Zoe (Sem 2, 2023)

My Exchange at Yonsei University

I first arrived in Seoul at night after a 12-hour flight. Being naturally inept with directions and tired after a long-haul flight, it took me a long while to find the train to my accommodation, despite having visited Korea before. I probably wouldn’t have made it to my accommodation had I not gotten help from some kind policemen at the airport. So, if I had to explain my feelings in one word, arriving in Seoul was stressful.

I stayed at Yonsei’s International House (dorms) for the first one and a half months of my exchange. Yonsei has two types of dorms for international and visiting students: International House and SK Global House. International house is all female and only has the option of a shared double room without a bathroom, while SK Global house is uni-sex with single and double rooms. Both rooms have toilets included! 

The first part of my exchange was the most challenging. I was adjusting to Yonsei’s school system (which I found starkly different from UoA’s), had yet to make close friends, and had trouble getting along with my roommate. Having taken only one politics class at UoA before and then taking two politics classes at Yonsei (one in grade 3 and one in grade 4) made it harder for me to adjust as the content was not as familiar. Furthermore, Yonsei’s ‘absolute evaluation’ grading system was unfamiliar and took me a while to become accustomed to. However, despite these unfamiliarities, I enjoyed the new perspective these courses gave me. They were unlike any course (especially a politics course) I have ever taken. 

After one and a half months at the dorms, I moved out of the dorms and decided to live alone. It was a big decision for me and became the turning point of my exchange experience. Around this time, I became closer to two of my friends in my KLI (my Korean class), and they became my closest friends during my exchange. We went glamping, travelling and hung out almost every day during the second part of my exchange. The memories I made with my friends are one of the biggest highlights of my exchange. The other highlights were my Korean class (I really enjoyed learning Korean; my class was so cute, and my teacher was so lovely and funny!), the food and the nightlife! Compared to New Zealand, the food prices for Korean food, especially here in Seoul, are cheaper, and they taste delicious! I have a lot of friends who say that Korean coffee doesn’t taste good, but I promise there are some excellent places; you need to find them 🙂

That leads me to the advice I would like to give to anyone going on an exchange: 

“Your exchange is what you make of it!.” 

There are going to be bad days and good days. Or all good days! But to make an exchange an experience, you have to make it your own. If things are hard, make them better, seek change, and don’t give up. If you’re bored, find things to do. Because at the end of the day, the world (well, your host country) is your oyster!

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

Studying at one of the top universities in Seoul, I experienced how competitive and studious students can be. This environment motivated me to try harder and achieve some of my most outstanding academic achievements throughout my university life thus far. 

While challenging, Yonsei pushed me to realise my academic potential. 

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

1. I would really recommend travelling the country with your friends! You get to see different sides of your country and bond with your friends!

2. If you go on exchange in semester one, try and attend Yonsei’s festival! 

3. Also if you can join a social club at your university, I would really recommend it. I didn’t join nearly as many events as I should have with IYC at Yonsei.

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

1. Plan, plan, plan! – Plan trips and research activities that interest you about your host country so you can make friends and gain experience! Make the most out of your exchange! 

2. Save money before coming (I saved quite a bit before coming to Korea, plus my scholarships, so I did not have to worry about financial problems (maybe just be conscious about my spending habits…)

3. Always have a backup plan – Living abroad in a different country frequently means that unexpected situations arise. In my case, there have been multiple times when I wished I had either triple-checked or had a backup plan!

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

Before going on exchange, I made sure not to spend unnecessarily and save as much as possible. This, alongside the scholarships I got, really helped.

I also used a budgeting app called ‘Money Note’ which helped me be aware of my expenses. 

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

Living in Korea, and having several challenges regarding accommodation, insurance and roommates, I learnt that I was more resilient than I thought I was.

Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?

I travelled a lot around Korea. I went to Yeosu, Gangneung, Yangyang, Jeju, Jeonju, and Busan. I really enjoyed Yeosu, Gangneun and Yangyang. 

However, be aware, the further you travel outside of Seoul, the less convenient public transport is…

So really plan transport well! 

P.S if you would like a list of really good restaurants, feel free to ask! (Strangely enough, I had the best bibimbap of my life in Yeosu, not Jeonju?!) 

Final Comments

Enjoy it! One semester goes by faster than you think!