Traveling to South Korea?

Traveling is a whole new world to more people than we realize. In most cases, people don't travel until they can get a guaranteed or high-paying job. For me, my only option for a trip earlier than that was to study abroad. A lot went into this process just to set up my trip to South Korea. I needed to get and pay for a passport, apply to International Study Abroad programs (ISEP), and talk to my advisor about my needed or possible courses I could take. I also had to apply to the colleges there that were most likely to accept me. I got my acceptance letter and from there on kept going through the process. Even with all the confusion I had experienced, I still managed to go abroad for a semester. All of this for just one short semester cost me approximately $13,000.

Shocking, I admit, but the trip was well worth the cost. I also spent four months on my own studying Korean so I could understand and communicate if I needed to. Surprisingly, I could understand more than I thought I could. I liked the language and that is actually why I learned it. I had a small hope that the college in South Korea would have a hip hop dance club, which they did, and I wanted to join. I couldn't, however, because at the last moment they rejected all possible new comers. It upset me because I wanted to go on stage for once. I have been teaching myself hip hop and freestyle dance for 12 years and I thought I could finally join something, but I was wrong. Instead, I spent my free time in a place called Hongdae.

Hongdae is actually a popular place for buskers. Full of talented teens and 20 somethings. From singers and bands to dancers and magicians. They had fun, kind, and bright personalities. I felt at home and loved to see how widespread the musicality is among the youth there. I got the chance to even join in a busking group of dancers. I performed not once but four times with a group called Romantico (로맨티코) and made friends with a girl named Ena.

I got to go to the oceans of Busan and see two of the oceans, do too much shopping, and all of it with my dorm mate and her boyfriend. There was some stuff I missed out on, but I still enjoyed my school life too.

My school life was stable, albeit harder then what I was used to. I did pass all of my classes and made many friends. I loved getting to learn about another culture. Being able to see it first hand was worthwhile. Everything was better than I had thought it to be. The do have rules that most of us in America may question, but it made sense regardless.

On my way there I took three suitcases and a backpack... It was quite a lot for a girl like me. About 130 pounds. I got through the airport, although it was exhausting, and to my dorms safely. The only problem I had was my dislocated thumb from all the weight I had to carry. A terrible idea really. After all the shopping I did, I brought back four bags and the backpack at a total of 200 pounds... It again dislocated my thumb, but my shoulder as well. My advice from this experience is take little and buy what you want there. If I only knew sooner. But I cannot change that so you live, you learn, and you write about it.

I am from America, yet I was not shuned for my nationality while I was there. It was quite opposite. So many people were trying to speak English to help me even if they struggled. When I told them I could understand Korean and speak a little, they got so excited and asked so many questions. But all in all, I felt at peace there. Everyday was a new adventure, trying new foods, seeing new sights, and making new friends. I am hoping one day I can go back. Most people fear the possible dangers, but in truth everywhere is dangerous, so why worry now? I didn't manage to mention everything that happened on my trip although I wish I could. So much happened in four months that it's hard to remember it all. I feel as though doing this brought me closer to what my future may hold. I can honestly say, I am excited at the possibilities and hope others take the chance to find their own happiness and adventure. You make your own happiness. People cannot control how you feel.

This was all in 2017 of the fall semester. I hope you enjoyed my story.