Seoul: A Study Abroad Diary
By: Hannah Skinner ‘23
A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This phrase may be overused to describe studying abroad, but it's hard to find a better description. In most scenarios, students only study abroad once, if at all. I got to have this experience at Yonsei University in Seoul. If you’re curious about Korea or want to study abroad there, here’s what I learned from my experience.
The memories of the day I left for Seoul still play in my brain like a movie. The early morning flight, the goodbyes to family, and the realization I won’t see their faces for months are still so vivid. I accidentally sat down in some rouge butter on my plane seat on the flight, which wasn’t the worst thing that could happen, but I did smell for 10 hours. And, of course, I remember getting off the plane and setting foot in Korea for the first time. I’m here. I made it. The semester I had been looking forward to for years was finally starting.
After 7 days of quarantine, I began to get a feel for the daily life I would have for the next 5 months. My classes at Yonsei University were online that semester due to COVID, so unfortunately, I didn't get to have the full student experience, but I still lived on campus in international student housing and frequented the campus cafes and study spots. Although COVID took away from some aspects, it made room for other opportunities. I was able to spend more time exploring the country and immersing myself in the culture, making my way through different neighborhoods, and stopping into cafes if I ever needed to log into a class. I could even travel to other cities for days without worrying about losing attendance points. Making the most of the circumstances was important to me, and I was grateful for my travel opportunities.
It’s the little details about daily life in Seoul that I liked the most. I miss the street food vendors and their warm snacks during the winter. I miss the long escalators down into the clean subway stations. I miss sitting on the bus looking out the window and people watching. I miss the charming streets lined with cafes, skincare stores, and cozy restaurants. To me, every street was charming. But I think when you are living in a world so far away from what you’ve grown up with, you’re more likely to see the beauty in simple things. They may be trivial to some but are unfamiliar and exciting to you.
Of course, there were plenty of struggles. This was my first time out of the country, and the preparations and paperwork were daunting. It was also the first time in my life where I felt other people were perceiving me as an outsider. This was not at all negative but just a natural outcome of being a foreigner, and you get used to it. I studied the Korean language for 2 years leading up to my semester, so I was fairly confident in my abilities, but there was still a language barrier.
Getting used to daily life in a foreign country is not easy either. Every little thing is new, and not everyone has a resource to ask for help, especially when things need to be translated. This is why I recommend making friends who live in the country before you leave. I met friends through language exchange programs, but I’m sure there are other ways with the power of the Internet. It was nice to have local friends to meet up with in Seoul, and also convenient when I had questions about public transportation, restaurant recommendations, or even things like COVID restrictions and Korean politics or policy. There were things I missed about my life at home too, like the amazing Mexican food, the beach, and the weather but having a change of scenery is good once in a while.
My time in Korea was formative, and I’m not exaggerating when I say life-changing too. I learned that I enjoy the pace of big cities, confirmed my expectation that I like their food, and made the choice to commit to learning Korean. Going back to Seoul to continue my language studies is a goal of mine, and one day I hope to travel there with close friends and family.
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