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study in
south korea!
Interviewing a Yonsei Student
Name: Madison May Doyle
Major: UIC - CLC
Underwood International College -
Comparative Literature & Culture
Age: 21
- Describe your overall experience in Korea in 5 Words
Exciting, stressful, daunting, eye-opening, one-of-a-kind.
- How is Korea different from where you're from?
"For one thing, Seoul is a very metropolitan area, and as I come from the rural American Midwest, it’s definitely a significant change of scene. Seoul really gives off the feeling of “big city” life. Everybody here is usually busy or in a hurry, and Koreans put a lot of value on working hard. In the same sense, they also tend to play just as hard as they work, and most people go to sleep late and wake up early. When you live here, it’s really easy to get caught up in that pattern of constant activity."
- What is one thing you love about Korea?
"Everyone is always moving and doing things, and stores and trends are always changing. In that sense, life here feels very vibrant and fast-paced, and I always get the feeling that Seoul is the kind of mover-and-shaker city that helps shape the worlds of business, fashion, health, cosmetics, and so on. It’s really exciting to be a part of that"
- What is one thing you dislike about Korea?
"This is a complaint that I commonly hear from foreigners and Koreans alike: life in Korea, and in Seoul in particular, often makes it difficult to catch a break. University and work schedules are often very strenuous, and little opportunities are afforded for rest and relaxation. The moments you find yourself able to rest in a quiet place, or escape the busy city life and head out into nature for a bit – those are the kind of moments that become indescribably precious. Speaking of the nature-y parts outside of Seoul – these are the only parts of Korea with fresh air! The air quality in the city is absolutely horrible most days, and it can cause a lot of health problems."
- What do you think about korean food?
"I would consider myself a pretty big fan of Korean food, and I often find myself missing it when I travel back to the U.S. I think what I like most is the variety – there are a lot of delicious, heavy foods that are fun to eat on occasion (like ddeokbokki, jjajangmyeon, and so on) but also plenty of dishes that feel a little healthier and cleaner, but are still delicious (like bibimbap). Don’t be fooled, though: the idea that all Korean food is healthy for you and that you’re likely to automatically lose weight when coming here is a misconception."
-Do you have any comments on the drinking culture in Korea?
"The drinking culture in Korea is really extreme, and it’s sort of regarded as an expected and normal part of life here, both for university students and adult employees (though this doesn’t always apply quite as much to the foreign community in Korea). But I know plenty of people who have no problem with going out drinking on a school night, getting completely wasted, and then still somehow making it to school the next day. The idea of “parties” also doesn’t really apply to the drinking culture in Korea like it does in the U.S., as most drinking events would take place out at a bar or a club rather than at a person’s house or somewhere on a university campus."
- Is Korea safe for foreigners?
"I think that compared to most big cities, and pretty much anywhere in America, Korea is quite safe comparatively. Violent crime is not nearly as common. However, of course it’s still always smart to stay on your guard, as incidents can and do happen. The legal system can be quite difficult for foreigners to navigate, as well, so if something happens to you, you might have a lot of trouble trying to get something done about it. Sometimes crime happens in less obvious ways, too – like with the case of the epidemic with hidden cameras being installed in public women’s restrooms."
-Do you have anything to say about the boys in Korea?
"I think that there’s definitely a difference between the dating styles of Koreans and Americans, but Korean boys are pretty much the same as boys anywhere else – no better, and no worse. There is, however, a lot of emphasis placed on the outward appearance of being sweet and romantic, but often this outward appearance may not be the real deal. It’s best to always exercise caution and, of course, to always get to know a person well before really putting your trust in them. Guys may approach you simply because you’re a foreigner, which may seem flattering at first, but it really isn’t when the realisation hits that they’re not interested in you so much as they are your foreign status."
Do you feel pressured by the amount of work you have to do for Yonsei?
"I think it really depends on the number of courses you take, and more specifically, on which professors you get. Some of them give an insane amount of work, while some give out very little. I have heard that UIC professors give out more homework assignments than those for regular Yonsei courses, and this seems pretty true from my experience as well. Usually the work isn’t too difficult, but when it piles up, it can become overwhelming."
What is one thing you wish you knew before moving here?
Honestly, I think it’s just a warning to be patient. Getting adjusted to living in another country really does take a long time, no matter how flexible and easy-going of a person you are. You will go through points of trying way too hard to integrate yourself, and periods of time when you feel homesick and fed up with everything, without even realising what you’re doing. However, if you are able to weather all of this and make it through, I think you’ll eventually reach a point where you’re confident and secure in your position, and you can just exist simply as yourself without trying so hard to either exclude yourself from or include yourself in Korean society. For me, I think this took almost two years before I felt completely at ease with myself, but I’m sure that everyone is different.
Do you see yourself being here after you graduate?
I don’t know for how long I’ll be remaining in Korea in the distant future, but I do know that right after I graduate I will be taking up a position as an English teacher for at least a few years while I get everything in my life sorted out. I’d also really like the opportunity to work harder at studying Korean during that time!
Do you have any tips on learning Korean?
Just surround yourself with it, and try to have fun with it. Watching dramas or variety shows (with subtitles, or later when you’re advanced enough, without them) and listening to Korean music or podcasts is really a great way to learn, but you’ve got to make sure that you’re making the most out of it. Pause the show or the song and look up words and phrases you don’t know, and write them down somewhere so you can memorize them. To learn grammar, it’s best to pick up a workbook or textbook from a store or to study online (I’ve had especially good luck with the wonderful howtostudykorean.com). Getting a language exchange partner is also incredibly helpful, especially since you won’t have many other opportunities to practice speaking Korean, which is harder for me than reading, writing, or listening. My personal favourite method of practicing is to read webtoons, which you can find for free on Naver and many other places online. It’s a really great way to learn colloquial Korean, the kind you probably won’t be taught in class!
THANK YOU TO THE BEAUTIFUL MS. MADI MAY!
@madimaydoyle
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