You'll never want to leave Past Review
By Mei S (Marketing, Pace University) - abroad from 02/20/2019 to 06/22/2019 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Seoul - Korea University
I learned a lot about culture and how different countries perceive americans. I also learned a lot about myself - being in a foreign country learning how to be a semi-self-sufficient semi-adult. I discovered new hobbies, made new friends all in different stages in life, and through study abroad, I have a better sense of the different paths I can take in my future
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Overall I definitely felt like Korea University Business School was more challenging than my home university, but it was also more interesting and I feel like I learned more and cared more. The professors all had impressive backgrounds and really engaged with the students. A lot of emphasis on teamwork and group projects (every business class had a major team project and some even had three) |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
KUBA - Korea University Buddy Assistants was a club my study abroad program entered me in and that is where I met some of my best friends. Its a great club to get aquainted with the school, make friends with other international students and korean students, and learn about korean culture in a fun way by going out to eat, drink, club, and MT. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived on campus in CJ International House, on the 6th floor in a single room. I had 3 other suitemates, and in our suite there were two bathrooms and a living room with 4 desks, with chairs and couches and a closet for each of us for our shoes. Overall amazing |
| * Food: |
As a vegetarian, food was difficult at first but was manageable. Korean food is all about their meat, but around the school i regularly went to four different places where they had one or two things that I really enjoyed and ate. My savior was chinese food because its cheap, delicious, and vegetarian. If you are looking for korean food that is vegetarian you can find it but it might not be too healthy ie ramen, noodles, rice and thats about it. They have bibimbap which sometimes has meat and sometimes doesnt and there is soondubu which sometimes has seafood and sometimes doesn-it depends on the specific restaurant. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Because of KUBA I felt very integrated - I felt like I made a life for myself. I made friends in school classes and clubs, as well as through participating in things outside of school like dance classes and bar hopping and meeting cool people, and running races. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I personally had no health issues, but my friend did and using the insurance through TEAN and the University hospital, everything was taken care of. |
| * Safety: |
I felt extremely safe. Not that I would recommend it, but I felt safe walking around at 3am and I am a female. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
100% the program exceeded my expectations. I wish I was living there for longer. I had the time of my life and the program connected me to some of my current best friends. |
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) |
As I am not a meat eater, I would usually have to spend more money going to far away places to get food. Or find specifically vegan/vegetarian cafes to go to which cost more than others. Personally it was expensive, but my friends who are meat eaters could find simple meals for 5,000won and under while I would spend 10,000won or 20,000...although I also exercise a lot and eat a lot. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 300usd |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Honestly eventhough I spent more than I wanted to, I dont regret anything because abroad was when I tried new dance classes and went to exhibits in museums and traveled the country. Just know that you will want to explore and travel and try something new and try to budget a big portion to "new experiences" because they will arise and you will not want to say no. |
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 |
Living in korea, it is good to know some basics to get around but also a lot of people speak english so it is alright to not know more than a few sentences |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| 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? | never took a class before |
| 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? | Dont be afraid to go out and use it in daily life. |
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 how simple it was to travel around the country, and how easy going some teachers are about letting foreigner make up classes for traveling and exploring the country(NOT ALL, but some) |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
