Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Wonderful Experience in Daegu Past Review

By (Computer Science, Berea College) - abroad from 02/26/2015 to 06/20/2015 with

Keimyung University: Daegu - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that I can do a lot by myself. I learned to be more independent and that I am capable of being in a foreign country by myself.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Compared to my classes at Berea, I felt like my semester was quite easy. I also didn't have to worry about a labor position, so I felt like I had so much more free time.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was satisfied with the living arrangements, but the curfew was the thing I hated the most. Also, the fact that you had to walk up hill about a mile everyday to get to classes and back to the dormitory complex was exhausting in the heat.

* Food:

The food was delicious and fairly cheap.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

To me, Daegu just felt like a large city in the US would feel. Yes, the language is different, but the overall feeling of convenience and going out to eat a lot made it feel like I was just in a city like New York. The feeling tripled when I went to Seoul.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Well, when I was over there, the MERS scare was happening. I felt like they had taken necessary precautions and preventative measures, but it was still kind of a scary situation. The healthcare was a lot less structured there than it is in the United States. It is also cheaper, so it was a nice change to not have to pay $40 for prescriptions.

* Safety:

In Korea, they do not have guns and they are very trustworthy. Mostly the people trust others to not steal their laundry, cars, and other items. I never had to worry about people going into my room or watching my bag on the street. It was a nice environment.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

The main expense that I had was food. The cafeteria in the dorm complex at Keimyung University is sub-par and most of the time, I did not want to eat their food. I would go out and eat bbq or ramen and these costs would definitely add up. This was however, a bad choice on my part, so please do not be as easily tempted as I was. Korean also love to have drinks like coffee and smoothies at all times. These are also fairly cheap in comparison to Starbucks. If you do like these things, get them in moderation. All of the tempting things to eat there isn't worth the pain of having to pay it all back at a later date.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $75
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. Do it. Also, do not be swayed by the snack store or how cheap the food is. Always try to split the bill and get more for your money, because your money goes quick.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

I had my Korean language class 3 days a week and it was my favorite class. Since I went over there to learn the language, I always looked forward to learning more each day. I sometimes wish that I was in the more advanced group, because I felt like I was learning at a slow pace. Most of the other students were from Europe and other places, so learning Korean for them was more difficult because of their accent. If you feel like you are a very quick learner and that you want to learn at a expedient rate, then I would suggest learning some Hangul before going, and when you take the test try to get into the second level class. I've heard that it was fairly easy, but still challenging.

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Korean Language Level 1
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? In my case, I was very eager to learn the language, so I tried to use it as much as I could. Make as many Korean friends as possible (You can do this by going to the International Lounge, someone is bound to approach you and talk to you) and practice with them. You also will have a Korean buddy who will hopefully help you. I would say just use it as much as you can and try to integrate yourself in the culture.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The Food
  • The Classes
  • The Friends
* What could be improved?
  • Communication
  • Preparing Dorm Stuff for the Incoming Students so that they don't spend $200 + dollars on supplies. (Blanket, Toiletries, etc..)
  • Telling students before hand what they are getting themselves in to (i.e. how the dorm complex is very far away, how you have to pay the room and board fee in cash and go to the bank awkwardly with your buddy, etc..)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that I knew more of the language before going there and that I could communicate with more people. I also wish I was more confident because then I would have made more friends. I was fairly shy when I was over there, so I mostly made friends with the Americans and some Europeans. I also wish I would have known my financial situation before leaving, so I wouldn't have made so many bad monetary choices. This was my one big regret. I wish I knew that if you went over your pre planned budget, that all the money they give you there after, you will have to pay before continuing your college career. it was a big pain in the butt and I wish no one else the frustration that I felt.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!