Q: Initially, what made you decide to study abroad? Why did you choose your program?
A: I always wanted to study abroad but I was never sure as to what country to go to. I always had an appreciation for Asian culture. Eventually, I soon got into Kpop because of BTS. Being a fan made me decide to go to Korea to experience their culture that I had seen through videos.
Q: What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?
A: My highlight of my study abroad experience was actually every weekend. Going out into the city never failed to surprise me. The constant shopping and eating that took place was definitely the highlight for me. However if I narrow it down I would say going to a BTS event that took place in Seoul was definitely the highlight of my trip.
Q: What was your greatest challenge abroad and how did you overcome it?
A: The language barrier was the hardest part of my experience. However taking a Korean language course allowed me to get around. I also used the app PAPAGO to help me when I went out.
Q: How did your coursework abroad compare to your courses at UC Merced?
A: In general I would say the coursework was similar. However it was more challenging because I had constant distractions.
Q: What did you gain from your study abroad experience?
A: I gained knowledge of the Korean culture and language. My appreciation for both of these increased heavily to the point that I want to go back and visit Korea soon.
Q: What advice do you have for students considering study abroad?
A: I would advise students to take a language course to help them get around their host country. I would also say not to take any hard upper division classes so you can have more time to go out and explore.
Q: Describe a typical day for you abroad.
A: During my school week I would go every morning to a cafe to get something to eat and head over to my first class of the day. After my class I would walk back to my dorm (which was hard considering the steep hills and the humidity) and get something to eat from the SK lounge area. Then I would do my Korean homework and head over to class. Once I got out of class I would go back to my dorm and prepare for my Genetics class the following day. When the weekend finally came my roommate and I would head out into the city. We would walk for half an hour to catch the train. We would be out until nighttime shopping and eating. Then we would walk back to campus and repeat the cycle again.
