Reflection on Yonsei International Summer Exchange program 2015

"Everything you do will come to an end." I still cannot believe my trip to Korea had ended more than four months ago. Now that I graduated with a bachelor degree and have started a new chapter of my life, I'd like to write this last post to give you my thoughts/ tips on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. 

Application phase: 

• Record all application deadlines on a small notebook and keep track of them every week (seems easy but trust me, it was one of the challenges I faced)
• Start early! The earlier the better. Seek for advice from your study abroad advisors
• Seek for fundings/ scholarships/ grants at National Scholarship office at your school (This step will change your life and make your trip way affordable.)
• Apply for Benjamin A. Gilman International scholarship if you meet its requirements! I cannot address this enough (I wrote a post about this scholarship on my blog. Click here to check it out)
• When filling out Yonsei's application form, be very specific and correct with your personal information and address to avoid unnecessary hassles later on. 
• Check your email frequently, including your spam folder for important messages from Yonsei!

Post-Yonsei acceptance phase:

• Make payment for housing as soon as you receive Yonsei permission (you will have more privileges to stay at your favorite dorm if you complete this step early. Check out my previous post for more details)
• Register for Yonsei classes at your assigned time (don't be late because you will regret and end up looking for your second or even third option because seats in summer classes specifically for exchange students are limited and filled up quick the moment Yonsei opens its registration portal) 
• Purchase your ticket on studentuniverse.com. This offers reasonable ticket price for student. (I am not sponsored to advertise it. This suggestion came from my personal experience and my friends) 

Preparation phase:

• Pack light (one big luggage is enough in my opinion)! I saw students suffered from carrying their luggages from the bus stop to the dorm (I felt really bad for them so I had to list this out for you to consider)
• Bring light and solid color clothes (You can pair them together easily and those are more suitable for the summer)
• Bring a pair of comfortable shoes (You will walk a lot up hills and down hills)

"In Korea" phase:

• Always carry an umbrella (Korea sometimes rains suddenly so it's best to be prepared)! Purchase one at any stores on the street except for convenient stores (everything is twice the prices at convenient stores so you want to save money)
• Remember you're here firstly to take classes not to party (LOL). Don't recklessly forget the main purpose of this trip. You can always hang out after finishing your homework :)
• Be confident in everything you do, speak up and ask people if you have questions (in both English and Korean)
• Save seats for the elders when you're on subway or buses
• Know your limit when you go clubbing. Don't drink too much!
• Take pictures! A lot of pictures so you can keep those memories forever :)
• Talk with everyone in the program. Everyone is here with the same purposes (don't be shy!). They want to be your friends too.
• Carry a water bottle with you everywhere you go (Drinks at cafe can be expensive if you drink it often)

"Post-Korea" phase:

• Update your advisor that you are back home safely (This might be a requirement for some school)
• Do your project for any scholarships/grants that you get.

What I learned:

• Different types of movies and how every little details in filming techniques can make a different in a movie/drama from Korean cinema course. These knowledge are so essential to my marketing/advertising related career moving on. 
• Be adaptable/open in different circumstances/ environment. When I get lost or do not understand a language, etc. I would no longer feel scared of confronting those difficulties (I used to before).
• Better time management between school and other activities
• Be more collaborative with people that I work with.  

For those who are planning to apply or will surely be participating in Yonsei Exchange program next summer, I'd really hope you can make the best our of your trip. Good luck with everything that you do and will be doing! Thank you so much for following my blog!

Certification of completion

Bye Bye Yonseiii! I will miss you <heart>