Blog: My experience in South Korea was life-changing

In this blog, student Carys talks about her overseas placement adventure, all thanks to UoB’s Go Global summer school programme.

Written by Carys Davies, College of Life & Environmental Sciences student

Where to go?

I decided to take part in a global experience because the idea of travelling to new countries has always appealed to me, however I had never had the opportunity to do this before starting university. At first I didn’t know where to begin so I decided to follow my instincts. I felt myself drawn towards the opportunities presented by an Asian experience which would offer the chance to study my degree and interest, psychology, through a new cultural lens that isn’t so Western-centric thus adding a further dimension to my university studies.

I was quite hesitant while making my application to Go Global: the 14-and-a-half hour flight seemed daunting, especially as I have not flown alone and out of Europe before. This was a huge step for me, however I knew that I had a great support network at home and the Go Global team were so supportive which helped me feel a lot more confident.

Overcoming my challenges

The biggest challenge I faced in South Korea was definitely the language barrier, which at first made going to restaurants and using the public transport system really challenging. Even though I had Google translate to help, there were times when communicating and asking for help was really hard. However, after a while we soon began to pick up key Korean phrases- and by the end of the 6 weeks I was using the subway and interacting with shop owners with no problems at all.

Another challenge I had to face was that I was travelling completely alone. I had not met any fellow UoB students going to South Korea yet in person, so I was really scared I would not know anyone and be alone for the whole trip.  When I arrived at Korea University, there were so many friendly students who wanted to be my friend, and talking to new people- something which has always terrified me- was so easy! What was one of my biggest fears about going abroad soon became the least of my worries.

I have a stammer, which means communicating and meeting new people is really difficult for me. I was concerned that the staff and professors at Korea University would not fully understand my stammer and the support I might need. To address this, I decided to get in touch with the professors leading the courses I had applied for, and they were both lovely.  I explained my needs, support plans and reasonable adjustments, and they were so understanding and were happy to help me in any way possible.

My highlights

My whole experience in South Korea was incredible. However, the stand-out moments for me would have to be the historical and cultural activities organised by Korea University. I had the chance to visit the stunning Gyeongbokgung Palace, where we learnt about the fascinating history of the Korean monarchy, dynasties and wars that are so often overlooked in history classes in the UK.

To anyone thinking of doing a summer abroad, I would definitely say be brave and to just go for it! It’s a great way of immersing yourself in a new culture that you haven’t experienced before, and its a great way to travel for a shorter period of time than a full year. It can feel less daunting and might even inspire a confidence to travel even more like it did for me.

I have now applied for a year abroad next year and have secured a place at the University of British Columbia in Canada. I would never have done this without the life-changing experience I had in Korea, that showed me that I do have the confidence and independence to study abroad.

Check out the short and long term opportunities on the Go Global website.