What It Feels Like to be an Exchange Student in South Korea?

Last 2010, I have received an opportunity that I have never expected that would change me for a lifetime, which until now I still can't believe that it had happened. An experienced that really changed the way I live and the way how I see things. It was really a life changing experienced that when I got home, a new and better me was born.  

I have went to South Korea without even any knowledge of their language, culture and customs. It was my first time to go out of the country and I was literally culture shocked. As days has passed, I eventually learned how to cope with their culture and language. Just after two weeks, I  can haggled and asked for directions  every time I go downtown, or somewhere. After a month, I can ask for something, and order my food in the restaurant all ALONE.

Also being an exchange student in South Korea has also given me a chance to visit from the northest to the southest of the South Korean peninsula. I have been to the almost north of the South Korea, the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, where I had a glimpse of the North Korean city of Kijongdo, and visited the underground tunnels and military base camps along the border. Also, I have walked along the streets of Seoul where I have seen the famous Gyeongbuk Palace, Insadong, Dongdaemun Market and of course the Namsan Tower. Also I got a chance to visit the the archaeological and historical city of Gyeongju where I have visited various temples and shrines such as Bulguksa, Seokguram, Anapji pond and more. I also got to see different beaches around the coast line of South Korea from Pohang to Tongyeong but Busan. And also I experienced climbing up the different mountains around Gyeongsan province like Apsan, Guamsan and Palgongsan, and have explored the daily life of locals in my second home city, Daegu.

It has not just let me visit different places, but also to experience the authentic Korean culture from the Chuseok celebration of my host family where I felt so welcomed and accommodated to the jjimjilbang in Seoul where I first got naked in public. Not only that, I have also experienced singing with a group of Koreans in a norebang, took a long train rides with KTX, tried the bizarre street food, Beondegi, in Gyeongju, and countless night of drinking with friends and classmates all around the university campus.

Being in South Korea is not complete without trying their food. I have been thankful that I grew up not a picky eater. I eat vegetables, meat or anything edible that has been served to me, so eating out is not a problem for me. I have the opportunity to try almost all of their cuisines from their famous Bibimbap and Bulgogi to their not so famous Jjimdak and Samgyetang. I also have tried their famous street foods such as Tteokbokki, Odeng, and more. I also have tasted some of their alcoholic beverages such as Soju, Makkgeolli, and Maekju. 

Even though it seems that being an exchange student in South Korea is full of fun, I must say it comes with a bigger responsibility behind all of that. I have been granted a scholarship grant from the South Korean government so I have to maintain a good academic standing in spite of all the parties and the outside trips that I have. I took five regular business courses from International Manners and Protocol to Economic Development and Global Marketing. I have also taken a special Korean language course to ease my learning of the Korean language. All has been a good courses for me, and as a normal student I also do skipped classes and sometimes slept on class. Luckily, when everything ends, I do received a GPA of 4.30 out 4.50. I almost got a straight 4.50 except one. Having said that, even though I have to maintain a good grade or not, I have never lockup myself abroad just to study and maintain the scholarship. Hence I go out and explore! And that's what exchange is all about.

Even though, I have only stayed in South Korea for only one semester, yet i have learned a lot of things and met a lot of people. Being an exchange student in South Korea, I must say, is fun and exciting since you will really experience life away from your parents and away from your home. It is a challenging and an interesting experience.  You will literally get lost in translation and you would experience how it is to be alone and be an alien in a foreign land. And eventually, you will realize how great you are as before.