A Seoul-ful Journey Past Review
By Chicharlah Muldrow (University of Louisville) - abroad from 06/25/2018 to 08/05/2018 with
Korea University: Seoul - International Summer Campus
I learned so much about myself, the country of Korea and being abroad in general. It's definitely worthwhile! I encourage anyone who is thinking about going abroad, to go!! It's an experience like not other! I learned a new language, a new palette for food, and so much more!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Since KU is one of Korea's Ivy League schools, it make sense that the course offered in the summer were intense. However, it is not impossible to complete and achieve good grades. The professors had high expectations and was clearly stated what they want from students. KU gave me a glimpse of what one of the top tier Korean University is like and gave a life changing experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
On-site administration was AMAZING!! They coordinated many activities for students to engage in to experience the Korean lifestyle. The administration also assigned KU buddies for students to make friends, travel around the city and just have someone to talk to. I really admired the administration for putting so much time and effort to make sure all students had a wonderful experience while in Korea. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I chose the dorm option while abroad. I haven't lived in a dorm since my freshmen year of high school so, it felt a little weird to live in one again. The dorms are shared between two people, with one bathroom. My only complaint about the dorm is that tenants were not allowed to eat in their rooms. |
| * Food: |
Although I didn't eat at KU's cafeteria, there were a lot of food options around campus. About a 5 minute walk outside the dorms, students were able to find a quick bite to eat and it a great way to see other students too. Korean food always been one of my favorite foods and it felt great to eat it everyday. Korean food is colorful, flavorful, and damn delicious! Just can't get enough of it! I tried to eat something different everyday. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Since living on campus, i was able to see and experience Korean college life. The administration held activities where students were able to engage in to experience the local culture. The activities were informed with history and how it relates to the future. During my downtime, I would travel to different part of the city and watch the culture reveal in front of my eyes. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Did not experience any major health issues. |
| * Safety: |
I think Korea is one of the safest countries that I've been in. As a foreigner, I had to travel smart. I can't leave my possessions in the open or engage in activities that are frown upon in the host country. I never felt my overall safety threaten. My friends and I always go places in small groups of 2-4 and make sure each person had some way of contacting each other. Be mindful of others and have a good time. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I'll definitely choose this program again! It opened new doors for me, it inspired me to continue learning Korean, I hope to return to KU for their Korean language program in the future. |
Finances
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* 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) |
Of all the countries I travelled before, Korea is probably one of the most expensive. The easiest exchange would be 1000 won to 1 dollar. While some things: food, clothes, and shoes (some) were relatively cheaper than the US. Other things such as western style foods were more expensive. Living on a student budget is doable if you budget well. Splitting costs with friends help such as with meal, riding taxis or going on quick excursions. I roughly spent $150/week that's including meals (lunch and dinner) and personal expenses (shopping on saturday). |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Roughly $150/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | -splitting meals, taxis -take advantage of discounts whenever you go shopping -Don't go drinking/clubbing every week or every day (it adds up) -Try to withdrawal large amount of cash in one go to avoid atm/foreign fees from your bank (this varies from bank to bank) -Plan trips wisely .Since I was abroad in the summer, August is peak season for vacation. I would avoid planning trips in August and September. -Have snacks handy -Use the bus system (great way to see the city) |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
There were times, where Korean would've been helpful such as ordering food. Since I was in Korea, using Korean is definitely encouraged. The program want students who were learning Korean to use it in their every day activities, it's the best way to learn the language outside the classroom. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Chinese language level 3-4 |
| 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? | If you are a beginner like me, I think the best way to practice a language is make local friends. They can help with pronunciation and conversational. Online apps also helped. Going to a cafe help too because I was able to hear the language being used in a everyday setting. Don't be afraid to ask questions, it's your learning experience, make the most of it. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew that direct enrollment to KU is cheaper than going through a third party program. It was cheaper to enroll directly (almost 2000USD cheaper) |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
