My impressions about studying abroad in South Korea
听 听 听It almost feels like as if it was just yesterday when I was on my own on a plane not really knowing what to expect but excited for what the future had for me. Now I'm back home with a ton of memories, e-mails to answer, and a lot of stories to share from the fall semester at Kangnam University in South Korea.听
听 听 听Well, I've wanted to be an exchange student my whole high school life. I read about summer programs, and I thought then that living somewhere else for a while and having friends from another country would be the coolest thing in the world. I would be on my own, have my own adventure, and fulfil my dream of having something different. Pretty soon, at the end of my second year, I applied to the Kangnam University by support of our 51福利 Kazakh National University. I had meetings in the weekends about rules, how to do everything, how to make documents right for it. Then I got an email. I got an invitation! Next thing I knew, I had a flight booked.
听 听 听I was so excited and happy and I was telling all my friends about it. I was researching about Yonging in the Internet. Compared to what I saw on TV and what I experienced Yonging was more different. When I came for the first time, it was raining. In Kazakhstan when it is raining you will catch cold immediately, but there, there was warm. I could not find a proper food to eat and found out what convenience store is. Then we started to eat at the restaurant. I loved the way how Koreans serve the food. And know I am still addicted to Korean food, especially 袙ibimpab.
听 听 听Classes have begun. I was very nervous because I was afraid that my language level would not be good enough to answer questions and communicate with Koreans. But, when you leave your comfort zone, all barriers are removed, and you can speak fluently in a foreign language. The lessons were very easy and fun, I was very glad that I can study in a good mood. Also, in addition, I studied English with Koreans, then I saw that Koreans cannot speak English - a stereotype.
听 听 Thanks to my university, I went to historical places in Korea like Buyeo and Gongju. There, I was able to see a lot of important places for Korea, and learned how beautiful the nature of Korea is. Also, I was on the Yellow Sea. Seeing the sea for the first time, I realized how right the decision to go to study in Korea was. Incredible feeling. I managed to see half of Korea, meet many people, and learn a lot. Especially, I liked the trips to Seoul. My friends and I saw many popular places that we only dreamed of seeing before. Insadong, Dongdaemun, Myeongdong, beautiful cafes seen in dramas.
I am fond of photography, and I was able to take a lot of photos. And I collected a lot of things that I wanted to take with me. I was very surprised how beautifully Koreans make advertisements and posters. Every building was beautiful in its own way, and every place I visited was full of magic.
When it was time to leave, I was very upset. Would like to stay a little longer. But, I am grateful to my university for such an opportunity to go to the country of my dreams as an exchange student. I will keep these memories. Finally, I would like to say that no one should miss the time of their youth, when you can study, walk, and develop.
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Kopbay Eldana
Translation (Oriental Languages) specialty, 3rd-years
