Q. Hi Avery! Nice to meet you.
Hi! I’m Avery, an exchange student at Sungkyunkwan University majoring in International Relations and Korean Language. I’m an ISTJ – the logistician personality type!
Q. I appreciate that you were keen to do this interview in Korean. What sparked your interest in learning the language?
I’ve been fascinated by Asian cultures and languages with unique writing systems since I was young. I always wanted to learn an Asian language if I had the chance. I tried studying Japanese in high school, but it didn’t really click with me. And then, during my final semester of high school, I was looking up other Asian languages online and came across Hangul. That’s when I started learning Korean on my own.
Q. If you were to pick a favorite Korean word or phrase?
I love “알잘딱깔쎈” (al-jal-ddak-kal-sen). It’s a meme-like expression I recently learned, and it just sounds so fun! It’s interesting how many new slang words seem to emerge in Korean culture.
(알잘딱깔쎈: A snappy abbreviation for “알아서 잘 딱 깔끔하고 센스있게,” meaning “getting things done neat and tidy on your own.”)
I’ve always been fascinated by Asian cultures and languages with unique writing systems since I was young.
Q. Your pronunciation and intonation are so natural. What’s your secret to becoming fluent in a foreign language?
The best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself by speaking it often with native speakers. It’s ok to make mistakes! The more you use the language, the more confident you become, and your skills improve naturally over time. For me, thanks to Mangrove, I’ve been able to make Korean friends and get plenty of opportunities to speak Korean in daily life. I think that’s why my Korean keeps getting better.
Recently, I finished reading the book Almond, and now I’m working my way through Women Who Work Out, since fitness is such a big part of my life. I also used to do language exchange with a friend I met at Mangrove, Ye-eun, where we taught each other Korean and English. Ye-eun’s been busy lately, so we haven’t been able to continue, but we were pretty into it during the winter break.
At Mangrove, I’ve been able to make Korean friends and get plenty of opportunities to use Korean in daily life.
I think that’s why my Korean keeps getting better.
Q. What were your priorities when looking for a home in Korea?
I cared most about whether the building was newly built. Older buildings tend to lack good amenities and the overall facilities are just outdated. Location was also key – proximity to subway stations and bus stops matters because if you want to live comfortably in Seoul without a car, public transportation is a must.
Q. Have you lived in co-living spaces before Mangrove?
So, at my university in the US, all freshmen had to live in dormitories. I stayed in one for a year – it was a single room with shared bathrooms, which wasn’t great. The building itself was old too without proper amenities. I also had to stay in a dorm while attending a language institute at Yonsei University, and that wasn’t a good experience either. Compared to those, Mangrove is on a whole other level – it’s completely different in a great way.
Q. How did you learn about Mangrove? What made you decide to live here?
I’m on exchange right now, and I wanted to live in an apartment rather than a dorm. When I went to the international student support department at my university to ask how I might find an apartment here, they referred me to a company called ‘Hirevisa.’ It was through their website that I stumbled upon Mangrove. The fact that Mangrove is a newly built property with lots of amenities – especially the Flex Room – made it an easy choice for me. It seemed far better than other apartments.
Who knew living with others could actually be enjoyable?
Mangrove has changed my perspective.
Q. How has living in a co-living community like Mangrove been?
It’s great because there are so many options. If I feel like socializing, it’s easy to meet people. But if I want some alone time, that’s totally possible too. For instance, some people prefer studying in a quiet space, while others like a café-style vibe. At Mangrove, you can have both. The flexibility it offers in terms of space really suits my lifestyle.
Q. Have you noticed any cultural differences while living here?
Yes, one thing I’ve observed is how polite Korean people are! At Mangrove, my Korean neighbors are very respectful of the rules. They keep the shared spaces clean, and my floor is especially quiet. It’s such a contrast to my dorm back in the US, where it was always loud and noisy, and people didn’t really care for the rules – probably because they were all first-years. That’s why I used to find dorms and shared spaces pretty unpleasant. But Mangrove has changed my perspective – who knew living with others could actually be enjoyable?
Q. Can you describe your dream home if you have one?
Absolutely! I enjoy living alone, so I’d love to have a loft-style apartment like the ones they have in Korea for singles. I’ve seen some beautifully decorated ones, and they’re just stunning. In the US, I’d also consider a condominium or townhouse – basically anywhere I can live on my own.
It’s so rewarding to see my muscles grow and flex in the mirror!
Q. What’s your favorite time of day?
I love the mornings, especially from 8 to 11, because that’s when I work out! (Laugh)
Q. Speaking of working out, I hear you’re a gym enthusiast! What kind of workouts do you enjoy?
I’ll admit – I do love a good workout session! Fitness is my hobby, and if I could, I’d work out every day. I usually train four to five times a week and got into strength training last year. I love it more than cardio, and it’s so rewarding to see my muscles grow and flex in the mirror!
At Mangrove, I use the Flex Room for treadmills and strength exercises. It’s become pretty popular lately, so it’s a bit harder to book at my preferred times, but I still manage to use the dumbbells, kettlebells, squat rack, and bench regularly.
Communal kitchen is a such a natural space to meet people and strike up conversations.
If anyone reading this interview wants a new friend, come say hi!
Q. Any memorable experiences at Mangrove?
Meeting Ye-eun was definitely the highlight. It was on my first day, when I was overwhelmed carrying all my luggage up to the 20th floor. Ye-eun greeted me so warmly and helped me move in.
I think she assumed I didn’t speak Korean because I’m a foreigner, so when I started speaking in Korean, she was so surprised. (Laugh) I think that’s when she found out that I understood Korean. We became fast friends from that day on.
Q. You seem like someone who can befriend anyone!
(Thank you!) Unfortunately, most of the friends I’ve made at Mangrove were exchange students, and they’ve all gone back to their home countries after completing their programs. Interesting enough, I actually met all of them in the communal kitchen area. It’s such a natural space to meet people and strike up conversations. If anyone living in Mangrove reads this interview and wants to make a friend, come say hi!
Written by | Dabomi Shin
Photos by | Seokhyeon Lee, Logan
