Seoul and Seattle

 

     I had lived in Seoul for thirty seven years before I moved to Seattle five months ago. I chose Seattle to study abroad because I heard that Seattle has a lot of similarities with Seoul. Therefore, I thought that adapting myself to a new environment wouldn't have been difficult if I had chosen Seattle. However, after moving to Seattle, I found out that both Seoul and Seattle have a number of similarities and differences at the same time.

     First of all, both Seoul and Seattle, if Tacoma and Bellevue are included   in Seattle area, are almost same in area. They are approximately 610 Km². In contrast, the population of the two cities are notably different. Almost ten million people live in Seoul, and compare to Seattle it has ten times larger population. When I moved to Seattle, I was shocked by only two stories buildings and vacant lots. There are so many higher stories buildings in Seoul. Furthermore, finding vacant lots is difficult. As a result, if you visit Seoul, you will be impressed by the most crowded city.

    Also, the two cities have many cultural facilities. In my opinion, both cities' citizens are really interested in culture. Therefore, there are lots of museums,  theaters, shopping centers, and parks in both cities, and citizens seem to enjoy their cultural facilities. On the contrary, both Seoul and Seattle are distinguished from the history. Seoul has 5,000 years history. Moreover, Seoul has been a major settlement for over 2,000 years. Even though the Seattle area has been inhabited for at least 4,000 years, European settlement began only in the mid-19th century. In Short, Seoul has a longer history than Seattle.

    Finally, natural features of Seoul are similar to Seattle. I can find easily mountains, sea, river, and lakes in both cities. Also, there are a lot of  same plants, such as cherry blossoms, forsythias, and dandelions. When I discovered those flowers in my apartment complex one month ago, I jumped and shouted with a joy. I never expected to see those flowers in Seattle. I was deeply moved by those familiar flowers, yet I was disappointed with the climate. To be candid, the climate of Seoul is more severe than Seattle because it is very hot in Summer, its average daytime temperature is 29℃, and very cold in winter, Its average daytime temperature is -6℃. In contrast, Seattle's average daytime temperature in Summer is 22℃ and average daytime temperature in winter is 7℃. As a result, while Seoul has four distinct seasons, Seattle has a mild climate year round, and it rains a lot.

    In conclusion, these two cities have numerous similarities, such as area, cultural facilities, and natural features. On the other hand, the two cities differ in some aspects-population, history, climate, and so on. Although these two cities have lots of likeness and contrasts, I'm convinced that Seoul and Seattle are the most livable and attractive cities in the world.