Why You Should Go On an Exchange Program

After completing my exchange semester abroad, I have been reflecting deeply on my experience as an exchange student attending Yonsei University. Despite the barriers of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was able to be one of the lucky students who got to study abroad in South Korea through my university's study abroad program. Although there were many adjustments and difficulties at the beginning, I have been able to learn new things and grow as a person in a different cultural environment.

For one, I have been able to meet many great people from around the world and had the opportunity to learn from great teachers. I am studying Business an, although there are common theories and knowledge in the business field globally, I was able to gain new perspectives through studying abroad, from the local people and from the experiences gained by studying and living abroad. The most impactful thing that I learned on this experience is the learnings that took place outside of the classroom. I learned to become more independent as I continue to learn a new language (did some tutoring before going, which was very helpful), navigate through the city, plan tourist excursions on my own, and just be one with the locals. It was a large stepping stone in my personal growth to be able to find comfort in doing things alone, building my own confidence and courage.

Korea is probably one of my favourite places I've visited/lived in and I will definitely be back in the future. I loved the affordability and variety of food, clothes, cafes, and more. There are so many interesting areas to visit. Some of my favourite neighbourhoods are Hongdae, Hapjeong, Yeonnam, Ikseondong, Apgujeong, and Seongsu. There are probably more areas that deserve recognition, so don't limit your travel to these areas if you are visiting or doing exchange in Seoul. One big suggestion before planning your visit or exchange to Korea, or any other country is to do your research before hand. This can include researching the culture, customs, language, where to visit, and more. When doing your research you learn to appreciate the different parts of culture to prevent you from making a fool out of yourself by acting disrespectful, even if it was unintentional.

With every experience there are cons. For one, make sure you save up enough money before going. Just like any vacation, you can see yourself spending a lot of money. Whether on clothes, food, tourist activities, and more. If you want to enjoy your experience to the maximum, the last thing you want to worry about is money. Leading on with that, make sure you do your research on types of credit cards you may need or how much cash to bring. Moreover, time is your enemy. Don't wait to do the things you want to do. Do them earlier on when you have less workload or less responsibilities. This gives you the opportunity to do those things you enjoyed again or to explore new things on your list. By the end of the exchange you should be tired because you were having so much fun experiencing life in another country, that you had no time to waste away in your room. Another con would be that at times you can feel lonely. This is a given if you go to a place without knowing anybody in advance. This gives you the opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and meet people, whether through group chats, events, social media, or more. It is better trying to reach out to people or joining in with others, than to regret your experience and not have as much fun as you should have. With any large move, it is normal to feel a sense of disconnect because of this large adjustment, so you are not alone in this journey. But, don't let this factor affect your eagerness to go on an exchange program. Go by yourself and meet new people, like I did. I find that when you go with friends, you tend to meet less people. Then what was the point in going in the first place if you are not going to change the environment you are in? The last con is that you will have so much fun that you won't want to come back (hahaha). As what my parents always tell me "it's better to leave a place in a positive note by wanting to stay, rather than leaving with a negative note of wanting to leave." Leave with the good memories that will make you want you to go back, and who knows, maybe you will find yourself back in that country again for work, for travel, or wherever your path takes you.

For those thinking of applying to an exchange program, DO IT! It is a great learning experience inside and outside of the classroom, and you will make many memories that will last a lifetime! When you actually get to live in a different country and setting that you are used to, is when you grow as a person. Additionally, you get to see a whole different perspective to the country than you were to just visit. If you do plan on doing an exchange program, as I've said earlier, I definitely recommend learning more about the culture, customs, and the language before going so that you are prepared to interact and integrate into the local scene.