Please check out my return vlog at https://vimeo.com/385729185!

This week, I finished finals and my study abroad program in South Korea. I cannot believe it’s time to go after four months. The friends and memories that I have made here will always stick with me. I tried new foods, met new people, and visited new places. All these things could not have been done without the support of my friends, school, and FEA. 

It’s hard to think that I may never see some of these people again. We have spent almost everyday together for the last four months. The sudden change is going to be really hard for me. Although I have only known them for this small amount of time, the relationships that I have built were strong. I hope to maintain my friendships in the states. My friends live across the United States, so maybe I will visit them during breaks. As long as I keep my KakaoTalk (South Korea’s main messaging application), I think I can keep in contact with them.

I know this will not be my last time in South Korea. I plan to move here after graduating college for at least two years in order to increase my language proficiency even more. I can see my skills getting better: I can read novels, understand complex conversations, and write essays. Overall, I would say my time here was a huge success. I don’t really have any regrets, which was my main goal since the beginning of the program.

On a bright side, I am excited to go back home and see my parents, brother, and childhood friends. I have spent so much time away from them, and I would love to recharge myself by relaxing at home. It’ll be a change of pace, but I think it’ll be good for me. I cannot wait to eat my moms homecooked meals. Although I’ve been in Korea for the last four months, I still crave my mom’s cooking.

Until my arrival video!!

This week, I officially started my finals for my first and last semester abroad. I am more accustomed to the workload and grading style of my professors after midterms, but I can’t help but feel nervous about these last few exams and essays. I want to do my very best because it will be my last work at Yonsei University. I don’t want to slack off or turn in anything mediocre to spoil my time here. However, it is hard to keep focused on school. There is just so much to do before the semester ends: saying goodbye, buying souvenirs, and packing. It is all coming down to these last few days.

It still hasn’t hit me yet. The fact that I will be on a plane in less than a week, heading back to my home country. Although I took advantage of my time in South Korea and made wonderful memories, I can’t help but feel that I could’ve done more. Maybe it’s just me being selfish and regretful the last few days…

I will never forget my time abroad. I’ve grown so much personally because of all the new experiences and opportunities available to me. I met people from all over the world, who bring different perspectives to the table. It is important to expose myself to these ideas because I feel like I am inside a bubble at Pomona College. We made some great memories together traveling, eating, and hanging out. It’s hard to believe I might not see them ever again after this semester ends. I definitely don’t want that to happen. Anyone have any advice on how to keep in contact? If you do, please let me know. I am open to all suggestions J

I will miss my Korean friends Jay, Joy, and Michelle. They are all so wonderful and kind. They take time out of their lives to hang out with me and help me get accustomed to South Korea. They also teach me different cultural values and practices. It is always interesting to learn new ones that my parents never taught me as a kid. All in all, I will forever remember their hospitality. Hopefully I can repay the favor in the future, if they ever come to Georgia or Southern California. I want to show them my house and drive them around my hometown. I think that would be one of the most rewarding experiences.

Although the end is near, I won’t allow myself to think about it too much. I don’t want to get all sentimental before time expires. There is still much to do!

Last weekend, I took a three-day trip to Tokyo, Japan with two of my friends from my study abroad program. We traveled all around Tokyo, hitting the best spots in the city. Delicious ramen, beautiful gardens, and castles were must-see tourist destinations for us. I had a difficult time navigating through the city, especially because of the language barrier and the fast-paced nature of the city. Overall, it was a very enjoyable time. A trip of firsts: I ate at my first Michelin-star restaurant, stayed at my first hostel, visited my first Shinto shrine, and spoke my first words of Japanese. It was definitely a memorable trip.

At the end of the third day, I was excited to return to Seoul, South Korea. It was a weird feeling for me. At the beginning of the semester, I remember struggling to adjust to the new environment of Seoul. It made me uncomfortable to a certain degree. Within a few months, however, it started to feel like my second home. I was grateful to return to a place where I could speak the language comfortably and stay in a place of familiarity.

I was not the only person who felt this way. One of my travel companions had a similar realization. We looked forward to coming back to South Korea, because it felt like home. We realized our growth since August. It is a weird yet amazing feeling. The ability to adjust to a foreign country is a rare thing.

I often think about how my opinions and mindset would change if I stayed in South Korea for another semester. Will I become even more comfortable? Will I start enjoying this place more than the United States? Will I finally feel accepted as a Korean? Questions like these fill my mind as the semester winds down. I have decided to come back to South Korea in the near future. Perhaps I will live here for a year or two after graduating from Pomona College. Although I do not know what the future holds for me, I do know one thing: Korea will always have a special place in my heart. I have made great friends and memories in such a short period of time. I am glad to have journaled during my travel abroad experience. I will look back on my entries in the future.

I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with my parents as well. They have not been to South Korea in a few years. I know they would enjoy listening to all of my stories when I go back to the United States. Maybe I will even show them my blog?

People often say this phrase: “home is where the heart is.” For me, “home” is where my family lives. I have immediate family in the United States and extended family in South Korea. After my study abroad experience, I can finally say—with confidence—that South Korea is my second home.

*As the semester winds down, it gets harder and harder to blog every week. I apologize for the lack of posts, but I plan to make up for them now. So much has happened since my last blog post, and I want to update readers of my time in South Korea. Stay tuned for two more blog posts this week!

On November 14^th, high school students all over South Korea took their college entrance exam. It is an eight-hour test, containing subjects such as Korean, English, math, etc. Some Koreans refer to it as the Korean SAT. In my opinion, however, the Korean college entrance exam is much more challenging and demanding than the SAT in America. Students have only one opportunity to take this test in an academic year, meaning performance on testing day is extremely crucial. If a student messes up, he or she must wait another year to take the test again.

The Korean educational system was a complete shock to me. Students prepare for this one exam for several years. They enroll in after school academies to learn English, math, etc. The same level of intensity cannot be seen in the United States. Most American students prepare for the SAT or ACT in their sophomore or junior year of high school. They rarely spend thousands of dollars to prepare for a single test at such a young age.

I witnessed a small bit of the Korean college entrance exam’s intensity this year. My younger cousin—along with every other high school senior—took the test this November. I called her the night before and wished her good luck. She felt comfortable in her abilities, but she worried about the end result. I remember coming to her house afterward—it was complete chaos. My aunt, uncle, and cousin talked about the test all night. They spent hours trying to figure out her possible score and the colleges within her scoring range. I couldn’t even imagine the apprehension she must’ve felt. Although the test results did not officially come out, she already had a good grasp on her score.

This experience made me think about the different educational systems all over the world. There is a lot of learning to be done. Instead of looking at Korea’s educational system and deeming it strange, I wish to learn about the cultural reasons behind such a rigorous college examination.

One of the main commonalities between me and all my study abroad friends is that we all miss our family and friends from back home. It is hard to keep in touch with loved ones for several reasons: time zones, busy schedules, and lack of technology. As months go by, I miss them more and more, but it is almost impossible to make time to call or facetime them. Why is that? How can I put more of an effort to keep in touch? These are the questions I am currently grappling with to this day.

Luckily, social media makes staying in touch easy and simple. I can push one button and contact my mother halfway around the world—perfect internet connection and all. I personally like to designate a time to chat with my family and friends. It’s always important to designate a time beforehand, so we can carry a conversation for more than mere seconds or minutes. Any type of talking is okay, however. No matter how short the conversation, I always feel better afterward. Speaking with people from home comforts me. It allows me to have a taste of home in a new environment.

If anyone is struggling to keep in touch with friends and family while abroad, I suggest taking it one day at a time and expressing your desire to communicate with them. Often times, they will not understand the feeling of alienation that study abroad students feel. After all, they are busy with their own lives. Nonetheless, small moments of vulnerability and honesty will push them to talk with you.

I expect to learn better techniques to keep in touch as the semester continues. I will keep pushing myself to share my experiences with those I care about back at home.

These last two weeks have been a rollercoaster ride for me. I started my midterms, and I am still in the process of completing them. Coming from a small liberal arts college, I didn’t know what to expect for midterm season at such a large school. It’s definitely been challenging to adjust to the testing style at Yonsei University. For starters, I had to write a group essay—something I have never done before. It requires a great amount of trust in your team members, and I still don’t know how well it went. Every class requires either an essay or an in-class exam. However, my Korean midterm had five components—also something I was not used to back at home.

While staying up late nights to finish these tasks and preparing for my exams, I caught a cold. It didn’t happen once but twice! I feel like many people here tend to disregard their health during midterm season. I know I didn’t get the necessary sleep or food. Sleeping at 5AM and eating one meal a day seemed normal. No wonder my body couldn’t keep me healthy.

If you are studying abroad or planning to do so, I suggest anticipating these rough times. It’s better to wake up early and finish work in the morning than to stay up late. It deteriorates your health. I know I am still suffering from it as I write this blog post. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing while studying abroad. If you don’t, you will end up losing more time. Here are some tips to maintain your health while abroad:

First, eat a variety of different foods. Don’t simply stick with the same meals every day. You won’t receive the necessary nutrition to keep your body healthy.

Second, sleep early. You may tell yourself that getting 8 hours of sleep in enough. However, I believe your body has an internal clock that helps it run better during certain parts of the day. To mess up your sleep schedule for a few more hours of work at night can come back to haunt you.

Third, take vitamin supplements. You never know what type of vitamins go into the food you consume in a different country. You may lack some basic nutrition. I suggest buying some from your home country and taking them while you are abroad.

Fourth, learn to say “no.” Study abroad is a great time to engage in all sorts of different activities with friends who are eager to do them. Sometimes, however, it is best to evaluate your circumstances and health. It is okay to say “no, maybe next time.” Don’t feel pressured to do everything because this can cause a strain on your body.

These are the four tips I’ve come up with. Although I need to do a better job taking this advice, I hope this will help all of you!

Until next time!

This past weekend, I traveled to Jeju Island off the southern coast of South Korea. Jeju Island is one the country’s biggest tourist attractions, and after spending four days and three nights there, I understand why.

The island is much bigger than I imagined. I caught a glimpse of Jeju’s widespread lands on top of Hallasan Mountain. I didn’t expect it to be so big! Growing up, my parents would tell me stories of Jeju, describing its beauty and relaxed atmosphere. As a result, I always thought of it as a small island full of beaches, trees, and little villages. The places I visited, however, were much more industrialized—I stayed in the city after all. I made it a goal of mine to travel to the lesser known areas and take in the nature.

On my first day, I hiked Hallasan Mountain. It is the tallest mountain in Korea, so I had to give it a try before going back to Seoul. It was no easy task; the hike started off fairly simple, but the second half proved much more difficult. My legs could barely keep up with my large ambition. After roughly two and a half hours, I got to the last checkpoint. Unfortunately, the workers did not allow me to reach the peak (they close the entrance after 12:30 PM, so if you plan to hike Hallasan Mountain in the future, please keep that in mind!). The hike took up the whole day, but it was worth it. I had time to relax and enjoy the view from the checkpoint. I reflected on my day and my travels, which allowed me to appreciate my time here. The feelings mentioned in my last blog post resurfaced. I still felt sad that my parents could not enjoy this time with me. I called my mother and father to let them know about my adventure. They were thrilled and told me to enjoy my time at Jeju. I felt grateful for their words.

On the second day, I went to the southwest part of the island. I wanted to eat delicious seafood and relax at the beach with a few of my friends. The food and beach did not disappoint. I got to try all sorts of seafood dishes, including fish, clams, and abalone. Although seafood is a hit or miss for many people, it seemed as if all my friends enjoyed their food as well. The one thing I’ve noticed in South Korea thus far is how much people come together to eat. It seems as if it is the main activity among friends. Korean food usually involves big dishes where people share with one another. Food is the one thing that can bring people from all backgrounds together, making it super beneficial for building new relationships.

I hope to do the same with my friends back in the United States. It’s time my closest friends in Georgia experienced a little part of my culture with me. 

This week, I traveled to the port city of Busan to attend the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), one of the largest film festivals in Asia. It was my first time in this city, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. The bright blue beaches caught my attention as soon as I got off the KTX train station. The large skyscrapers near the ocean also made my jaw drop in amazement. Busan has a different vibe than Seoul—it feels more relaxed and touristy. Although I only spent a few days in the area, I felt comfortable. I understand why it’s such a tourist hotspot. The city’s energy is unmatched, and its proximity to the ocean reminds me of beach cities in the United States.

Without a doubt, I had a great time in Busan. I watched two movies (Zombie Child by Bertrand Bonello and Extreme Job by Byeong Heon Lee), ate delicious seafood, and made great memories with my friends. Nonetheless, I started to feel a little homesick and guilty for enjoying this time without my parents. My study abroad program plans cultural immersion trips to different places in South Korea for its participants. I’m lucky enough to get these opportunities and explore the country to its full potential. However, I can’t help but want my parents to be there, experiencing these things with me.

My parents rarely get to travel outside of Georgia. They work nearly every day, and when they get time off, they usually spend the day resting at home. I know they would love to visit South Korea and spend a weekend in Busan. My mother would enjoy vacationing in a Korean-speaking city. It would make her more comfortable and confident. My father would love the beautiful scenery. He loves to take pictures of nature; it is his form of artistic expression. These thoughts came to mind while I stood on the edge of the Pacific Ocean—bare feet touching the cold water and nose inhaling the salty breeze. I swore to bring them to Busan in the future.

I am appreciative of these thoughts. They allowed me to reflect on myself and my study abroad experience. I know my time in South Korea is limited, so I must treasure every day I spend here. When I go back, however, I must remember how these moments made me miss and appreciate my parents. I need to spend more time with them and get to know them on a deeper level. My trip to Busan was a wake-up call. I don’t plan on ignoring it.

This week, I met my little cousin and his family at a large department store in Seoul. We ate dinner and shopped for clothes. Although this activity may seem very simple and ordinary, I treasured every second of it.

During my time at Yonsei University, I often forget about my extended family in Seoul. It’s easy to get lost in the new environment. I spend lots of time hanging out with my friends from the study abroad program and exploring different parts of the city. However, I came to South Korea with the intention of spending more time with my family. I wanted to make up for the time I lost with them while living in the United States, but this hasn’t been easy. We are both busy with our lives, and time passes very quickly. As a result, the small moments I spend with them mean a lot to me.

I love hanging out with my cousin and his family. Kyung Bin is fourteen years old now (and taller than me), but I still see him as a little kid. He isn’t like other boys his age. He’s very outgoing and talks well with others, especially people older than him. Although we don’t see each other often, Kyung Bin treats me like a brother. We talk about almost everything—sports, school, food, work, etc. He truly feels like the little brother I never had. My aunt and uncle also treat me well. They make sure I am having fun and feeling comfortable whenever we go out. I appreciate this part of them. It reminds me of my own parents who I miss more and more each day. I know it’s hard to accommodate for another person, so I will make sure to thank them for their hospitality in the future.

My time abroad has made me understand the love of family. After my aunt moved to Arkansas, I grew up with little to no contact with extended family. It’s something that I rarely. experienced as a kid. My time in Korea has been different, however. My family members are everywhere, and I can count on them at all times. I came to South Korea for these moments.