An unparalleled learning experience was what studying abroad in South Korea has been for me. The start of my first semester at Yonsei University pushed me to converse more in Korean and meet new people from different ethnic groups. I faced many learning experiences, such as one at a restaurant, where I loudly called out 저기요 (excuse me) to signal a waiter. My request was perceived as rude and demanding due to my tone/volume, so I learned to speak better and more well-mannered after that embarrassing instance. In my first class at the School of Business, there were many Koreans so I sadly could not converse with them in their mother tongue. Instead, I spoke to them in Chinese, a language that I was still learning. It appeared that many of my Korean classmates had grown up in China, so they knew Chinese. Within my first week in Korea, I understood that it was important for me to manipulate my mindset and my environment in order to mature. Despite there being language gaps when I conversed with someone that has a weak English ability, it was also a great opportunity to bond by struggling together with each other's language when communicating.
Cultural travel experiences to see the Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, the yellow cherry blossoms of the Sansuyu Festival in Gurye, and the Olympic slopes of Pyeongchang were some of my favorite highlights from Korea. My Modern Korean History Class that I took in the Fall semester gave me a lot of background knowledge that I was able to apply during my trips to Korean cultural sites. Visiting the many different regions of South Korea allowed me to see the beauty in every destination that I went to, which sparked a lot of creativity. This creativity has improved my ability to see and appreciate different perspectives. Being in the international environment of Korea also provided me with a better understanding of various career paths, which specifically, formed my interest in international trade within the Asia-Pacific region.
Besides learning more about Korea, I also focused on enriching my school life. I made a lot of friends within my business classes and really appreciated how the students around me had a stronger work ethic. The community around me motivated me to do my best and enjoy all the effort I put into my work. I was able to immerse myself in school spirit by even learning the university’s traditional chants. Then I participated in many school festivities such as Yon-Ko Games, Yonsei University & Korea University cheering sessions, and Akaraka festival. Overall, participating in school activities taught me that time spent with my classmates and professors was not only valuable to learning, but also meaningful to my study abroad experience.
During my second semester abroad I decided to learn more about Korea by participating in a marketing research internship. My 4-month internship experience with Ethiopian Airlines taught me a lot about Korea’s consumer market for airline travel. I was able to conduct market research on some Korean service startups, competitor airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines themselves. Additionally, I worked with another intern to create a marketing campaign for the Seoul location to improve the perception of Ethiopian Airlines for Koreans. I also learned how to better manage relationships with my coworkers during the internship, which will be important for my professional career.
Now after a year-long study in Korea, I grew more confident and patient. While I have regrets of not learning even more Korean prior to my studies abroad, I have also gained a newfound appreciation for Korea. The experiences that I went through while in Korea will forever be in my head as beautiful memories that I cannot wait to continue. A lot of lessons were learned during my time in Korea that have shaped who I am for the better. Through my experiences, I have increased my understanding of the differences in various nationalities and learned that these differences should be appreciated to further unite everyone.