a converter and adapter to make sure that I would be able to use my American products with the Korean wall sockets. For some reason the one I brought along stopped working. You can find a converter/adapter or pretty much anything else you may need at the nearby E-mart at Wangsimni station. Unless your device can handle the 220v charge in Korea, it will fry without a proper adapter.
- Laundry
If you decide to live on campus all of the dorms are equipped with laundry facilities. These facilities are located at the basement level of the dorm. If you’re living in an on-campus apartment, then they usually have the laundry room in your unit. If you live in a flat without any laundry rooms, look for coin laundry places around you because they have started to become popular in Korea.
- Pictures for Your ARC
Finally, I want to talk about the Alien Registration Card. The Alien Registration Card allows you to stay in Korea for longer than 90 days and is required for you to receive once you are in Korea (in addition to your visa). There are two places that you can take the 4×11 picture that will be easy and affordable. You can take the picture at any of the photo booths located in the subway stations. I noticed there is one in the Wangsimni station exit 4 entrance for 10,000 won. The other way is at the Immigration Office where you will travel to receive your ARC. Simply head there earlier than your scheduled appointment time and take a picture at the photobooth in the Shinah Bank (all in the Immigration Office Building) for 8,000 won.
myHUBS 
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