Lauren Yan
Seoul, South Korea
Q: What motivated you to study abroad during your time at Carnegie Mellon University?
A: I’ve always wanted to study abroad, and I probably started thinking seriously about it in my freshman year of high school. I’ve seen my cousins study abroad to countries that our family had never been before, and I wanted to do it too. I’ve been on many trips around the world with my family, but I wanted to visit a new place that I could claim as my own adventure. I knew that I wanted to go to a country in Asia, but wasn’t particularly picky at first. I chose Korea because I fell in love with the music, culture, and food during high school, and my experiences in college only enforced that choice. The Children’s School has a partnership with Duksung Women’s University in Korea, and I got the opportunity to meet some students here when they visited for their practicum. I found a program (TEAN) that was a perfect fit for me, and with some help from my adviser, Dr. Carver, I was also able to do some research and pursue an honors thesis while I was studying abroad, an opportunity that made my decision even easier.
Q: What factors made you choose Korea University as your location of choice to study?
A: When I settled on going to Korea, I was debating a few options with my study abroad adviser, Erin. I was looking at directly applying to a university in Seoul, specifically, Yonsei University and Duksung University. I sent a few emails to both, but the replies I received were confusing about the application process. I then found out about The Education Abroad Network (TEAN), a program that helps with everything from applications to the university to applying for a student visa, among many other steps that I hadn’t realized were part of the process. Their Semester in Korea program was at Korea University, and since I did not have a strong preference for any school, I chose Korea University. TEAN was a huge factor in my choice of school because they provide such great support every step of the way.
Q: Name a few of your favorite landmarks/cities/experiences from your time abroad
- Busan - On the opposite side of the country from Seoul, Busan is a really pretty coastal city that has temples, walkways, and food stalls right on the edge of the eater.
- Mokpo - Mokpo is a very small town in the southwest corner of Korea that has a very homey and local feeling; also does not use any English as it isn’t a touristy place.
- Cheonggyecheon Stream - This is a stream in the middle of Seoul that is normally a very peaceful walk, but is also home to the Seoul Lantern festival in October and the Christmas Light Festival in December.
- Garden of Morning Calm - This is a big park a little outside of Seoul, and has a fantastic light display for Christmas.
- Myeongdong - My favorite part of Seoul; it has lots of places to shop, but I went back every week for the cheap and delicious street foods that come out every night.
- Jeondeungsa Temple Stay - This was an excursion with TEAN, and it was the best one to me. We went far outside the city and stayed at a temple learning about the monks’ traditions and daily lives.
- Super Show 7 - This is an extremely personalized preference, but I got to see my absolute favorite K-Pop group (Super Junior) perform their solo concert while I was in Seoul, something that I had been waiting 8 years for.
Q: During your study abroad experience, what did you learn about yourself that surprised you?
A: I learned that I can take care of myself. In the back of my mind I knew that I could, but I was still nervous about having so much independence. I still talked to my mom nearly every day, but the time difference made it impossible for me to check with her for every little thing I was unsure about. I learned to trust myself more because I made decisions on my own, and survived. I also learned that I am fairly good at communicating in Korean, even though I am nowhere near fluent. I surprised myself with how well I could understand what people said in Korean, even though it was mostly basic phrases. I was even more surprised by how willing people were to keep talking to me when they discovered that I spoke a tiny bit of Korean. I think I got better at putting myself out there, but I also think I am more comfortable doing it in Korean because there is less of an expectation for me to be eloquent; speaking English has the added pressure of putting a well formed thought together. I think I learned a lot about my confidence, and about my preferences. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed walking alone by the water or in parks. I always thought I preferred cities, but as I walked around coastal towns and traditional villages, I found myself totally immersed in the culture, almost dreading the return to the modern city life.
Q: What challenges did you face while living and learning in a new culture?
A: It was surprisingly easier than I thought adjusting to the new culture. It might have had something to do with how much I learned about Korean culture while watching variety shows and dramas, or from growing up in a multicultural household, but I think I adjusted fairly quickly. For me, the most important factor was that I was willing to learn about the culture and language. I think people saw that I was trying, so they helped me along the way. Some of the eating etiquette was quite different, but I mostly ate on my own so there were fewer customs to follow. Even though I didn’t feel like I made many adjustments, I must have because I find myself doing things that are culturally important in Korea, but are out of place here in America. I now do things such as bowing when saying sorry or thank you and receiving and giving things with both hands.
Q: Why should CMU students study abroad during their time as a Tartan?
A: I think everyone should study abroad if they have an opportunity to, which I believe every university student has if it’s something they want to pursue. I think it’s a learning opportunity beyond any classroom. College is already a huge step in gaining independence, but living in a foreign country is an experience that really helps people grow out of their shell and be a part of a completely different environment. This gives a lot of freedom to explore. There’s only so much you can learn in a classroom, but to have an opportunity to learn life skills in the real world is priceless.