Learned and practiced pop culture in Korea! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I took Mass Media and Popular Culture in Korea class. This was insightful as I learned about popular culture and got to experience it firsthand in Korea. The professor was interesting and engaging as there were many video clips and interesting topics about South Korea's culture.

On-site administration of your program

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) did a wonderful job welcoming me and my peers to South Korea. Not only did they provide a welcome dinner, but they also had a farewell dinner for us. I was always able to contact the regional director via Kakao Talk (Korea's message app). They even reached out before I left to ensure I could contact them if there were any issues when traveling to South Korea. I felt fully supported during my time in a foreign country.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The international student dorms at Korea University were nice for three weeks. It was a traditional double room with a shared bathroom. There was a ton of storage in a small space. It seems possible to live in during a semester. One unique thing I noticed was that my dorm floors were heated! The floors are divided up by gender. There is also a strict no guests allowed policy. This was ok because many of my friends I met were on the same floor as me. And if not, we just hung out at a restaurant or coffee shop. There was a shared laundry and kitchen space on the first floor. The kitchen had storage lockers for each room as no food was allowed in our rooms. There was also shared fridges and every student was allowed 5-liter plastic container to keep food in the fridge with. This was ok for the three weeks I was there. I bought a small pan and oil to cook myself eggs for breakfast. I can see how for a long period of time it would be something to adjust to.

The food was unique and tasty. I had an opportunity to try Korean foods I cannot find in my area of Denver Colorado. Korean food is spicy and vinegary. It was about similar priced in the US, but it was traditional good Korean food.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

While I was in Seoul and attending Korea University, I got to immerse myself with the local culture. I used the public subway system to get around. I visited many tourist and historical sites to learn about Korea's culture. My course was also great as I got to learn about Korean popular culture then experience outside the classroom. However, I was limited to my interactions with the locals. The winter program was primarily with international students from around the world. I got to meet students from Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China, but there were not many Koreans in my class because it was an international program. I also do not know the Korean language, so I was limited to talking with people. However, I did get more cultural exposure of Korea than I ever had.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally did not have an issue where I needed to use my international healthcare but was provided with good coverage from TEAN.

While I did not know the language, I felt completely safe. The locals were kind and everyone kept to themselves. Locals are out late, so I didn't feel unsafe when returning home late from adventuring. Also, know that Korea University and Seoul, in general, are very hilly, so be prepared to do a lot of walking up and down hills (you get used to it after a while). I had an app that helped guide me through the subway systems. One major thing I recommend to future students is get a local SIM-card. This will help access anything you need while out and about: translating app, transportation app, or just finding nearby food. Another tip, Google maps does not work well in South Korea, so I used Kakao map or Naver map.

The program was well structured and it was a great time experiencing the city of Seoul.

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

This is a personal preference when studying abroad. While I spent more than my usual student budget, I spent it on things I don't do every day (tours, going out to eat, souvenirs, etc.). This is based on what the student brings and wants to do while in Korea. I rated this a four because I spent what I prepared to spend.

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

There was no encouragement as the program was in English. There was a foreign language class available, but not forced.

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• The class.
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The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer