Fall 2015 Study Abroad Trip
It was the middle of August, and I was about to leave the USA for the first time. I was all packed up and ready to go. I was super excited but at the same time nervous, because I had no idea what to expect. Many thoughts were running through my mind. Was I going to like it? Would I get homesick? Would I experience any culture shock? Needless to say, the next morning came and before I knew it, I was on my way to South Korea. I finally arrived in Seoul, South Korea after a 14 hour flight. Little did I know, this trip would become the greatest experience I have ever had in my life. I spent 4 1/2 months in Seoul, South Korea, and I would like to share just a small part of my trip that changed my perspective of the world forever.
Ewha Woman's University: It is probably strange to hear that I was an exchange student at a woman's university, but I was. There were 471 exchange students during the semester that I was there. Out of those 471 exchange students, there were about 80 male students, and I happened to be one of those lucky guys to have the opportunity to study at the largest woman's university in the world. While there, I made many friends from all over the world. Some of my good friends, while abroad, happened to be from France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Brazil, Taiwan, Morocco, and of course South Korea. These friendships allowed me to see the world from a new perspective and helped to broaden my horizons of the many different cultures in which we live today. As an exchange student, I was able to take 16 credit hours. Three of those credits happened to be a Korean language class. Now I am certainly not fluent in Korean, but the Korean class helped me learn necessary words to be able to communicate with the locals in places such as restaurants. Additionally, learning in a foreign country provided me with a new outlook towards my own educational experience. Overall, my time at Ewha Woman's University was filled with many unforgettable memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.
Korean Food: One thing is certain. Korea has delicious food. Many of the dishes in Korea are very spicy so if spicy food is not someone's forte, they may not feel the same way about Korean food as I do. I had the opportunity to try numerous Korean dishes such as dakgalbi (pork), dtteokboki (rice cake), and Korean barbecue (beef). Just about every meal is served with rice and kimchi (fermented cabbage). While in Korea, I ate out at least one time per day because eating out was convenient, cheap, and delicious. It also provided me with the opportunity to be engulfed in daily Korean culture.
Diverse Friendships: I had the opportunity to become friends with people from all over the world, during my study abroad trip. I engaged in many different activities with these friends. Some of the endeavors included going to Everland amusement park, going on day hiking trips, going to the DMZ, visiting other cities in South Korea, and visiting several of the traditional palaces located in Seoul. These experiences broadened my knowledge of the Korean culture and the countries historic past.
Adventure: Before I went to Korea, I always thought Korea was only known for their heavily populated cities and the DMZ, which separates North and South Korea. I learned quickly that Korea has so much more to offer. The mountains there were incredible. The hiking trips were long, hot, and strenuous, but it was worth it once you reached the peak of the mountain. The views from the mountain peaks were stunningly beautiful. Many of the views overlooked densely populated cities or displayed the mountainous landscape of Korea, which always made the hikes well worth the trip.
Famous Han River: I went to the Han river on many different occasions. Sometimes I went during the day to bike or to walk around the river with friends, to enjoy the many great views the river had to offer of Seoul. One trip that stands out is when I went water tubing on the Han River. My friend and I had a blast being pulled on a tube by a jet ski. That made for a day filled with lots of smiles and laughter. Other times, I would go at night with my friends to enjoy the vibrant nighttime atmosphere the Han River always seemed to have. Most of the bridges would light up at night. One of the bridges actually put on a light show that involved water being shot from the bridge in all different colors. Lastly, I had the opportunity to go on a Han river cruise. The skyline of Seoul from the Han River was astonishing.
Tradition: Korea is proud of its traditional culture. I was able to try on some of the Korean traditional clothing. I learned about the type of clothing females would wear and the type of clothing males would wear. As shown above, I am wearing clothing that a Korean King would wear. Additionally, I was able to tour some of the traditional houses and palaces that are still standing today in Korea. The traditional palaces and housing areas are touristic hot spots around the country.
Korean Dessert: South Korea is home to my favorite dessert in the world. It is called "Bingsoo," also known as ice flake. It is a mixture of shredded ice flakes, various fruits, and a creamy milk topping. Korea also offers delicious tiramisu and green tea ice cream. While an exchange student, I would go for dessert often because many of the cafe's that sold these delicious desserts, also offered a calm, peaceful place to study. Additionally, it was common for exchange students to meet up in the evenings to enjoy some of the fantastic desserts available at various cafes.
Exploration: I had the opportunity to travel throughout the country. I went to Busan, which is the second largest city in South Korea and is located on the southern tip of the country. I completed a 16 hour hike at Seoraksan National Park, which was located about 2 hours east of Seoul. I visited one of the most traditional cities in Korea, known as Jeonju. I visited Pagu, which is a city located right next to the DMZ. While there, I toured the DMZ, seeing parts of North Korea from a distance. Additionally, I was able to spend time at a Korean beach located in the town of Kangnung on the east coast. The traveling that I was able to do, allowed me to experience some of the more rural and less populated areas in South Korea.
Trip Of A Life Time: All in all, my time as an exchange student at Ewha Woman's University in Seoul, South Korea was an experience of a lifetime. I am so thankful that I stepped out of my comfort zone because the 4 1/2 months I spent in Korea were the most memorable and enriching moments of my life. I gained so much knowledge taking classes at a foreign university, but most importantly, I learned so much more outside of the classroom by becoming friends with people from all around the world and living daily life in a foreign country. These friends and the experiences that I had with them broadened my horizons of the world, but also allowed me to develop a much greater appreciation for my home country, the USA. South Korea will always be a home away from home for me, and I will always be thankful for the knowledge I gained and the life changing experiences I had as an exchange student.
Video Tour Of Seoul, South Korea
Video Credit: Noe Alonzo, Published on Nov 4, 2015; Video Title: Time-lapse: South Korea’s Stunning Seoul | Short Film Showcase
Credits:
Created with images by april_kim - "republic of korea racing anapji section temple" • manuzoli - "seoul south korea lotte"