It started off small; I'd go to a restaurant for dinner by myself, and even though it was a little awkward not speaking any Korean, I was still met with warmth and kindness (and great food!) Then, I started memorizing my way around the area, only to then branch out wider. Through my program provider, I've been able to learn so much about Korea, both its traditional and modern aspects. From pottery to book binding, woodblock printing to taekwondo, I'm proud to look back and see that I've done so much to make the most of my time abroad! I've tried so many delicious foods, both foods that I've always wanted to try and foods that I've never even heard of, all of which were cherished and savored. I'm also proud to see that I've done a lot to connect with new people, from making new friends from all over the world to teaching Korean senior citizens English to telling kindergartners all about what I've done (that's you guys!).
I'm incredibly grateful to have been able to go to Korea and live the adventures I've always wanted! When I was young, studying abroad seemed too unrealistic for me since it cost a lot of money and was complicated to set up. But I've had a lot of help along the way, which has made everything possible! My school provided generous funding, and I was very lucky to receive the Gilman Scholarship, so I actually didn't have to pay much money at all! Also, thanks to my program provider, they helped me enroll at Yonsei (my school in Korea), and they've given me so many fun activities to do, as well as so many friends to enjoy them with!
I love it here in Korea, and I'm actually very lucky to say my journey isn't even over yet; I still have a little over a month to keep studying here!
