Yes, Virginia, there are William & Mary students studying abroad
Mika, where are you studying now and through what program?
This semester I am studying at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea, through the ISA Seoul semester program.
Why did you want to study in Korea?
I was lucky enough to be able to live in Korea when my family was stationed here back in 2014. I really enjoyed living here for a variety of reasons; culture, language, and food to name a few. I am majoring in East Asian Studies and wanted to spend more time living here and practicing Korean since language classes are not an available option at W&M. It was a great choice and has been a wonderful experience so far!
What are your living arrangements?
I am living in one of two on-campus international dorms. Another option I had was staying at a goshitel, which is an off-campus student residence. But I chose to live in the dorm, since it was most convenient for me in terms of proximity to campus.
Do you have a roommate?
I have a roommate, who is a student from Colorado!
Are your fellow students from other countries or mostly from Korea?
A lot of the friends I’ve made have been international students. Because of the pandemic it's been difficult to meet a lot of local students, and all of my classes are still online, but I’ve been able to make some through them! This experience has definitely encouraged me to be more extroverted than I am and has challenged my social ability in a good way.
Did you have to quarantine when you arrived? When was that? How long were you in quarantine?
I had to quarantine for two weeks. The program set up a 2-week stay at a hotel in Dongdaemun so I got a nice view of Seoul! I quarantined straight out of the airport from August 9 - 23.
The idea of quarantine was a bit daunting, but overall it wasn’t difficult. It gave me time to adjust to the time difference, study ahead in Korean, and the meals and service were excellent.
While quarantine wasn’t an inherently negative experience, it sure was nice to leave!
What classes are you taking? What days do they meet?
I am taking 14 credits this semester, I needed to take at least 12 so I could be considered a full time student.
I am taking Beginner’s Korean 1, English in Media, Introduction to Media Criticism, and my favorite class, which is Korean Diplomacy Colloquium. This course is co-sponsored by the Korea Foundation and every week we get a guest speaker, who is a former ambassador of Korea, and we get a presentation about different countries’ relations to South Korea through their lens.
Do you have any time off from classes? What do you do in your free time?
I moved my classes around to get Fridays off (I recommend having at least one weekday off to be able to visit places that get crowded on the weekends), and it’s come in handy! My Tuesday classes go from 8 am to 7 pm straight, but it's worth it to be able to spend a calm Friday afternoon in a nearly empty cafe or exhibit.
Are you able to engage in activities in Seoul in spite of COVID restrictions?
{{youtube:medium:right|mOUnzLZPCK0, Exploring Seoul}}
Yes. Since I am in Seoul we are still on a level 4 for social distance which means that we can be with a group of 4 people maximum, but at 6 pm only groups of two are allowed out. This doesn’t affect much--theme parks, cafes, and movie theatres are open so there is a lot to do!
Outside of the social distancing regulations masks are also mandatory unless you are eating or drinking. To enter most establishments you have to show a QR code that’s connected to your KakaoTalk account and acts as an identifier. Most foreign people without an Alien Registration Card don’t have these, so there are sign-in sheets where you write what province you’re from and your phone number. This is just in case there is an outbreak, so they know who was there to prevent spread.
Have you been able to travel outside of Seoul? Do you plan to?
Not yet; since I have classes from Monday to Thursday I’m still planning the logistics of an outside Seoul trip. Trains are the most convenient method of transportation, and I have been to many different areas of Seoul. I hope to go to Busan or Daegu.
You’ve lived in Asia before. How is your experience in Korea similar or different?
Korea has definitely changed since the last time I lived here from 2013-2015. I saw the Lotte Tower being built, and it's now completed, standing at a whopping 555 meters! A lot of the places I used to go are technologically renovated, and there’s a lot more content geared to social media. It's interesting to see how much changes over time.
Do you think your experience would be different if it weren’t for COVID? If so, how?
Unfortunately a lot of small businesses and street vendors had to close down because of the pandemic. Other than the check-in system, quarantine, and public alerts, Korea has worked to keep the state of the pandemic under control, and I don't feel I have missed out on anything because of it.
Do you stay in touch with friends at W&M?
I do; we message each other and share photos about our college experiences all the time! We’re excited to be able to meet up again on campus next semester.
Do you find that people are surprised that you’re studying abroad even though the pandemic is still a problem?
I don’t think so, there are a lot of programs that have stayed open/have reopened but I don’t think everyone is aware of how many opportunities there are to study abroad. Outside of the official William & Mary programs there are many third party programs that have a wide variety of options that are open, and a lot of countries are starting to re-open borders to students.
What has been a favorite experience so far?
Our program sponsored a trip to Gyeongbok Palace and it included a free hanbok rental so my friends and I were able to wear traditional Korean attire and take some beautiful pictures as well as take part in and appreciate the culture!
Has anything struck you as especially funny?
{{youtube:medium:right|sar52UhIegw, Squid Game pop-up}}
I did really enjoy the Squid Game pop-up they had in Itaewon station. I went before the show had reached its peak popularity so I got to take fun photos with people dressed up as the pink guards; I saw many people who had made a ton of goofy Tiktoks with them and I thought they were very funny!
Anything you’d like to add that we haven’t touched upon?
I know a lot of people who haven’t tried studying abroad because of financial constraints or because it seems like a complicated process, but I would definitely recommend reaching out to the Global Education Office and scheduling an appointment with an advisor. They can recommend countries and programs within a price range or that offer financial aid, both with and outside William & Mary (third party programs).
To learn more about study abroad at William & Mary, visit the Global Education Office website.
