Korea is magic Past Review
By Nilajah M (Asian Studies, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 08/28/2014 to 12/20/2014 with
Hanyang University: Seoul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned that Korea is where I probably want to spend the rest of my life, and I will be taking steps to move there after graduation.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They did not answer emails in a timely manner. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Uncomfortable, small, and not fully clean unpin arrival, but my roommate was great. |
| * Food: |
The on-campus food was cheap, although not great. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare was easily accessible and cheap, but it was difficult to complete the mandatory health check that was required for dorm living. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safer than I've ever felt. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
I know someone who had to live on a hundred dollars a week, but because of that budget she was forced to miss out on a lot of cultural activities and opportunities. I needed at least $150 per week, and occasionally more. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around $150 - $170. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat the on-campus food during the week so that you can afford to splurge on the weekend. |
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 |
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| 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? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | KOR 507 |
| 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? | Just walk up to people and use it. When you check out at the grocery store, when you buy bubble tea, just don't take the easy way out and use English even though most of them can understand 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 more Korean. |
