Thomas GUY

Student of The University of Notre Dame Australia, Australia
Exchange to Sogang University, Korea

Advice to future Korean Scholars

1. Don’t be Afraid! At times I was terrified of what ‘could’ happen but I realised this was just a road block from openly experiencing all Korea had to offer. Getting on the plane and the first few days were daunting but in the end I learned so much more about myself and grew as a person that new challenges which used to seem big, now seem small.

2. Be prepared to feel the Energy! The energy of Korea hit me like a wave. You can really feel the non-stop vitality of the people. Shops, restaurants, pubs, sporting fields etc are open very late every day and the youth areas are lit up and full of people catching up to the wee hours of the morning. For example my Korean roommate would play basketball till 10pm then eat with friends at midnight and end up playing StarCraft till 2 or 3am. Therefore, be prepared to experience a lack of sleep and great feel of youthful wonder.

3. Be prepared for a Culture Shock! From my first conversation with my Korean room mate who could barely speak English I knew I was in for quite a culture shock. Everything was different. Friends, sport, communicating with people, mannerisms, food, drinking customs and the list goes on. My advice is to just go with the flow and let yourself be immersed in the culture.

4. Embrace the Challenges! All the time I encountered many challenges. Whether I was trying to overcome communication difficulties, trying to work through some elaborate maze of regulation, buy a ticket to watch Korea play soccer, waking up at 3am at a Buddhist Meditation Course or simply trying to order dinner, I was surrounded by challenges. The best way to deal with this is to keep an open mind, take each challenge as they come and make a Korean friend who can help guide you.

5. Be prepared to Drink! Drinking is a ritual performed regularly with its own customs and rules which you are advised to follow. Whether I was celebrating birthdays at a Korean BBQ playing traditional Korean drinking games or studying Economics with the professor using Beer and Soju as measurements, drinking is a common theme. Even celebrating the national holiday, Chu Sok with my Korean friend’s family, long held drinking rituals are devotedly respected. Drinking forms an integral part of meeting people and developing close relationships. Therefore, be prepared to drink!

6. Be prepared to see Beauty! Whether it was the beautiful mountains around Seoul, the beaches of Busan, the snow parks, Island of Jeju or beautiful women I was constantly surrounded by beauty. Be prepared to fall in love with Korea and never want to leave.

7. Be prepared to Study! Koreans are very hard workers so be aware that apart from having a lot fun there is some study involved. I studied Korean Law and Economics and while very interesting this did involve some down time studying. Learning Korean Law was an amazing experience, especially being able to compare legal systems so I advise you to choose subjects you love and stay on top of the work. If you want an exciting, challenging experience where you can learn more about who you are then Korea is where you need to be.

© Copyright 2018 CK Group. All rights reserved.