Top International English

    Daniel Chen

    Nobody would say no to a free offer of an overseas trip. My friend Fancy and I had such a free trip when I won a lucky draw to go to South Korea.

    Although China and South Korea share some cultural similarities, there are still lots of unique cultural elements that are worth exploring. With curiosity and excitement, Fancy and I arrived at Incheon International Airport and began our journey.

    As we walked down the main street, a strong, peculiar smell drew our attention. We traced the smell and finally spotted the place where it came from. It was the smell of a Korean dish called ginseng chicken soup. It made my mouth water. Later we knew the way to cook it. First the cook has to prepare the stuffing. Then, mix a bowl of glutinous rice, Korean ginseng, dates and wolfberries together. Stir the mixture and add a spoon of salt and pepper. Then stuff a chicken with the mixture and stew it for about 3-4 hours to make sure the essence of ginseng has been absorbed by the chicken meat. Enjoying food is a good way to appreciate the local custom.

    Seoul is not only a modern city but also a fantastic tourist destination. We visited many historical relics and also experienced its advanced technology. Although the cost of living was higher than that of China, the living conditions were quite good. Besides, we could always get discounts through bargains.

    If I have another chance to visit South Korea, the next destination will be Cheju Island — a paradise for couples and young people.