A Day In Pyeongtaek: Finding Home Abroad

Located in Gyeonggi-do, about 70 kilometers or 44 miles south of Seoul is Pyeongtaek, a city rich in history. Before heading to Pyeongtaek, I didn’t know too much about this history however. What I did know was that it is home to Camp Humphreys, a major U.S. military base which naturally meant a significant international and military population. I’d heard bits and pieces about this, but none of it really clicked until I arrived and saw it for myself.

The biggest draw for me wasn’t a tourist attraction or even a specific landmark. It was the international community, something that felt rare in many parts of Korea. I’d learned that Pyeongtaek had several black hair care shops and salons that catered to my curly hair with products I was familiar with, and that immediately caught my interest. It reminded me of Itaewon in some ways, known for its foreigner-friendly vibe, but when it came to deciding between the two, I chose Pyeongtaek. 

Why? Simply because I had never been, and honestly, I didn’t know if I ever would go unless I made the choice to then. It wasn’t a city that I had ever heard any other students either in CIEE or otherwise ever mention wanting to visit or having visited, and that made me even more curious. I feel that sometimes, the most memorable experiences are the ones no one else talks about.

So I booked a Mugunghwa train from Seoul Station to Pyeongtaek Station and took quite literally, a leap of faith. An hour train ride full of hopes that this trip would grant me a new perspective on South Korea as a whole. What I found was more than I expected. It felt like I had been transported somewhere both new and familiar. The diversity was visible and comforting. People smiled at me more often, and I felt a kind of ease where I blended in without having to explain myself.

That feeling only deepened when I arrived at the salon for a hair appointment I had scheduled earlier that week. As I sat in the chair, I was welcomed by three African women as they chatted effortlessly with each other in a mix of English and Pidgin and their own native languages, occasionally pausing to include me in their stories. We talked about life in Korea, theirs and mine, and what it meant to find belonging and work in a place so far from home. We laughed, we nodded, and learned what community looked like for them, and why they continue to stay. It was more than just getting my hair done. 

There was so much heart in that space and a warmth I carried with me up until the moment that I had to say goodbye to them, and even long after I left. As I continue navigating this study abroad experience, it reminded me that home can be built wherever you are, in the presence of others, through moments of connection, and where you can feel so deeply grounded, even if just for an afternoon.