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Eager to follow in the footsteps of a college student who studied abroad in South Korea? We recently caught up with Angelyna from California State University, Long Beach, who did a study abroad program in the capital city of Seoul during the spring semester.
Discover how Angelyna’s experience with AIFS Abroad helped her become more independent and expand her horizons!
Kiki: My name is Kiki and today we are speaking with Angelyna. Before we get started, a little about me. I am currently an AIFS Abroad alumni ambassador, and I [studied] abroad in Paris, France, in Spring 2024, and I cannot wait to hear about your experience, Angelyna. Could you start by sharing with which AIFS Abroad program you did?
Angelyna: I studied abroad this past spring semester in Seoul, South Korea, at Sogang University.
Why did you choose to study abroad in Seoul?
Angelyna: I’ve always wanted to study abroad. I was really lucky that my aunt and uncle studied abroad in their college years, so they encouraged me.
And specifically, Seoul: I’ve always been involved in Korean culture since I was young. My aunts and uncles really loved K-pop growing up, and then I got my mom into it. So all of my family [was] involved in Korean culture. And then I thought, what’s better than studying abroad there and actually experiencing it for myself?
What was your biggest obstacle before starting your study abroad journey?
Angelyna: I think the biggest obstacle was the mental and emotional challenge behind knowing you’re going to leave. I’m definitely a friends- and family-oriented person, so imagining not having their immediate support while abroad [was a challenge]. But it definitely [helped with] personal growth—I needed that independence.
How did AIFS support you while you were studying abroad?
Angelyna: I was so lucky to have the best Program Directors in my opinion. I had my Program Directors, Alice and Anna, and they were the best because they were so down to earth, and it made talking to them really easy. So that made me feel more welcome to go to them with problems such as homesickness and any struggles I had. Also, they were so easy to talk to [about] plans and what to do.
They were always open to hanging out with us and guiding us wherever needed, and they just made Seoul feel so much more approachable, especially as someone who didn’t speak fluent Korean going [in]. I was a bit afraid and apprehensive trying new things, but they were so quick to meet with me and put me on all their favorite spots.
Kiki: That’s so sweet and I’m glad to hear that they were so supportive and welcoming to you. AIFS Program Directors make the programs that students go on just so much more immersive because they give you that inside perspective.
How did you navigate the language barrier in Seoul?
Angelyna: Prior to this trip, I didn’t [speak] Korean proficiently. I was a beginner. All I did was some Duolingo, but then I took Korean 101 as I was taking my [other] courses abroad. I would say it was a barrier at first. If you are externally East Asian appearing, they will assume that you are more or less Korean, so locals will always talk to me in Korean first. And then I would tell them, “I’m sorry, I’m studying, I’m trying my best.” And then they would [use] English.
So I think especially with Seoul, [the language barrier] was very easy to navigate… everything always almost had an English side, and they were always very happy to translate or like look at my phone with my translating app. I never felt too afraid to talk to people.
What was the most impactful cultural experience you had in Seoul?
Angelyna: Right when I studied abroad in Seoul, there were recent political happenings involving their democratic process and the previous president. So, I witnessed firsthand the true, inimitable Korean spirit in the act of their protests. They are such a hearty people and in one of my courses, I learned a little bit about Korean history in the aspect of the coming of the democratic nation… it really just opened my eyes [to the fact] that Korean culture and people are much more than what people see through the K-wave—like K-pop and K-drama—they are real people with real struggles.
Do you have a favorite photo from studying abroad?
Angelyna: The Namsan Tower is a very tall tower…on a hill… in Seoul. It’s the highest point that you can always see [in the city], and it’s also a very popular area. It’s near the main palace [and] city hall, in a very busy section [of Seoul].
This was actually one of the first stops I ever made in my first week in Korea. It was a Saturday after a hectic week of classes and getting [adjusted] to things. This was our first AIFS excursion—we went to the main palace and then Namsan Tower afterwards. For me, this photo that I took holds a lot of memory because I remember this was my big “whoa” moment [where I realized] I am in Korea. And it really hit me that I was going to study abroad there for three months—this is actually happening after a year and a half of planning. Especially being [at Namsan where] you can actually go into this observatory area and see the whole city, it was so mind-boggling.
You can never replace those first feelings of realizing you’re in another country—you have so much to explore, so much to do. Even now, I can’t stop smiling about it.
How did studying abroad affect your perspective of the world?
Angelyna: I think it completely changed my worldview. [Studying abroad] has really shaped my outlook for the next ten years in that I want to travel more. I want to go back to Korea, I want to travel, and I want to live abroad again, if I can. I think that’s definitely on the books now. I want to make that happen.
Being able to travel abroad and live abroad really expanded my horizons, in that I’m not just limiting myself to my home country… I can imagine myself flourishing outward and going to different parts of the world.
Also, it just made me want to learn more and pursue more academia. Studying abroad was really beneficial because the courses I was taking felt ten times more impactful because I was abroad [and] my time was limited. So when I was in class, I was actively learning and making sure I was absorbing [everything]. Outside [my classes], I had as much fun as I could. It didn’t even feel like the typical school routine. It felt so fun and more rewarding, knowing that after tests I could go explore and do a new thing.
I was even looking into studying abroad for my master’s program, something like that in the future. I have very high hopes for myself ever since this journey.
Were there any lifestyle changes that you took home?
Angelyna: Definitely incorporating Korean food into my daily life. I have learned so many recipes since coming back because I love eating Korean food. But I would say lifestyle changes include just getting outside more. I think prior to study abroad, I was stuck in routine, which is not a bad thing. I’m a very routine-oriented person, but I will say being abroad helped me tap into more spontaneity, [so] I can always make time for exploring and doing new things.
Prior to that, I was so stuck in routine that I didn’t even think it was possible to fit in time for trying new things and having fun. I realized I am young and I can make time to do things even when things are tough. [Studying abroad in] Korea made me realize that time is short and you could always make more time to do something fun on the weekend, even if it’s something small like exploring in your hometown. I think that was really eye-opening too, because coming back, I was able to appreciate my hometown in different ways I didn’t see beforehand… I think that’s the biggest lifestyle change—doing more, getting out more, and being more explorative, even [at] home.
Kiki: I definitely agree—the little weekend trips, making time to have fun or making time for yourself—that’s something that I’ve also taken home with me, from my time in Paris. I really benefited a lot from just being able to sit with myself and explore new places. And yes, I’m familiar with my hometown, but I could always go over one city and find the downtown region and just explore for a day and see what I find. You never know, you might find a new favorite place, or you might come across something that you forgot about after a long time. It’s always fun to explore or just bring a little bit of adventure back into your day-to-day life when you’re back home.
Now that your journey has concluded, how are you feeling?
Angelyna: I am 20, but I am still trying to figure out what to do from here on out. And I think being abroad really makes you think about that in the long term, too. When you’re [abroad], you [think], “What do you want for yourself and where do you want to go?” That’s all the thoughts and feelings I’ve been having this past month.
Kiki: Very interesting. You have, like you said, an introspective pause, but it was productive in its own way. Whenever I speak to people about this, they share that they kind of are in this funk where they feel like they can’t do anything.
Angelyna: Because I studied abroad by myself, I didn’t go with any friends or anyone I knew. So I think I haven’t been able to get much feedback on what I’ve been feeling. I don’t know what others think after their study abroad. Before I moved back, I had this mourning period in Korea where I thought about leaving… I think I had that funk in the middle of my study abroad program because my mind gets ahead of itself. I’m very introspective and I think about things way further [ahead] than I need to. But I think that kind of made it easier for me adjust back because I realized one end of a chapter is the start of a new [one].
Any advice for future study abroad students?
Angelyna: During my abroad journey, I constantly had this lingering feeling of being keenly aware that I was a foreigner. Being able to study abroad and being able to truly enjoy it is to understand that that’s okay. Especially in Seoul, it has a very homogeneous culture. It is true that everyone [dresses] like each other, everyone wants to follow each other. And it is a very group-minded culture and so I really wanted to mimic that. But then that led to me feeling more and more like an outsider, so like the opposite effect. Just knowing that you are visiting this country and you have this chance to [contribute] your own ideas and your culture, and sharing that and incorporating that experience with the country you’re studying abroad in—I think that’s the most unique thing you bring. That took me a while to accept because I had this always lingering like, “Oh, I’m the odd one out, or I don’t look like everyone else here.” But eventually, by the end of the trip, I realized that was okay. Being myself was the best way [for me to] interact with others.
Kiki: Yeah, I think having this understanding that you are still an outsider in your host country and being respectful of the surroundings and the space that you’re visiting, while also sharing a little bit of your culture and your diversity and a little bit of yourself, is definitely something that a lot of students could benefit from hearing before they go abroad. Especially since a lot of them feel like they either have to completely change themselves or hide behind a mask, or they might feel like they don’t know how to approach others in this new society because there are different social or different expectations. So it’s trying to learn what’s expected of you in this new society and then trying to take those roles and say, “Hey, here’s a little piece of me that I’m bringing with it.”
Angelyna: Yeah, I think that takes a lot of patience too—adjusting to new social cues and behaviors. Like in Korean, there’s this thing called nunchi. So, a lot of foreigners aren’t expected to have this concept because it’s like reading the room, having manners. And it’s a very complex thing that is hard to approach when you’re outside of Korean culture. But again, just have an open mind and understand you’re a visitor and do your best to respect what is given to you, but also knowing you have this other tough job of cracking that foreigner stereotype that’s on you. I think that’s something I would say a lot of people would experience studying abroad, too. They have these predetermined notions of what you might act like or be like, but you’re authentically you no matter where you go.
Are you a student ready to take the leap and study abroad like Angelyna did in Seoul with AIFS Abroad? We’d love to help you start your journey!
Here at AIFS Abroad, we know a thing or two about helping college students study abroad. Our programs are incredibly inclusive, which takes a lot of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to providing things like cultural and social activities, excursions, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more, you’ll take comfort in knowing you’ll have support throughout your entire experience abroad.