Healing and Growing Past Review

By (International Business., Trinity University) - abroad from 02/23/2015 to 06/09/2015 with

Ewha Womans University: Seoul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This was honestly a dream come true. I have always wanted to go to Korea, and through this trip I accomplished so many dreams that I never thought would one day come true. I also learned a lot about myself, and that I am stronger than I was before I left. It also made me treasure what I have back at home as well. Korea will forever hold a place in my heart.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Ewha is one of the top schools in Korea, the classes were interesting and their study resources are incredible.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

We had one really great field trip, however the administration part towards the beginning was stressful, and the visa process was prolonged due to mixed signals. In the middle of the semester the director simply left the school, so there was one woman who was suddenly in charge of both asian students and those from other areas of the world. When our director left we were simply sent an email saying don't have any problems because I'm leaving and this other woman does not normally handle students from countries outside of Asia. However I know they have since appointed a new director, and I hope this would not be repeated.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorms themselves were perfect. However I had a problem with my roommate who was a transfer student from another University in Korea rather than an international student. This roommate would have no respect for my things, for example throwing my belonging outside onto the balcony while I was away on a trip in Taiwan for no reason, coming in at 3am and turning on all the lights, and making noise/using the printer. However when I voiced my concerns to housing after I found my belongings thrown outside I was forced to pay another housing fee in order to move to a different room, despite already paying for housing once, and not being the one disrespecting other's belongings.

* Food:

The ECC has plenty of access to food and snacks. The surrounding area of Ewha also has many cheap restaurants along with street stalls that sell food for as cheap as 2,000 won (roughly $2)

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

In terms of within Ewha, since the dorms are only filled with international students, and Ewha students typically don't live on campus, we did not really get to meet many Ewha students. The majority of our classes were also filled with international students so this was a bit of a disappointment. However, I was able to befriend a few Ewha students, and they were extremely helpful in exploring the surrounding area. However cultural integration is really up to you in an exchange. So I found one really good friend and we went to a different area in Seoul every day. One tip: go to the tourist center in Hongdae, it has this booklet called Discovering Seoul and lists every single must see place in all areas of Seoul along with directions to get there and operating hours.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had an accident in the subway, which resulted in injuring my leg. I could tell it needed to be x rayed, and was severely swollen and painful. However in the health service brochure it said Ewha can provide x-rays and all services are free. So I waited through the entire weekend to go in on Monday. However it turns out Ewha can only perform Chest x-rays. I was then sent to a hospital, however they sent me to the wrong one. International students are supposed to be sent to Yonsei Severance Hospital because it has an international ward with English speaking doctors. (This accident happened within the second week so I was unaware of where all the hospitals were). I was sent to the hospital for domestic students Sinchon Yonsei Hospital. No one spoke English, it was incredibly stressful because I could not communicate with any technicians or doctors. However, I called my program director, and she was able to translate over the phone between me and the doctor. However she wasn't fully able to explain everything the doctor said so it was kind of a guessing game in terms of treatment. Their health care is socialized which means you are treated more as a number than a patient, and you are all treated together in one room. This meant while I was being fitted for a cast one girl was receiving stitches on my left, and a man was receiving burn treatment on my right. So just make sure you are sent to the correct hospital. Yonsei Severance hospital is just across the street, and is on Yonsei University's campus. In terms of prevalent health issues the MERS outbreak occurred towards the end of my semester in Korea. Now a major epidemic is something extremely rare, but in the event of one I will say the Ewha handled the precautions very well. Our rooms were sprayed and masks were provided for all students.

* Safety:

Seoul is honestly a really safe place, and Sinchon is a really good area thanks to so many universities surrounding it. However if you're a girl I wouldn't walk alone really late at night, but in all honesty that's not a good idea in the majority of the world. Be super careful when the subway gets packed to the point where you can't move on your own. I was pushed and my leg fell into the gap and got stuck (also know that the subway doors do not have sensors, they will just shut and the subway will leave whether all of you is in it or not) so don't be timid or be afraid to shove back in order to not get trampled.

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)

Eveything is really cheap in Seoul. I never paid more than 7 dollars for a meal.

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

Park Ji Yeon is an incredible Korean teacher. It was difficult waking up for 8am class every morning, but it honestly was a really helpful class.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Self Taught Korean
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Don't be afraid to try. Koreans get really excited when you try to speak Korean (and will also give you discounts when you do).

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
  • 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?
  • Living in Seoul
  • Bonding with Others
* What could be improved?
  • More activities with local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That one bad experience can't ruin the future.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'