Reflections On the Korea Study Abroad Experience

Overall, I couldn't be happier with my trip to Korea. I learned a lot about Korean culture, and got to experience how similar life here is. There are really only minor differences in culture, such as remaining quiet in public or bowing as a form of respect. Surprisingly, I was not too shocked by the way of life. Seoul is such a modern, technology-inclusive city, so I didn't have too much trouble with public transportation, translation, or buying things. I loved the aesthetics in Seoul. Clearly, style, fashion, and looks is something that's very prominent in Korean culture. Every sign or advertisement was colorful and fun. There were also a lot of cute, friendly-looking animal characters used around the city. Korean people always look put together and stylish, even when going out to eat or shopping. I would like to say my sense of fashion improved after this trip! Because of the emphasis on aesthetics, I would say there is more importance on how something looks (including technology and advertisements) than on how practical it is. Things are very stylized and cute. Some of their apps and websites are a bit busy as compared to what's seen in the U.S. Naver Maps took some adjusting because of the amount of redundant options, but it was overall pretty similar to Google Maps. People in Korea are extremely respectful, helpful, and polite. I had nothing but positive interactions with the locals at restaurants, at our hotel, while shopping, or while on public transportation. I am going to miss how peaceful and safe the city is, despite it being such a densely populated area. Even at night, I always felt safe to walk around and explore the city. The food was also something I very much miss. You can get huge, healthy meals for very little money. Each meal had so many sides and sauces, making every meal incredibly satisfying. Even very simple dishes, such as rice pot, felt like a whole experience. Eating these meals in Seoul made me appreciate Korean cuisine a lot more, and has me excited to learn how to make these meals myself. As for technology, I would say what's available in Korea is not too different from the U.S. However, the biggest difference I noticed was people's comfort with tech. Even elderly individuals could easily order food for themselves at self-serve kiosks or handle the point of sales systems at shops easily. Tech is simply a part of life in Seoul, although it never felt overbearing or impersonal. There are so many cute visuals and nature in Seoul that you don't feel trapped by a bunch of screens, as you see in some U.S. cities (Las Vegas). I don't think it's really about the technology-- it's about the way it's been incorporated into the city, making it feel more like a tool than a distraction. I will very much miss the walkability and public transportation in Seoul. It is nice to walk so much and see so many things every day while getting to your destination. I had a lot of fun meeting all of the students on the trip. Everyone was so kind, smart, and cool! A special thanks to Dr. Shewell and Dr. Jeong, who made this trip possible. You guys did an incredible job putting together the site visits, and were always available if we needed help navigating the city or recommendations on things to do. I'm looking forward to my next trip to Korea!