Even though I did not know how to speak Korean, I recklessly jumped into Korea. I learned simple Korean while helping a Korean family to take care of their 4-year-old and 100-day old baby. Simple Korean refers to very basic words such as “I am hungry” and “well done.” After staying with a homestay family for a year, I attended language school in Cheongju city for a year, and then I entered CBNU. In addition, I decided to live in Cheongju city, which is relatively cheaper than Seoul, and therefore economically suitable to my study abroad life. Studying abroad, which I started alone without any help of my parents, or those around me, was not easy.

  First of all, there were differences from Australia in many ways, such as culture, education, and tuition. I think I had a preconceived cliché about Korea that I had imagined depicting Korean universities based on Korean movies that I saw. As an example of a cliché, imagine students going to a cafeteria with friends with a book in their hands, and actively participating in clubs with students of various nationalities. Moreover, Australian universities, do not have many cafeterias, do not have graduation exams, have a difference in education system that allows students to receive immediate feedback from professors, and require expensive tuition.

  On the other hand, there are some memories of feeling uncomfortable when I came to study abroad. After entering school, there were only two foreign students in the department, including me. After the other student quit school, I became the only foreign student, drawing attention. It was burdensome to often hear professors or students saying “this is the first time for a foreigner in this class.”

  Additionally, the hierarchical culture was interesting, for example seniors and juniors. I had participated in a play within the department, and unlike in Australian culture where individualism is severe, it was amazing to form a team, prepare a play together, and give advice to juniors. It shows that the senior-junior relationship is very important in Korean society.

  Foreign students around me often travel in Korea or spend time in another city or country. It is possible to stay in dormitory on Campus, but since it is not free many friends opt to travel.

  In my case, I rented a house in Seoul with my friends and lived there for a month. I went on a tour to Seoul with many foreign students. We visited all the hotspots such as Namsan Tower, Dongdaemun, Jongno, Hongik University, and Lotte World during Christmas. Living in Seoul for a month helped me a lot in arranging my thoughts when I was deeply thinking about the future after graduation. In addition, I am going to go to Jeju Island with 6 friends this summer vacation. I am also planning a day trip with my boyfriend. I buy camping items these days to go to the sea, especially Sokcho, and enjoy camping.

  At the end of the interview, I would like to say to foreign students at CBNU. Coming to Korea, trying everything for the first time in a foreign country and challenging myself culminated in a meaningful semester. It was a hectic four years, but Korea and CBNU allowed me to grow again. I hope you do not miss every opportunity that will unfold to you in the future, and actively participate and have an enjoyable and happy school life.

Maftuna: Last year, I visited Gyeongju, a historical site where Korea’s old style is preserved, modern design coexist, and various cultural properties exist. In particular, cultural sites such as Daereungwon, Bomunjeong, Donggung Palace, and Wolji Pond were the most impressive. Based on these special experiences, Gyeongju is one of the first place I want to recommend to other foreign students. In this summer vacation, I will stay in Korea to take Korean language classes, study English with my Korean friends, and take the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) and the Test of English for International (TOEIC).

Khok Pros: Last year, my vacation was mostly spent at home due to travel restrictions, and I focused on self-study and personal projects. However, I am excited to travel and interact more with the local community this year, making my plans more dynamic and socially engaging. After the end of the semester, I have two plans. First is traveling to a few provinces to experience different cultures and histories. The second is meeting my friends and visiting other universities where my friends are studying.

Ei Phyu Kyaw: I want to recommend traveling around various cities. During my time in Korea, there were three memorable trips. The first was to Busan. Busan is the second-largest city in Korea, and it is very beautiful. Second was a one day trip to Seoul. The professors, two lovely Korean students, and I visited famous places such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Blue House, and Insadong in Seoul. From this trip, I got to know how Koreans preserve their culture and how much effort they put into making it a tourist attraction. The final trip was a hiking trip to Indeung Mountain with the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies which gave me a scholarship. I met all the scholars from different countries and went together.

Khok Pros: To make the most of your vacation, there are three points that I recommend, traveling to new places to gain fresh perspectives and relax, taking online courses or certifications relevant to your field to stay ahead academically, and engaging in volunteer work or internships to build your resume and network.

Frankie: Since I am graduating from CBNU this year, my goal is to succeed in getting a job. I want to focus on my social life and smooth human relationships with people around me. I feel a lot of regret because I have not been able to make many friends with people at CBNU after entering the school due to COVID-19, but I want to focus on spending time with people around me.

Khok Pros: Based on my vacation plans, I hope to start the next semester with personal growth in three areas, improved technical skills from the online course, new cultural insights and experience from my travels, and enhanced soft skills and community connections from volunteering.

Ei Phyu Kyaw: What I would like to say to the foreign students studying at CBNU is to make an effort in your studies. Moreover, I learned a lot about the Korean lifestyle and culture while traveling around the cities. I also gained more confidence in myself, relaxed, and had more energy for my ongoing research. That is why I would advise them to go on a trip and relax.

Khok Pros: To my fellow foreign students at CBNU, congratulations on completing this semester! Take this vacation time to recharge, explore new interests, and set goals for the upcoming term. Remember to balance rest with productive activities, and make the most of your time here by embracing every opportunity. Enjoy your break and come back refreshed and ready to achieve more.