SKKU – an unforgettable experience

I went to South Korea and studied at SungKyunKwan University. I loved it there; it was very different, and I had to get used to their university life. The teaching was exciting, and I found it very beneficial. Because there was a lot of group work between international and Korean students, it made it easier to make friends and learn more about the world. 

As a recipient of Turing Scheme funding, I could try and experience many activities and try and eat many new foods without excessive worrying as much about money. It meant I could join friends on Jeju, Gangwon, Ansan, and Jeonju trips. I had the best time and was able to make friends that I feel have helped change me to become a better person. 

Living in a big, busy city such as Seoul meant I was doing things from 9 a.m. and only returning home at midnight. Most things in Seoul opened at 11 a.m. meaning everything was open until much later. I would go to university for the day, and after, I would have dinner with my friends, have dinner, have a few drinks and then go to the study cafes until late in the evening (which is a very popular thing for Korean students to do). 

Although it was fun, there were times when it was difficult. The first few weeks are slightly lonely before you make friends or have such a significant language barrier. With the Korean language being so different from the English one, it was tough to learn, but I took 6 hours of classes a week and could hold small conversations by the end of my semester and order food alone. 

I learnt a lot about myself, pushing myself to find my limits, and it seems that I was more capable of doing things I never thought I would do before. Meeting friends from around the world, from Europe, Asia, and South America, definitely opened my eyes and made me realise how grateful I am and how much I do not know about the world. I was expanding my knowledge by just having daily conversations with them. 

Before studying abroad, I did not realise how much it would impact my life. Travelling abroad alone is something I never thought I would do. It was an experience I would recommend to everyone able and willing to go, not just for academic improvement but generally. It was an experience I will never forget, and I constantly miss it now that I am home. 

SKKU South Korea