2012-13 Student Photo Essays

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I am the one on the left and my friend Connie is on the right. This photo was taken at Seoul Olympic park. Studying abroad in Korea has given me the opportunity to escape the usual, routine lifestyle I had back at home. It has also offered me insights into the beauty of an unfamiliar environment as well as its culture. I have learned a lot about my capabilities as an individual and have acquired a new perspective on my future goals.

Daewoo Hall is the main business building where I have one of my classes. Lectures are typically twice a week and last about 1-2 hours. One interesting aspect I found with the way professors present their lectures was that they use microphones to better project their voices. Like many of the buildings at Yonsei University, there is a food court and a convenience store located at the basement of the building, making it convenient for students to grab a quick meal in between classes.

Yonsei University's Student Union building is quite big. It has a stationary shop, bookstore, gift shop, food court, convenience store, post office, Woori Bank, and even a hair salon. This place not only provides students with many services and necessities, it also offers students commodities such as books, school supplies, and especially food at affordable prices.

SK Global House is one of the housing options available for international students. I chose to stay in this dorm due to personal preference of having a bathroom and a shower in my own room, rather than having a communal bathroom and shower. SK Global House is equipped with a lounge on each floor and a main kitchen in the basement. It also has two music rooms, a fitness room, and a laundry room.

I love to eat and can eat a lot, so I often go to "all-you-can-eat" restaurants to indulge myself. One of my favorite places is called CoCo City, located in Sinchon. Although it costs 6,900 won per person, customers have to purchase a drink in order for that price to apply. Hence, you are basically paying about $10 to eat all the fried chicken and barbeque chicken that you want.

One popular dessert that students like me often eat is an ice cream or cream waffle. Not only does it satisfy your cravings for sweets, it is also affordable. There are quite a few street vendors that offer ice cream waffle or cream waffle, so locating this wonderful dessert should be easy.

Hongdae is a lively place for many young adults to shop and hang out. There are clubs, bars, cafes, restaurants, and stores for individuals to explore. You will often see many street performances such as singing, acting, and comedy skits. This place is also a popular hangout spot for Korean celebrities as well.

Lotte World is a popular amusement park that has indoor and outdoor rides. Apart from the rides, there are many department stores and even an ice skating rink. For other entertainment, individuals can enjoy various kinds of performances and parades as well as fireworks at night.

The subway system is my main choice of transportation when traveling to different places within Seoul. I use a T-Money card, which is like a debit card. It's convenient because you can load it with money to pay your subway fees. Though the subway may seem difficult at first, it becomes quite easy to use after a couple of weeks.

Edae is another well-known shopping area close to Yonsei University. There are various styles of clothing, accessories, and shoes for sale at low prices daily. I shop at this place often because of the great deals, decent quality, and good style clothing.

As one can imagine, Seoul is a very busy yet beautiful city especially at night. Even at night, many shops are still open and the streets are crowded with people. After a long day of studying or working, it is relaxing to enjoy the night view of the city and unwind.

Being a foreigner in Korea has its benefits when it comes to events. There are organizations like Community Korea that offer free tickets to concerts and other events. Such organizations also provide foreigners with the opportunity to participate in shuttle bus tours around Korea for free.