Anyone been to Korea?
 

(South Korea that is) Thinking about studying there next year if I get this scholarship. Anyone been there? Know anything about Yonsei University? Tips, suggestions, etc...?

I was planning on studying abroad in South Korea this quarter. I had my application submitted, passport set up,etc. but everything fell through when registering for classes the quarter prior to leaving and not being able to get some critical classes that would have pushed back my graduation.

I always wondered what it would be like studying there now rather than same old work/school routine. I hope you get the chance to go. Everyone who studies abroad says its a great experience.

I know a guy who is a patent lawyer for Samsung. He goes there a lot.

South Korea seems pretty cool for studying abroad. Well there I'd be interested in learning as much of the language and culture as possible. They seem to offer enough of the classes I need where I can do an entire academic year and not push back my graduation at all.

I plan to take as much Korean before I go, should be time for spring semester and a summer program.

I'm just really curious about Seoul and ideas on what to explore/experience well I'm there.

Also deciding between doing an homestay (living with a Korean family) and staying in the international dorms. I think both would be good in different ways for getting experience with the culture. The dorms would allow me to interact with a lot of different people from different areas, whereas the homestay would definitely be a crash course in everything Korean. But the homestay may be a bit too limited in what I want my experience to be.

Going pro sc2?

If you can, fly Korean Air. Economy class in Korean Air is somewhere between "Economy Plus in an Exit Row" and "First Class" on US Carriers.

I was there for 2 years when my stepdad was stationed there. I actually really liked it. And the food was INCREDIBLE!!! hahaha I was only 15, so i couldnt drive or anything, but there was no need, you can get anywhere you want on a bike

My dad is from and speaks Korean fluently and he said it's one of the most difficult languages to learn. Probably not as difficult as Cantonese though -that language sounds nuts.

if you fly Korean Air, use your Alaska or Delta number for the Skypass miles. One trip got me silver status on Delta.

I have Friends from Korea. I like two of them, they are both named Dan.

I think most people say their native languages are difficult to learn, I think learning a language to native fluency is extremely difficult for any language.

That being said, I picked up Persian Farsi pretty quick and had no issues. Was quite fluent at one point scoring a 3/3 on the DLPT. Plus most people say picking up a 3rd of 4th language is easier than trying to do it for the first time.

This fact was made pretty clear when I was learning Persian Farsi, a lot of the people in class that knew another language had such an easier time.


I've heard a lot of good things about food there. I'm pretty excited about that part of it. For housing I'm leaning towards the international dorms right now. The amount I would learn about Korea at a homestay is huge, but I think I'd like to be able to kind of forge my own path instead of having to kinda follow their routine. I'm pretty good about getting myself out there and plan to know at least enough Korean to function before I get there.

Shit now I'm thinking maybe China is the way to go.

The CIEE program is way better for China.

Don't come back with a "Juicy" wife. Other than that buddies who were station there said it was a lot of fun.

The Ratio of Chinese people to Korean people that I like is moar. I approve.

We visited Korea two years ago and loved it. We didn't have too hard of a time getting around but have also traveled a bit.

This. International flights do good things for your frequent flier miles.

^ I will def take that into consideration since I plan to do a lot of flying.

SO THREAD PLOT TWIST.

I'm going to China, not Korea. It's pretty much official since I have enrolled in accelerated Chinese for the A and B session in the Spring semester. Well, it's not official I'm going to China, but more that I'm learning Chinese. I still need to fund my study abroad somehow, hopefully with scholarships.

SO WHO HAS BEEN TO CHINA?!

Also I'm going to study abroad in the summer too, but for Farsi (kinda, not like I can go to Iran, I think it's to Uzbekistan). This might throw a wrench in my miata plans unfortunately, since I'll basically be out of the country for the next 1.5 years. Although I should at least get to enjoy it for the next 6 months or so.

I spent a couple weeks in HK and Shenzhen on business about 20 years ago. HK was pretty cool, Shenzhen was not. I have a couple friends who spend a lot of time in China, and it sounds mostly like it's much better than I remember.

HOWEVER, "going to China" can be like "going to America." Detroit? Sedona? Manhattan? Where in China probably makes all the difference.

Shanghai. I've been watching youtube videos and reading about it all week. Seems like it can be good or bad depending on how "American" you act.

Okay new development. Taiwan. A democratic China basically. Youtube and blogs yield some good information and so far it's all good. Seems I can get the China experience, in a place a little bit more "Free". Plus the cost of the study abroad for Taiwan is half of what it is for China. Although the China one includes a ton of excursions and what not, but I figure I can plan some of that stuff on my own in Taiwan.