Orientation and First Weeks
When arriving to Korea, it will be quite a new experience. Many people can’t speak English so learn some basic phrases and terms if you don’t know Korean yet. It will take some time getting used to, but it’s a great experience to indulge in a new culture. My first week in Korea was difficult. I couldn’t speak the language and as an only child, I felt very alone and quite frankly, scared. But that all changed after my first day of school.
The first day of school will be orientation which takes place a week before the first week of classes. You get to meet lots of other exchange students from around the world. Korea University has a buddy program where you are put into groups with other exchange students and Korea University student buddies that can help you navigate throughout your semester.
Accommodation and Living
There are many options for accommodation when staying in Korea (dorm, airbnb, goshiwon, etc.). Do your research on what accommodation you want and the price of each before deciding as there are pros and cons to each of them. Dorms are also very limited and can take very long to process, so it is best (in my opinion) to stick to airbnb or goshiwons. Some students try to get a dorm and don’t find out until a month before that they didn’t get one and therefore have no accommodation/find a hard time finding one after.
Learning and Adaptation
Be open and meet new students as it will help enhance your experience abroad. The campus is also much larger than SFU, so make sure you get an opportunity to tour around campus and find out where your classes are in advance! I had to learn to be more extroverted and open to meeting lots of friends at orientation and in my classes but my exchange experience was so rewarding because of them.
Social and Extracurricular Activities
Go explore as many places as possible. There are so many things to do in Seoul alone that you probably won’t be able to get through them all in the short amount of time that you have there. Make the most of it! I got to go to many tourist attractions but my favourites would have to be Lotte World, Everland, and Busan. Lotte World and Everland are amusement parks in Korea and they are a must go while you are there! I’m a big Disney person so being able to experience a similar environment was a treat. Busan is south of Korea and requires either a flight or a train, but was definitely worth the trip! I got to see the beaches, eat hotteok (a famous Korean snack) and eat “live” octopus! If you're foodie, it’s a must try! There are so many more cultural experiences such as going to convenience stores, eating street food, going shopping, and experiencing the nightlife. Go experience it all!
