Yena LEONG

Student of La Trobe University, Australia
Exchange to Yonsei University, Korea

Annyeong from South Korea!

It had been my dream to go on an exchange to Korea ever since I was young. My mother's stories about her childhood and school life in Korea as well as my love of travelling and adventures inspired me to study abroad. One of my goals for the trip was to improve my Korean and to learn more about my heritage. I also hoped to travel around Korea on weekends and see what the country had to offer.

The language course was intense - we had two-hour classes every day from Monday to Friday. However, my classmates were all genuinely passionate about Korea and its culture and I enjoyed being able to converse with them in both Korean and English. My classmates were from all over the world - the Netherlands, Japan, China, USA, Taiwan, Russia and Germany. Not surprisingly I learnt a lot about other cultures besides Korea through my language classes.

One of my favourite parts of the exchange was joining the calligraphy club at Yonsei University. The club met weekly to practice calligraphy and eventually to write a piece of calligraphy for the biannual exhibition. I enjoyed bonding with the other students during late-night calligraphy sessions as we had to rush to complete our pieces before the deadline. There was also a club camp called an MT (membership training) which organised Korean BBQ and drinking games while staying overnight at a countryside town. I would recommend giving the clubs a try when you study abroad - it is a great way to make friends and immerse yourself in the culture.

If you plan to go on an exchange to Korea, or to any country, be prepared to gain lots and lots of weight. With the variety of food available at affordable prices, it was difficult not to gain weight. From street food to Korean BBQ to shaved iced dessert to fried chicken, there was just too much delicious food to eat. I especially loved eating at the markets in Busan where you could eat and shop at the same time, as well as tasting some traditional dishes not available in Seoul!

This exchange has been one of my most memorable experiences to date. It allowed me to get out of my comfort zone, try new things and make new friends. I am so honoured to be a recipient of the scholarship which gives me this amazing opportunity. I also hope that other students would consider going on an exchange so as to open their eyes and experience the world.

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