Finding Comfort in the Little Things: Small Joys While Studying Abroad in Seoul

Studying abroad in Seoul through CIEE at Yonsei University has been a whirlwind of neon lights, late-night study sessions, and the kind of growth that only comes from being far from home. But between the excitement, there are moments, quiet, unexpected, when homesickness settles in.

I’ve learned that the cure isn’t always grand gestures or forced adventure. Sometimes, the smallest, the mundane, the fleeting, bring comfort into each day.

Here are a few fragments of my life here that keep me steady:

1. A Familiar Cup of Coffee

The first sip of bitter-sweet iced americano, condensation dripping onto my fingertips as I walk to class. The same order every morning, a ritual as steady as my heartbeat. The barista at the corner shop nods at me now—ah, you again. A tiny anchor in this bustling city.

2. The Warmth of a Convenience Store at 2 AM

When the dorm feels too quiet, I slip downstairs to the glow of the CU across the street. The hum of the refrigerator, the rustle of snack bags, the ding of the microwave as it spins a triangle kimbap. It’s not home, but in the soft yellow light, with a hot cup of corn tea between my palms, it’s something close.

3. Walking Without a Destination

Seoul is a city that rewards wanderers. Some days, I let my feet decide, walking past hanok houses with tiled roofs, under strings of fairy lights in hidden alleys, through the murmur of students in Sinchon. No map, no plan. Just the rhythm of my steps and the city moving around me.

4. Calling Home… But Not Too Much

I’ve learned to hold my homesickness gently. A voice note from my friend. A photo of my dog. A ten-minute call where we talk about nothing—What did you eat today? Is it cold there?—just to hear the familiar sound of laughter. Then, I tuck the warmth of it away and step back into my Seoul life.

5. Finding Small Comforts

The weight of a book in my bag, the perfect song playing as cars rush past, the old man who walks the same path every morning. These are the things that remind me that joy doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it’s a whisper.  If you’re not listening, it will escape you. 

Studying abroad isn’t just about the postcard moments. It’s about the in-between.  The quiet, the ordinary, the way a city slowly becomes yours, one small comfort at a time.

What little things have held you together in a new place?