TEAN - South Korea - Korea University, Seoul

Before coming to Korea, I was a picky eater. However, given a unique situation and a positive mindset towards new experiences, I tried new foods and enjoyed eating seafood for the first time. If you're unsure about studying abroad in Korea, you should go for it and enjoy the experience of being in a new country. I explored a new culture and ate fresh foods I would never find in the US for a lower price. I recommend checking out night markets, new districts, and social media to find hidden restaurants serving unique foods. Overall, this program has provided me with the opportunity to discover new things and given me an experience that I will never forget.

I think one thing people don’t tell you when you study abroad is how quickly the extraordinary becomes routine. At first, everything is new; every street corner, every meal, every cultural difference feels like an adventure. In Korea, I was awed by the towering peaks of Bukhansan, the neon-lit streets of Seoul, and the centuries-old palaces that stood as reminders of a rich and complex history. Each day felt like a discovery, from tasting tteokbokki at a street stall to navigating public transportation in a foreign language. But after a while, the novelty starts to fade. The subway routes become second nature, the sounds of a new language shift from overwhelming to background noise, and the once-exciting challenge of ordering food turns into just another part of the day. That’s when you realize the true essence of studying abroad, it’s not just about the grand adventures, but about embracing the everyday moments in a different culture. For me, those mundane moments became the most meaningful. Studying in a café tucked away in a quiet alley, sharing inside jokes with new friends from across the world, finding comfort in a familiar park bench, going to church on Sunday, these are the things that stick with me. It’s not just about climbing literal mountains, but about navigating the highs and lows of adapting to a new way of life. And when it’s time to leave, you realize that what once felt foreign has somehow become home.

I think one thing people don’t tell you when you study abroad is how quickly the extraordinary becomes routine. At first, everything is new; every street corner, every meal, every cultural difference feels like an adventure. In Korea, I was awed by the towering peaks of Bukhansan, the neon-lit streets of Seoul, and the centuries-old palaces that stood as reminders of a rich and complex history. Each day felt like a discovery, from tasting tteokbokki at a street stall to navigating public transportation in a foreign language. But after a while, the novelty starts to fade. The subway routes become second nature, the sounds of a new language shift from overwhelming to background noise, and the once-exciting challenge of ordering food turns into just another part of the day. That’s when you realize the true essence of studying abroad, it’s not just about the grand adventures, but about embracing the everyday moments in a different culture. For me, those mundane moments became the most meaningful. Studying in a café tucked away in a quiet alley, sharing inside jokes with new friends from across the world, finding comfort in a familiar park bench, going to church on Sunday, these are the things that stick with me. It’s not just about climbing literal mountains, but about navigating the highs and lows of adapting to a new way of life. And when it’s time to leave, you realize that what once felt foreign has somehow become home.