Heart and Seoul Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The quality of the education is surprisingly high and the classes taught in english are generally easy to follow. The KLI course offered by Yonsei is exceptional, with amazing teachers providing a lot of support for students.

On-site administration of your program

CIEE provided a lot of support all throughout the semester. The program made them administrators very accessible. Multiple activities scheduled by the program, throughout the semester, made it easy to get to know everyone in the program. As a result, I always felt like there was a strong network community, from the higher ups to fellow participants.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing provides a private bathroom for everyone in SK. Security desk at the front, along with the scan machine made it feel like it was a safe area. I had trouble with a roommate but the housing office made it very easy to sort out and it was solved right away. Heating and AC makes the rooms comfortable to live in too. And using the card key to activate electricity in the room, genius.

I didn't have a meal plan so I ate out often. Eating outside ranges from restaurants, cheap and expensive, to just having street food. Both are satisfying. If you're really short on money you can go to the GS25, one is located in the building, to get something inexpensive. Finding food is not a problem at all.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was surprised how much I learned about the culture without being aware of it. A lot of things that rattled me in the beginning, like the power difference and even calling a taxi, are second nature now. By the end of the semester I felt comfortable walking around and doing things without feeling incompetent.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I only got a cold here but there is a pharmacy right near the campus. The pharmacy speaks english, if needed, and sells strong medicine relatively cheaply. They are very effective, for me at least. These stores are also everywhere.

Seoul is a very safe city. Despite the worries echoed from back home, due to North Korea, I don't think anyone ever sensed any danger. Seoul is a city where you can walk around at 3AM and not feel like you're danger of being mugged, since there are so many people out at all times. The only thing is the driving. Drivers are relentless on the road, keeping an eye out for cars when crossing is important.

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

Food costs more than you would think. And the amount of shopping that you can do, no matter where you go is alarming. A lot of the places are giant shopping areas, like Dongdaemun and Myeongdong, so it's better to bring more than less. As a side note, the drinking culture is big here and alcohol costs add up.

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

The program was entirely in English so it comfortable. Taking a KLI class is a mandatory component of the program so that is where foreign language comes in. KLI is an excellent program and I have grown to love my teachers very much for all that they have done. I think the student-teacher relationship is not as important in KLI, as a result the class has a very casual feel that makes learning the language very natural.

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• Dorm

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• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The Support
• Accessibility of Everything (People, Places, Food, etc...)
• Street Waffles

• Various forms of 'Engrish'
• Nutritional Quality of Available Food
• Strictness of Housing Regulations

The Outright Urbanite