By living in South Korea for 7 weeks, I was able to experience a whole different side of life, and I am so grateful. Regarding my language journey, I saw that living in the native country was a crucial step in learning Korean. I say this because textbook Korean and Korean used in daily conversation are pretty different, and I wouldn’t have gotten to see this if I didn’t live in Korea. I also learned that, like in every language, there are certain ways of saying things that are phrases or words you just need to memorize. For example, the cashier uses a different word for “bag” that is not the same one I learned in class when you buy something from a clothing store.
Also, I sort of realized this before going into the program, but I didn’t interact with a lot of native Koreans, and I mostly met the international students from my program. I wasn’t able to see a lot of Korean culture through the people, but I learned A LOT about other cultures from all over the world, which I am so grateful for. It made me realize how little I know and how there is so much more out there. What I also gained from this experience that I mentioned in my pre-departure expectations is learning to be independent, which I definitely did. I remember on the second day I arrived in Seoul, I was scheduled to go to one of S. Korea’s amusement parks. However, I was so scared to take public transportation alone and scared I was going to get lost that I didn’t go. However, by the end of the trip, I was so comfortable traveling alone to different places, which is super cool to me. Now, I think I am now ready to travel more and be more confident by myself.
I have learned and grew so much by traveling and living in Korea. I talked a lot about this in my previous posts, but I saw that there is so much more I can learn and experience and the life I live now is so miniscule compared to what the world fully offers. During my trip, people I met in South Korea told me all about their homes in different countries and the beauty they have to offer. I also corrected some misconceptions about the world and different countries, which made me wonder what other misconceptions I have that should be fixed as well. If you are considering applying for an SLA Grant, don’t hesitate and do it. Traveling alone internationally may seem super scary, but I promise it is worth it and you will learn so much beyond learning your desired language. I traveled the summer after my freshman year, which seems young, but I do not regret it at all. I learned so much about myself, the world, and the Korean language, and this opportunity is definitely once in a lifetime. Also, learning a new language is a gateway into learning about different cultures and meeting new people that you wouldn’t have been able to communicate with if you didn’t learn the language. I am so thankful for this experience and it was an amazing opportunity.