Soh Li Yan Liyana BTE Johan U072628X Seoul National University, Y08/09 Semester 2

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1 Soh Li Yan Liyana BTE Johan U072628X Seoul National University, Y08/09 Semester 2 I had an exchange semester at Seoul National University in South Korea in the Spring Semester of One of the loveliest things about Korea that was different from Singapore was the weather dry and cool, even when the sun was shining at its brightest during summertime. Another thing that I was delighted to find was that the cost of living was indeed not as high as the general perception claimed. In fact, buying meals outside was much cheaper than cooking, and also cheaper than buying food outside in Singapore. Cab fare was lower, as was bus and subway fare. Some of the most memorable experiences I had were the trips that my friends and I took: Jeju Island, Jeollabok-do and Yeongdok, to name a few. Korea boasts lush and green natural scenery that Singapore cannot offer, and also showed us alternatives to city life. The wide range of food and the specialty dishes that each province was famous for were also pulling factors at first the food was a little hard to get used to. Each meal is served with at least 4 side dishes, one of which is kimchi. 80% of the meal would also be either vegetable or carbohydrates. However, after about 2 weeks, Korean food becomes much more palatable and after 4 months, I am missing it sorely. Classes at Seoul National University were an administrative nightmare at first. Three of my classes were cancelled because either not enough students enrolled for them or they had been converted into Korean Language classes. Fortunately, I signed up for the Buddy Program which assigned me a very nice Korean buddy to help me adjust to the new environment. With her help, I was able to sign up for other classes, apply for my SNU student card, apply for my Alien Registration Card and obtain my mobile phone and number. Classes are different from those at NUS in that they are held seminar style, and professors do all the teaching. I found all my classes to be stimulating and interesting, and although I was taking 7, 2 above the usual workload, I was still able to go on weekend trips, explore Seoul and get enough sleep! Classes were a little easier than those at NUS, mostly because of the language disadvantage that Korean students have in classes conducted in English, thus professors make sure that the language disadvantage is made even with slower speeds of teaching, and projects and examinations which emphasise on rote memorization just a little more than the usual class taught in Korean. The Korean people I encountered in my exchange are very much different from what I expected. The traditional stereotype of Korean people is generally one that is crude and unfriendly, but I found them to be mostly friendly, helpful and curious. The language barrier can be frustrating at times, especially if I was trying to contribute to a project group discussion, and when my friends and I got lost on trips or in Seoul. However, there are ways to get around the language barrier, and I found that if one does endeavour, one finds that there are so many wonderful things one could have missed out on. The culture is also vastly different from Singaporean culture in many subtle ways. There is an unspoken rule that you will be scolded if you talk too loudly on the train; one should always bow when greeting another person; Korean girls dress very well and cherish high-heeled shoes, even if they study at SNU where the campus is on a mountain! Moreover, while Korean society has traditionally been a patriarchal society, and while some of these patriarchal traditions remain, women have gradually

2 become more empowered and we have found out that Korean women are some of the hardest women to get and some of the most difficult customers in the world! Shopping is a delightful experience in Seoul, as Korea is actually one step ahead of Singapore in terms of fashion, and there is always something to do in this country. The countryside, where not even Internet is available and citizens depend on farming for a living, offers another side of Korea that one cannot see in Singapore. My advice to those going on exchange programmes, not only to Korea but to anywhere else in the world, is to make friends from every country possible, travel and witness sights one could never get in Singapore, and to learn the language of the country they visit, because these are the things that truly impart culture and make the experience all the more meaningful and memorable. A tip for those who are excited for new adventure but afraid that they will be uncomfortable and of the impending full independence is that friendliness and smiling go a long way!

3 Pictures from Jeju!

4 A standard Korean meal, with many side dishes!

5 Blooming cherry blossoms 1 st pic at Namsan Park, 2 nd pic on SNU campus

6 In class with my Korean classmates and professor! At the International Food Festival on SNU campus!

7 Quaint, artistic Insadong