Hello Ducks! My name is Erin and I am a senior studying Linguistics and Psychology. I am currently attending Yonsei University in Seoul South Korea on a year-long exchange. Fun Facts: I enjoy rock climbing, I hold a Wilderness First Responder medical certification, and I want to become a professor.
A study abroad experience, no matter the length of time, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you are even considering a study abroad experience, you are already most of the way there! Many of the tips listed below are Korea specific, but many are generally able to travel across the globe as well. I hope this post helps relieve some stress you may be feeling prior to committing to an exchange program or once you’ve already arrived!
GET PREPARED!
A large portion of taking care of yourself and our mental wellbeing actually happens before you ever step foot on a plane. Try to anticipate problems that could occur or challenges you know will cause you stress and do your best to have a plan for if those events come to pass.
YOUR NEW FRIEND: LISTS. One to prioritize is keeping a list of items you don’t want to travel with but will need upon arrival. For example, shampoo and toiletries, bedding, fairy lights, cleaning supplies, etc.
MAKE YOUR ARRIVAL EASY!!! It is very important to research how you will get from the airport to your school or place of residence.
TRAVEL WITH MEDS. I personally suggest procuring prescription meds before traveling since you already likely have a doctor and insurance coverage. Be sure to double check with your doctor if your meds are allowed within your country of travel for example, stimulants are banned in South Korea.
KNOW YOUR RESOURCES. Before traveling, know that there are a ton of resources for you that are both general and program specific! For mental health specifically, Yonsei was proactive on behalf of its students and reached out to me about accommodations. However not all programs will be the same, so be sure to think about academic and housing needs you will have ahead of time. I also suggest working out a phone and money plan ahead of travel. If you are abroad for longer than 3 months, you will need to buy a local data plan. For Korea, Chingu mobile is convenient, reliable, and very cheap. Money is also fairly convenient to manage in Korea. Yonsei University has a bank branch for Woori Bank inside the Student Union where you can exchange currency with no fee as a student, as well as numerous ATMs around campus. It is important to note that you must have a Korean phone number to open a bank account.
PREPARE FOR EVERY OUTCOME. Know your country’s emergency numbers. In South Korea, there are two. 112 calls police and 119 calls fire and ambulance. Sign up for notifications from your local USA embassy or consulate (this will likely be email) and enroll in the free national STEP program. Bring copies of important documents with you and leave copies behind with a trusted family member or friend.
YOUVE LANDED IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY! Yes, it truly is just as strange as amazing! Culture shock is very real, particularly coming from the USA to any non-Westernized country.
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MAKE A HOME.
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PUSH BOUNDARIES
KNOW YOUR LIMITS
ITS OKAY TO MISS OUT.
YOU ARE NOW CHRONICALLY ONLINE
If studying abroad has taught me one thing, it’s that I am now glued to my phone. In Korea, I not only need to keep in touch with my family back in the States but also want to upkeep relationships with new friends!
APP SUGGESTIONS. Koreans main point of contact is through Kakao Talk and Instagram as these are services that allow messaging through the Web instead of a cellular plan that will rack up foreign minutes. Naver or Kakao map apps are also vital to navigation.
EXTRA TIPS WITH ERIN <3
ANTI-PERSPIRANT DEODERANT. This may seem kind of silly, but this was huge for me! Korean summers and early fall are very warm, but what makes them practically unbearable is the humidity. If you sweat very much at all, pack things to help remove sweat stains, plan on doing more laundry in the first few weeks, and bring extra anti-perspirant deodorant! It is also very easy to acquire handheld rechargeable fans in South Korea for the worst days.
10,000 STEPS. Be prepared for lots of walking. Yonsei University was built into a mountainside, so you are constantly going up and down big hills. Additionally, you’ll likely want to be a stereotypical tourist prior to the semester starting which includes a lot of shopping and traveling with long days on your feet. Be prepared with good shoes that have lots of cushion and support.
HYDRATE OR DIEDRATE. With all the walking and hill climbing added to the high temperatures and humidity, you’ll need to be drinking more water than you normally would back home. Bring a water bottle, electrolyte mixes, or other things you know will help you to consume mor fluids. I also suggest eating more food in the first few weeks while your body adjusts as the conditions will cause you to burn a lot of calories.
LEARN HANGUL! This one is huge! Hangul is the name of the Korean alphabet. Once you learn it, even though you won't understand the meaning, you will now be able to read all the Korean language you see in your day-to-day. This is helpful for native-English speakers as many shops and products have labels that are written in Hangul but actually say English words. The Korean alphabet will help you unlock hidden English that will help you get around, particularly with food items and brand names.
BRING MORE MONEY. I was speaking with people I knew who had traveled to Korea prior to my own departure, and they suggested I bring around $200 in Korean Won for one semester. I suggest at least bringing double this amount. Although most shops and services are done via credit card or tap-to-pay right on your phone, many students clubs and exclusive campus social events are cash only (or require bank transfers which are expensive internationally and take a long time to process). Additionally, the South Korean T-money or Transportation-money card that you will use for buses and metro, can for the most part only be topped up at convenience stores with cash.
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MAKE MEMORIES. Time will go by very quickly, especially for students only going 1-semester or shorter so have at least a short list of goals or things you want to see at your destination before you arrive. Korea has a ton of firework shows, light festivals over the Han River, and music festivals all over the country, so keep an eye out. Also, many historical sites are free to visit on national holidays so be sure to plan ahead. Additionally, take a ton of pictures or write small journal entries whilst abroad. You won't want to forget any of these precious once in a lifetime memories.
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. Finally, remember that everyone is in the same boat! If you feel awkward? Chances are the person next to you feels the same way! People in the line ahead of you look like they’ve known each other for years? Either they came from the same school or they just met in line! Don't be afraid to put yourself out there a little as chances are the person receiving your greeting will be grateful you broke the ice. Basically everyone I’ve talked to has made friends by saying hello in a ticket line, met in classes or the student orientation, or attended the move-in week social events. The first bit of your tip will be hectic, so try to slow down as much as possible and enjoy the ride. Know that you are prepared, and other people feel just as nervous being alone in a foreign country.
You’ve got this!
Erin Lowry, Diverse Ducks Ambassador