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Desperate to observe within the footsteps of a school scholar who studied overseas in South Korea? We just lately caught up with Angelyna from California State College, Lengthy Seaside, who did a research overseas program within the capital metropolis of Seoul throughout the spring semester.
Uncover how Angelyna’s expertise with AIFS Overseas helped her change into extra impartial and broaden her horizons!
Kiki: My title is Kiki and as we speak we’re talking with Angelyna. Earlier than we get began, slightly about me. I’m presently an AIFS Overseas alumni ambassador, and I [studied] overseas in Paris, France, in Spring 2024, and I can’t wait to listen to about your expertise, Angelyna. May you begin by sharing with which AIFS Overseas program you probably did?
Angelyna: I studied overseas this previous spring semester in Seoul, South Korea, at Sogang College.
Why did you select to review overseas in Seoul?
Angelyna: I’ve at all times needed to review overseas. I used to be actually fortunate that my aunt and uncle studied overseas of their faculty years, in order that they inspired me.
And particularly, Seoul: I’ve at all times been concerned in Korean tradition since I used to be younger. My aunts and uncles actually beloved Ok-pop rising up, after which I obtained my mother into it. So all of my household [was] concerned in Korean tradition. After which I believed, what’s higher than learning overseas there and truly experiencing it for myself?
What was your greatest impediment earlier than beginning your research overseas journey?
Angelyna: I believe the most important impediment was the psychological and emotional problem behind realizing you’re going to go away. I’m undoubtedly a friends- and family-oriented particular person, so imagining not having their quick assist whereas overseas [was a challenge]. Nevertheless it undoubtedly [helped with] private development—I wanted that independence.
How did AIFS assist you when you had been learning overseas?
Angelyna: I used to be so fortunate to have the most effective Program Administrators in my view. I had my Program Administrators, Alice and Anna, they usually had been the most effective as a result of they had been so right down to earth, and it made speaking to them very easy. In order that made me really feel extra welcome to go to them with issues similar to homesickness and any struggles I had. Additionally, they had been really easy to speak to [about] plans and what to do.
They had been at all times open to hanging out with us and guiding us wherever wanted, they usually simply made Seoul really feel a lot extra approachable, particularly as somebody who didn’t converse fluent Korean going [in]. I used to be a bit afraid and apprehensive attempting new issues, however they had been so fast to fulfill with me and put me on all their favourite spots.
Kiki: That’s so candy and I’m glad to listen to that they had been so supportive and welcoming to you. AIFS Program Administrators make the applications that college students go on simply a lot extra immersive as a result of they offer you that inside perspective.
How did you navigate the language barrier in Seoul?
Angelyna: Previous to this journey, I didn’t [speak] Korean proficiently. I used to be a newbie. All I did was some Duolingo, however then I took Korean 101 as I used to be taking my [other] programs overseas. I might say it was a barrier at first. If you’re externally East Asian showing, they may assume that you’re roughly Korean, so locals will at all times discuss to me in Korean first. After which I might inform them, “I’m sorry, I’m learning, I’m attempting my greatest.” After which they’d [use] English.
So I believe particularly with Seoul, [the language barrier] was very straightforward to navigate… all the things at all times nearly had an English facet, they usually had been at all times very pleased to translate or like have a look at my telephone with my translating app. I by no means felt too afraid to speak to individuals.
What was probably the most impactful cultural expertise you had in Seoul?
Angelyna: Proper after I studied overseas in Seoul, there have been latest political happenings involving their democratic course of and the earlier president. So, I witnessed firsthand the true, inimitable Korean spirit within the act of their protests. They’re such a hearty individuals and in considered one of my programs, I discovered slightly bit about Korean historical past within the facet of the approaching of the democratic nation… it actually simply opened my eyes [to the fact] that Korean tradition and persons are far more than what individuals see via the Ok-wave—like Ok-pop and Ok-drama—they’re actual individuals with actual struggles.
Do you’ve a favourite photograph from learning overseas?
Angelyna: The Namsan Tower is a really tall tower…on a hill… in Seoul. It’s the very best level which you can at all times see [in the city], and it’s additionally a highly regarded space. It’s close to the primary palace [and] metropolis corridor, in a really busy part [of Seoul].
This was truly one of many first stops I ever made in my first week in Korea. It was a Saturday after a busy week of lessons and getting [adjusted] to issues. This was our first AIFS tour—we went to the primary palace after which Namsan Tower afterwards. For me, this photograph that I took holds a whole lot of reminiscence as a result of I bear in mind this was my huge “whoa” second [where I realized] I’m in Korea. And it actually hit me that I used to be going to review overseas there for 3 months—that is truly occurring after a yr and a half of planning. Particularly being [at Namsan where] you may truly go into this observatory space and see the entire metropolis, it was so mind-boggling.
You may by no means substitute these first emotions of realizing you’re abroad—you’ve a lot to discover, a lot to do. Even now, I can’t cease smiling about it.
How did learning overseas have an effect on your perspective of the world?
Angelyna: I believe it fully modified my worldview. [Studying abroad] has actually formed my outlook for the following ten years in that I need to journey extra. I need to return to Korea, I need to journey, and I need to dwell overseas once more, if I can. I believe that’s undoubtedly on the books now. I need to make that occur.
Having the ability to journey overseas and dwell overseas actually expanded my horizons, in that I’m not simply limiting myself to my dwelling nation… I can think about myself flourishing outward and going to totally different elements of the world.
Additionally, it simply made me need to study extra and pursue extra academia. Finding out overseas was actually useful as a result of the programs I used to be taking felt ten occasions extra impactful as a result of I used to be overseas [and] my time was restricted. So after I was at school, I used to be actively studying and ensuring I used to be absorbing [everything]. Outdoors [my classes], I had as a lot enjoyable as I may. It didn’t even really feel like the standard college routine. It felt so enjoyable and extra rewarding, realizing that after assessments I may go discover and do a brand new factor.
I used to be even wanting into learning overseas for my grasp’s program, one thing like that sooner or later. I’ve very excessive hopes for myself ever since this journey.
Have been there any life-style adjustments that you simply took dwelling?
Angelyna: Positively incorporating Korean meals into my each day life. I’ve discovered so many recipes since coming again as a result of I really like consuming Korean meals. However I might say life-style adjustments embrace simply getting outdoors extra. I believe prior to review overseas, I used to be caught in routine, which isn’t a foul factor. I’m a really routine-oriented particular person, however I’ll say being overseas helped me faucet into extra spontaneity, [so] I can at all times find time for exploring and doing new issues.
Previous to that, I used to be so caught in routine that I didn’t even assume it was doable to slot in time for attempting new issues and having enjoyable. I noticed I’m younger and I could make time to do issues even when issues are powerful. [Studying abroad in] Korea made me notice that point is brief and you would at all times make extra time to do one thing enjoyable on the weekend, even when it’s one thing small like exploring in your hometown. I believe that was actually eye-opening too, as a result of coming again, I used to be capable of respect my hometown in several methods I didn’t see beforehand… I believe that’s the most important life-style change—doing extra, getting out extra, and being extra explorative, even [at] dwelling.
Kiki: I undoubtedly agree—the little weekend journeys, making time to have enjoyable or making time for your self—that’s one thing that I’ve additionally taken dwelling with me, from my time in Paris. I actually benefited lots from simply with the ability to sit with myself and discover new locations. And sure, I’m accustomed to my hometown, however I may at all times go over one metropolis and discover the downtown area and simply probe for a day and see what I discover. You by no means know, you would possibly discover a new favourite place, otherwise you would possibly come throughout one thing that you simply forgot about after a very long time. It’s at all times enjoyable to discover or simply carry slightly little bit of journey again into your day-to-day life if you’re again dwelling.
Now that your journey has concluded, how are you feeling?
Angelyna: I’m 20, however I’m nonetheless attempting to determine what to do from right here on out. And I believe being overseas actually makes you concentrate on that in the long run, too. Whenever you’re [abroad], you [think], “What would you like for your self and the place do you need to go?” That’s all of the ideas and emotions I’ve been having this previous month.
Kiki: Very attention-grabbing. You could have, such as you mentioned, an introspective pause, however it was productive in its personal approach. Each time I converse to individuals about this, they share that they type of are on this funk the place they really feel like they will’t do something.
Angelyna: As a result of I studied overseas on my own, I didn’t go together with any associates or anybody I knew. So I believe I haven’t been capable of get a lot suggestions on what I’ve been feeling. I don’t know what others assume after their research overseas. Earlier than I moved again, I had this mourning interval in Korea the place I thought of leaving… I believe I had that funk in the course of my research overseas program as a result of my thoughts will get forward of itself. I’m very introspective and I take into consideration issues approach additional [ahead] than I have to. However I believe that type of made it simpler for me regulate again as a result of I noticed one finish of a chapter is the beginning of a brand new [one].
Any recommendation for future research overseas college students?
Angelyna: Throughout my overseas journey, I continually had this lingering feeling of being keenly conscious that I used to be a foreigner. Having the ability to research overseas and with the ability to actually take pleasure in it’s to grasp that that’s okay. Particularly in Seoul, it has a really homogeneous tradition. It’s true that everybody [dresses] like one another, everybody desires to observe one another. And it’s a very group-minded tradition and so I actually needed to imitate that. However then that led to me feeling increasingly more like an outsider, so like the alternative impact. Simply realizing that you’re visiting this nation and you’ve got this opportunity to [contribute] your individual concepts and your tradition, and sharing that and incorporating that have with the nation you’re learning overseas in—I believe that’s probably the most distinctive factor you carry. That took me some time to simply accept as a result of I had this at all times lingering like, “Oh, I’m the odd one out, or I don’t appear like everybody else right here.” However ultimately, by the top of the journey, I noticed that was okay. Being myself was one of the best ways [for me to] work together with others.
Kiki: Yeah, I believe having this understanding that you’re nonetheless an outsider in your host nation and being respectful of the environment and the house that you simply’re visiting, whereas additionally sharing slightly little bit of your tradition and your variety and slightly little bit of your self, is certainly one thing that a whole lot of college students may benefit from listening to earlier than they go overseas. Particularly since a whole lot of them really feel like they both need to fully change themselves or cover behind a masks, or they may really feel like they don’t know the best way to method others on this new society as a result of there are totally different social or totally different expectations. So it’s attempting to study what’s anticipated of you on this new society after which attempting to take these roles and say, “Hey, right here’s slightly piece of me that I’m bringing with it.”
Angelyna: Yeah, I believe that takes a whole lot of persistence too—adjusting to new social cues and behaviors. Like in Korean, there’s this factor known as nunchi. So, a whole lot of foreigners aren’t anticipated to have this idea as a result of it’s like studying the room, having manners. And it’s a really complicated factor that’s exhausting to method if you’re outdoors of Korean tradition. However once more, simply have an open thoughts and perceive you’re a customer and do your greatest to respect what’s given to you, but additionally realizing you’ve this different powerful job of cracking that foreigner stereotype that’s on you. I believe that’s one thing I might say lots of people would expertise learning overseas, too. They’ve these predetermined notions of what you would possibly act like or be like, however you’re authentically you irrespective of the place you go.
Are you a scholar able to take the leap and research overseas like Angelyna did in Seoul with AIFS Overseas? We’d love that will help you begin your journey!
Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students research overseas. Our applications are extremely inclusive, which takes a whole lot of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site employees, and extra, you’ll take consolation in realizing you’ll have assist all through your whole expertise overseas.
