Final Tips and Advice

The semester is over and I returned to Hawaii! Looking back at my experience abroad in Korea, here is some advice based on what I learned.

• Make a bucket list before coming: time goes by so fast when you're abroad and so it's best to be prepared beforehand before you come back home with a list of things you didn't have time to do

• Watch YouTube vlogs, guides to Korea, read travel blogs: as a follow-up to the above suggestion, these are great ways to get more familiar with the country before you get there (especially if you haven't been there before)

• Look for travel discounts on Klook or Trazy: this was how I got a foreigner discount to Lotte World (these sites are also great to get travel ideas)

• Download important apps before coming: this includes KakaoTalk (communications app), Papago (translation app), and Kakao or Naver Maps (has bus/subway times)

• Check the weather everyday: Korea has more extreme weather than Hawaii (e.g. sweltering summers and freezing winters) so you definitely need to check out the daily temperature before leaving the house and if it'll rain or not

• Avoid public transportation during rush hour: it was not a pleasant experience, the platform and subway cars were very full

• Pack lightly and nest a smaller suitcase in a larger suitcase so you can bring more stuff back: I came to Korea with 2 suitcases and left with 4

• Be sure to have cash and card: some places only take cash (mostly food stalls, markets, etc.) while other places only take card

• Look for housing close to public transportation (train stations, bus stops, etc.)

• Goshiwons are a great option if you are looking for cheap, convenient housing: however, rooms are small (check size before choosing where to live) and not very sound-proof

• Use this time to try something new: Seoul is such a huge city and there are so many different foods and activities you can try. As nice as it is to stick to your routine everyday, it's also good to venture out and make the most of this unique experience of study in a foreign country