You would never forget it Past Review
By A student (University of Tulsa) - abroad from 06/26/2015 to 08/06/2015 with
ISA Study Abroad in Seoul, South Korea
I learnt that there are so many people from all over the world have the same interests as I am. I traveled everywhere with my friends and by myself and there are so much to see that you have to plan nicely to ensure that you didn't miss anything important. It is definitely worth it and I would go abroad again but maybe to a different place to experience a new place. I managed to improve my language in Korean which was great because usually I only learnt through songs, dramas and variety shows but now I got to use the language with the locals even though I am just a beginner. I am someone who can travel alone so if my companions were busy, I would travel on my own which was a great experience because Korean is definitely not my first and second language but I managed to converse with the locals and traveled to the places I want without any problems. The scenery in the south of South Korea is no joke if you love the sea. I got to see my favorite singers as well like Jung Yunho and Kim Junsu before they go to the army which was awesome. Although I didn't get to see all five of them but at least I got to see some of them. Korea is a very safe country so wherever I go, I don't have to worry about my safety but basic precautions are important. I learned that I should always try something new and not to feel afraid or embarrassed to do it as chances never come twice so whatever I am thinking, I'll just do it if its within of my ability.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
it was great! I got to try different kind of courses when I was there and I can still transfer them to my school |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I like how they arranged a day-trip every week we were there but the sad part was the dates always coincides with things which I've planned way before that. They always change the dates too so I didn't get to go to some of them (this is by Korea University) For ISA, I love how they told us in advance of the activities so we can secure the dates just for them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
overall the hostel is great but because of some people, we cannot bring in any guest to our hostel, even if they are living in another hostel of the same university which is absurd. |
| * Food: |
i often eat outside of the campus compared to the on campus cafeteria as there are not much choices for me to eat as I don't eat pork and I need halal meat. I am not a very picky eater unless it is what I can't eat. Korean food is great and I love it as most of them are spicy and tasty. |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
watch out for cars. I am used to fast drivers but some of my friends didn't so they are pretty scared because sometimes cars or the delivery motorbikes will suddenly approach . it is safe in terms of everything else, even if you are traveling alone (which I did so many times) |
| 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) |
food is cheaper in Korea compared to the States. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | less than hundred per week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | don't spend too much on food. you can eat expensive food once in awhile but not every single day. I would say it is better if you can take notes of your every spending so you can see what you spent most on. For me, food and food because I eat a lot. Don't just shop when you are in Korea because there are so many cheaper places if you know where to find them. |
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 |
I didn't take any Korean language classes but I know the basics of the languages so it was pretty easy for me to get by when i was there. |
| 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 |
| 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 speak with the broken language that you know. Don't use your first language. You are a foreigner in a foreign country so don't be embarrassed even if you're using the wrong words. You're learning so who cares what other people think! At least you try~ Make friends with the locals but if you can't, find someone who has a similar interest as you so that you guys can try to learn together. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Korean currency because the normal numbers we typically learnt are not the same for the currency as they used the Chinese numbers as well so it was pretty messed up for me to understand it. But you can still just use calculator on your phone or the seller so it's not that bad. I still survived it~ |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
