Home away from home Past Review

By (East Asian Studies., Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/31/2011 to 06/20/2012 with

Ewha Womans University: Seoul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I plan to work in Korea in the future, so it was great to really live there for an extended period to get used to regular life, school, work etc. My Korean skills improved a lot and my general skills at managing life on my own also improved. I am confident I can manage myself living in a foreign country, and I feel prepared to launch into the work force there with plenty of friends and connections already in place. I also loved simply experiencing all that Korea has to offer - like joining a traditional folk music club and performing with them, learning the drinking customs, traveling around the country (it is small so you can go everywhere fairly cheaply and easily), doing a temple stay, etc.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There was less reading required overall as compared to Wellesley but the level of instruction was just as good for the most part. Beware of professors that don't care about the classes due to high numbers of international students attending.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Brand new international dorms, located right near the front gate. Clean and spacious with personal bathrooms.

* Food:

Campus food was not bad but a bit repetitive - worth it for the cheap price. There are plenty of restaurants near by that are also affordable for students. Desert waffles on campus are delicious.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

You only integrate with the locals if you put in the effort to do so. It is really easy to just make English speaking friends from America and Canada and hang out with them all the time instead of branching out. I worked really hard to keep a balanced friend group and really experience the country, but give the program 3 stars because I know many other students who did not.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never needed anything, but a friend of mine had to get her eye checked once. The health center is very close to the international student dorms. The nurses don't speak perfect English, but you can always bring your Korean PEACE Buddy to help you translate what you need. They have a lot of medications and things available. There is also a hospital right across the street from the university.

* Safety:

Seoul is a pretty safe place. Crime rates are relatively low, and I never encountered any problems while I was there. Pick-Pockets are not common the way they are in Europe and theft on campus is not a big issue either. Of course you should not walk alone at night as in any big city, and some areas are a bit more dangerous than others, but especially near the university campus it is very safe. The area where most foreigners live - called Itaewon - is one of the more dangerous places ironically. Be careful if you go there at night for parties and things.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

$100 per week covers food. $200 per week is food, transportation, a very cheap phone, and a little shopping if you work it out right. I tutored English to fellow students and was easily able to make $200 a week to cover it all.

* Was housing included in your program cost? No
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Explained above - around $200 per week. It is possible to cut that down though.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eating at the cafeteria every day will cut your costs as the food there is about $2 per meal. Tutor to make extra money if you need it. Get a phone where you pay per use - so you just refill as needed and can control your phone related spending. Take subway instead of cab to get around, which is usually more convenient anyway. Hang out with Koreans who are older than you are - they will often pay for you as that is part of the culture!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

If you don't want to learn the language you actually don't need it to get around Korea. Plenty of people speak English, the subways are all in both Korean and English, restaurants have pictures in their menus or English menus available, and at stores they will hold up a calculator with the price for you. Besides that almost all international students speak English so making friends is easy, and Ewha students are required to speak English to a certain extent as well. That being said, the Korean language classes are good and if you want to learn the language you can certainly make the most of your experience by practicing often and ignoring the available English.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? KOR 202
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Speak only Korean to your Korean Language Classmates. Make as many Korean friends as you can, starting with your assigned PEACE Buddy, and practice with them. Go to PEACE Buddy outings and events as an excuse to hang out if you are having trouble meeting people. Learn how to order and ask for things in Korean so that when you shop or go out to eat you can practice with the employees (I made friends with several cafe workers by going often to the same places and practicing with them). Get a language exchange partner! There are many Korean students who would love to help you if you don't mind helping them.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Friends from Korea and around the world
  • Classes that Wellesley doesn't offer
  • Living Situation (cheap, modern, connected)
* What could be improved?
  • some professors not caring about international students
  • encouragment of speaking Korean
  • the dorms allowing guests
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Half of the international students at Ewha are male, even though Ewha is a women's university. The dorms do not allow guests, so you can't have friends stay with you if you live in the dorms.