{"id":125,"date":"2026-06-29T19:39:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T10:39:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/a-blog.enko.kr\/?p=125"},"modified":"2026-06-29T19:40:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T10:40:02","slug":"between-culture-shock-and-new-opportunities-my-arrival-in-south-korea-as-an-intern-at-enkostay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stay.enko.kr\/blog\/between-culture-shock-and-new-opportunities-my-arrival-in-south-korea-as-an-intern-at-enkostay\/","title":{"rendered":"Between culture shock and new opportunities: My arrival in South Korea as an intern at Enkostay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I left Paris for Seoul, where I\u2019m navigating internship life with Enkostay and discovering what it really means to live in South Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I left Paris for Seoul, where I\u2019m navigating internship life with Enkostay and discovering what it really means to live in South Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I never really knew what to expect before coming to Seoul. I had ideas, of course K-dramas, vibrant streets, amazing food but nothing truly prepares you for the moment you actually land and realize:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

this is my life now.<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Seoul street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a student from Paris, choosing to do my internship here felt both exciting and unreal. Even though I did my research before coming, everything changed so quickly and everything became so different from what I was used to: the language, the pace of life, waiting for the traffic light to turn green before crossing, and expecting every dish to be spicy. These are small habits for a local, but they completely change a foreigner\u2019s perspective on life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though it might seem stressful and scary to go to a foreign country where I didn\u2019t know my way around, I knew that coming to South Korea and doing my internship at Enkostay would give me more than I ever imagined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Han River picnic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Joining Enkostay was the most significant part of my experience here. During my first few days, everything felt new: new people, new tasks, and a corporate culture different from what we\u2019re used to in France. Even though it might seem stressful and scary to go to a foreign country where I didn\u2019t know my way around, I quickly realized that this experience would teach me much more than just professional skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know the beginning is going to be difficult. Wanting to make a good impression by working nonstop, not daring to ask for things for fear of bothering anyone, wondering if it was a good idea to come here, telling myself I won\u2019t have time to enjoy Korea. But I also know that this is just a natural phase that will help me realize that work-life balance isn\u2019t just a buzzword but a real necessity for everything to go right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>MY MISSIONS<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During my internship, I\u2019ll have the opportunity to put into practice what I\u2019ve only learned in school marketing, communication, and international social issues as well as learn new things. My main tasks will be creating contents to help people who need assistance or have questions about Enkostay or life in general in South Korea, this would aslo help me to learn more about my internship. This might seem like a simple task, but marketing is all about those small yet crucial details that make all the difference (catchphrases, visuals, tone, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I like about this internship is that I have the opportunity to explore different aspects of a company. I\u2019ll have the chance to create content and appear in it as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>MY OWN EXPERIENCE AS A CUSTOMERS AT ENKOSTAY<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, I\u2019m fortunate enough to be both an intern of the company and a customer. When I decided I wanted to go to Korea for my internship, the first thing that came to mind was the \u201chousing\u201d issue. \u201cWill I be able to find a place?\u201d, \u201cWill it be a scam if I don\u2019t know the company?\u201d, \u201cShould I use well-known platforms even if they\u2019re expensive?\u201d It was essential for me to find a website preferably Korean that wasn\u2019t too expensive, offered plenty of options, was available in English, and was easy to contact in case of any issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Korea is known for its extremely high real estate deposits, which can be really intimidating, especially for students like me or anyone coming here for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was accepted by Enkostay<\/strong>, I didn\u2019t hesitate for a second. I started looking for a place right on their website, which is available in English, and I quickly discovered something that made all the difference: the apartments require no deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, this was a huge relief. It made the whole process of moving to Seoul much more accessible and less stressful. Instead of worrying about high upfront costs, I was able to focus on preparing for this new chapter and adjusting to my new surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also appreciated the great flexibility of the offerings. Whether you\u2019re staying for just a few weeks or planning to stay in Korea for a longer period, there are options that truly adapt to different situations. As an intern, that flexibility was exactly what I needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another factor that made a difference was the location of the accommodations. I\u2019m lucky to be staying near Hongdae, which is a very lively area. Many of them are located near universities, public transportation, and neighborhoods full of cafes and restaurants. You can always find accommodations in quieter areas if you prefer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This made my first few days in Seoul much easier, since everything I needed was already right at my fingertips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communication was truly one of the highlights of this experience: both the Enkostay <\/strong>team and the hosts were easy to reach, very responsive, and put me at ease right from the start. Especially when it comes to social differences that can sometimes be hard to understand as a foreigner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that the accommodations are already set up for the ARC is a huge advantage. It\u2019s one less administrative task to deal with upon arrival in Korea, which, honestly, makes all the difference when everything is still new and a little intimidating. (Only applicable if you\u2019re staying longer than 90 days).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enkostay didn\u2019t just help me find a place to live; it really allowed me to start my life in Seoul with more confidence and less stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>THE LIFE SIDE<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s only been a week since I arrived in Korea, and I already feel like I\u2019ve experienced so many different moments. Every time I go out to explore the city, I honestly feel like I\u2019m working out: between the steep hills, the endless staircases, and the sun beating down harder than I expected, I come home exhausted. But at the same time, it doesn\u2019t bother me at all, because there\u2019s so much to discover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What really strikes me is how different everything seems. The food is completely new to me, the architecture of the buildings is so unique, and even the way people dress catches my attention all the time. I also love discovering cultural and religious sites: they have such a different atmosphere, one I\u2019m not used to at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve settled into a routine: going to E-Mart every morning and evening to get my favorite drink, strolling through the streets listening to music, and making vlogs for my friends. These little habits show me day after day that it\u2019s possible to feel at home even on the other side of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a way, this first week has already shown me that living here isn\u2019t just about adaptin . It\u2019s about learning, observing, and slowly opening myself up to a completely different way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My personal experiences<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>CLOSING THOUGHTS<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even though it\u2019s only been a week, it\u2019s been a completely new experience. It\u2019s a dream come true, and I want to thank everyone who has been there for me from the Enkostay<\/strong> staff who welcomed me so warmly to the people I\u2019ve met on the street, even if we only exchanged a few words. I\u2019m so grateful to all of you because you\u2019ve made all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Myself<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for your interest !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best regards,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eva Glanger<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I left Paris for Seoul, where I\u2019m navigating internship life with Enkostay and discovering what it really means to live in South Korea. I left Paris for Seoul, where I\u2019m navigating internship life with Enkostay and discovering what it really means to live in South Korea. I never really knew what to expect before coming […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":233,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life"],"blocksy_meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t