MY GOSHITEL EXPERIENCE
Hello. I decided to write another post about my experiences in Korea because I missed out something I was planning to write about since long long time ago haha. This post will not have any pictures, just words because I have just so many things to say about my experience living at goshitel, or as some will call it goshiwon.
Goshitel is a shared residency and you get a room by yourself. The rooms are usually very small, perhaps about the size of 3 standard bathtub size. According to my Korean teacher, most university students who came from outside of Seoul would live in goshitel as it is low-cost and easy to maintain.
Please note that this is only based on what I had experienced in my goshitel. I don't know about others so please share your story with me as well as I would like to know more!
I chose to live in the goshitel as I wanted to experience how is life at the goshitel but I seriously regretted my decision. The goshitel I lived in was in Apgujeong. My first room was quite dusty but the toilet was fine. As it was winter during my stay, we were both given a room with the window facing outside so it was very cold at night even though I shut the window tight. As the room is small, they cannot use heater as it might cause fire. I was freezing for about 2 days and told the manager about the room. Since the manager decided 'not to understand me', I went and look for my teacher-in-charge and got our rooms swapped to a warmer and slightly bigger one, but, the toilet stink as if something rotted there, the hot water wasn't working and the water that comes out from the sink is always light yellow eww. The room was, of course, dusty. I finally gave up swapping rooms again since it took us exactly 4 days to convince the manager to let us change our rooms. I then used my sister's toilet for the rest of my stay there.
I'm not sure about the others goshitel, but prepare to buy yourself some kitchen utensils and cooking equipments if you plan to live there for long. Also, the manager of my goshitel cannot speak a single foreign language (tried Japanese, Chinese and English) and cannot understand my Korean. (everyone I spoke to understands me except the manager. why?! ㅠㅠ) I had a hard time trying to explain that the room was too cold and that I needed to change rooms if it's possible. So, please ask if they speak any language you know, or if you speak Korean, you probably can survive in the goshitel.
The sharing area, aka the kitchen/laundry area is disgusting as well. I'm really sorry to say this but the floor was oily and sticky all the time even though someone was hired to clean the goshitel every Saturday. Some inconsiderate people cook salted fish or eggs or whatever and the smell is so bad and strong to the extent that we could smell it from our rooms even though the kitchen was a floor below our room.
The only thing that I like about my goshitel is the location. It is great as there is a mart within 300m, my school 10 minutes walk away, Apgujeong Rodeo is 5 minutes walk away, Apgujeong station is 10 minutes away and YGK+ is just behind! *fangirling* My sister and I normally walk to Apgujeong Rodeo to have our new found love- the golden curry as well as my sister's favourite, Kyochon once a week and I would purposely walk further distance to pass by YGK+ to go home after school. lol
So if you can afford, think twice before deciding to stay in the goshitel. I don't know if you will have the same experience as I do, but just think twice. Don't judge the goshitel by it's pictures posted online. Learn more about the goshitel or even visit the goshitel personally to decided whether you can cope with this living lifestyle.
If I were to study in Korea for a month or so again, I'd like to experience the homestay. There are pros and cons for everything but maybe I was just unlucky that I experienced the cons more than pros? Anyway, just no more goshitel for the rest of my life haha.
Goshitel is a shared residency and you get a room by yourself. The rooms are usually very small, perhaps about the size of 3 standard bathtub size. According to my Korean teacher, most university students who came from outside of Seoul would live in goshitel as it is low-cost and easy to maintain.
Please note that this is only based on what I had experienced in my goshitel. I don't know about others so please share your story with me as well as I would like to know more!
I chose to live in the goshitel as I wanted to experience how is life at the goshitel but I seriously regretted my decision. The goshitel I lived in was in Apgujeong. My first room was quite dusty but the toilet was fine. As it was winter during my stay, we were both given a room with the window facing outside so it was very cold at night even though I shut the window tight. As the room is small, they cannot use heater as it might cause fire. I was freezing for about 2 days and told the manager about the room. Since the manager decided 'not to understand me', I went and look for my teacher-in-charge and got our rooms swapped to a warmer and slightly bigger one, but, the toilet stink as if something rotted there, the hot water wasn't working and the water that comes out from the sink is always light yellow eww. The room was, of course, dusty. I finally gave up swapping rooms again since it took us exactly 4 days to convince the manager to let us change our rooms. I then used my sister's toilet for the rest of my stay there.
I'm not sure about the others goshitel, but prepare to buy yourself some kitchen utensils and cooking equipments if you plan to live there for long. Also, the manager of my goshitel cannot speak a single foreign language (tried Japanese, Chinese and English) and cannot understand my Korean. (everyone I spoke to understands me except the manager. why?! ㅠㅠ) I had a hard time trying to explain that the room was too cold and that I needed to change rooms if it's possible. So, please ask if they speak any language you know, or if you speak Korean, you probably can survive in the goshitel.
The sharing area, aka the kitchen/laundry area is disgusting as well. I'm really sorry to say this but the floor was oily and sticky all the time even though someone was hired to clean the goshitel every Saturday. Some inconsiderate people cook salted fish or eggs or whatever and the smell is so bad and strong to the extent that we could smell it from our rooms even though the kitchen was a floor below our room.
The only thing that I like about my goshitel is the location. It is great as there is a mart within 300m, my school 10 minutes walk away, Apgujeong Rodeo is 5 minutes walk away, Apgujeong station is 10 minutes away and YGK+ is just behind! *fangirling* My sister and I normally walk to Apgujeong Rodeo to have our new found love- the golden curry as well as my sister's favourite, Kyochon once a week and I would purposely walk further distance to pass by YGK+ to go home after school. lol
So if you can afford, think twice before deciding to stay in the goshitel. I don't know if you will have the same experience as I do, but just think twice. Don't judge the goshitel by it's pictures posted online. Learn more about the goshitel or even visit the goshitel personally to decided whether you can cope with this living lifestyle.
If I were to study in Korea for a month or so again, I'd like to experience the homestay. There are pros and cons for everything but maybe I was just unlucky that I experienced the cons more than pros? Anyway, just no more goshitel for the rest of my life haha.
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