Q: Initially, what made you decide to study abroad? Why did you choose your program?
A: I was encouraged by my older siblings who studied abroad to also experience the world during my college experience. I chose Yonsei University in South Korea specifically to get closer with my culture as I felt like I grew up fairly distant from it. I did not grow up with extended family or around other Korean people, and I wanted to understand my heritage better. I knew living and learning in Korea would allow me to develop my Korean language skills and also develop a deeper understanding for my culture.
Q: What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?
A: Experiencing Korea in ways that I couldn’t if I was just visiting. I became a local at a brunch cafe and would be recognized every time I went. I enjoyed street stall foods that usually aren’t on the recommendation list for tourists. I took a day trip to Danyang to go paragliding and ATV riding. Enjoying life in Korea over the course of 5 months allowed me to understand my culture in a way I otherwise wouldn’t have if I were just visiting.
Q: What was your greatest challenge abroad and how did you overcome it?
A: There’s a phrase in Korean called “빨리 빨리,” which directly translates to “quickly quickly.” It’s a lifestyle many Korean people adopt as a way to keep up with life. This can manifest as people pushing past you in the bus or subway or not holding the door open for you even if you’re right behind them. The greatest challenge was not taking this personally, and understanding this difference in cultural norms. Having exposure and the cultural consciousness to understand that this is a way of life rather than an action of malice. By the end of my stay in Korea, I had even adopted a “빨리 빨리” lifestyle.
Q: How did your coursework abroad compare to your courses at UC Merced?
A: As Yonsei University is considered one of the top universities in South Korea, I was nervous about being able to keep up. However, I found little to no change in intensity and quality of education compared to UC Merced. In my experience, grades at Yonsei depended heavily on a midterm and final with very few assignments, while at UC Merced, my grades are made up of multiple exams and assignments.
Q: What did you gain from your study abroad experience?
A: I learned to be uncomfortable and enjoy it. Going out to Mangwon for the unique stationary stores and curated second-hand fashion even though it’s raining and my jeans are soaked to my knees. Watching a movie I have been dying to see, even though I was alone. Going to a baseball game and getting a free signed baseball, even though I was going with a family friend I had never met before. These are all things I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy if I let my discomfort stop me. With each experience, I built the confidence and excitement for my next adventure.
Q: What advice do you have for students considering study abroad?
A: Feeling alone is an unavoidable occurrence in life no matter where you go, but that’s not a bad thing either. Learning to enjoy time alone is just as important as spending time with friends. There can be excitement in solitude that you otherwise wouldn’t experience if you always needed to rely on others to have fun. Putting an effort into making my alone time exciting grew my confidence and made me a much more spontaneous person.
Q: What do you wish you learned about studying abroad before you left for your program?
A:
Q: Describe a typical day abroad.
A: Get ready for my day with an iced americano, attend lectures, try a different tonkatsu restaurant because it’s my favorite thing to eat, roam around the neighborhood of said restaurant, spend time studying with friends, all while practicing my Korean language skills. Somewhere in there I might feel embarrassed about my pronunciation of the textbook reading or while ordering my food, but with each mistake, I got better
Q: If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
A: Experiencing the cultural diversity of the United States and the generally homogenous population of South Korea, I hope to visit Singapore, the melting pot of Asian cultures. I learned how much I enjoy a bustling city life with foods that are difficult to find in the United States, but I would also enjoy doing so in a country with many different cultures and languages.
