자신대해 더 배울 수 있는 기회가 됨, My life as a Tourism Internship in South Korea, Seoul for 3 Months

#한국 문화 이해, 언어 능력 향상* #한국 생활 경험, 문화 충격 극복* #한국의 편리함과 안전함*

작성자: Czarina Mae M******a
국가/도시: 아시아/대한민국/서울
조회수 : 2181

Living alone is indeed a challenging experience, but what about living abroad alone? Quite lonely it might sound but it is indeed a brave gesture. Living abroad can bring different experiences as well as benefits to many. This experience taught me new culture, a new language, new wisdom and to learn more about myself. Here is a simple sharing experience of my story of living in South Korea and how it turned out to be a really great opportunity.

# About me

Greetings from South Korea, everyone! My name is Czarina Mae from Finland but originally from the Philippines. I'm a 3rd-year tourism and event management student, and currently, I'm doing my internship here in South Korea which is quite mandatory for my university studies.

I love to travel and explore things to create memories and experience new things for once in a lifetime. I love to play the piano, watch movies, kdrama and hang out with my friends. My family is the most important thing in my life so I really wanna do everything I can to make them proud.

# Living in Seoul, South Korea

Who would have thought that one of my dream countries to visit is the place that I get to live in! South Korea has been my biggest dream place to travel since I was 13 years old. The feeling of going to the beautiful attractions of South Korea gives me goosebumps, every time I see photos of people travelling to Korea is indeed great! The beautiful capital city of Seoul with lots of really good food. Busan and Jeju is also a must-see place to visit.

My experience living in Seoul so far has been really great. It was challenging at first but I managed to cope with their time routine daily. I really love the studio apartment that I've been staying in for a month now until my internship ends. I really love how convenient everything is in Korea, I couldn't imagine it at first and when I happened to be in that situation, it seemed so perfect. I'm so happy with everything. It is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But for me I will definitely come back once I graduate, that is my promise to myself and I will be travelling with my mom.

Of course, there are at times that it is lonely for me since I am alone, I don't have someone to talk to in my free time or to go outside to explore. It's hard to be like that at times because you don't know where to go, you don't know where to eat, and you feel like just sleeping all day long. But that changed when I tried to explore alone in my free time, I went outside to visit some tourist spots, to try the food, and to see good attractions that are really admirable. I take many good photos for memories and to not forget each beautiful experience.

# Language Barrier

Living abroad means everything is new, and one of them is the language. Korean language or Hanguel is a very interesting language for me since then. I tried to learn it by myself and tried writing in hangeul but it was so challenging but fun to learn at the same time. The language barrier that I am experiencing

right now in Korea is not really difficult because Koreans are really helpful in almost everything, whether it's a location, place, food, subways, directions, and many many more they will help you, and will try to speak English when they can. But the most amazing experience I had was when an old woman is talking to me in Korean and I know she was asking for directions, the funny thing is I also want to ask for directions because I don't know the area.

I feel so bad not helping her and tried to talk in the Korean language but she cannot understand me, maybe because of my pronunciation. What I did was just shook my head and say sorry I don't know. Since then I ask my colleagues what is the basics regarding locations in Korea. At some point, there are phrases that I understand really well and tried to answer back in Korean, and to my surprise they understood me. I'm so happy about that! The basic phrases while ordering food that I memorized multiple times work all the time. My point does not to be afraid to speak their language and try to engage and adapt to them. You will eventually understand some of it and always remember practice makes perfect.

# Experiencing Korean Culture

One of the many exciting things abroad is you get to experience a new culture. South Korea is really rich when it comes to its history. Their culture is really interesting and you would love to experience it too. Many travels to a country to experience its culture, beliefs, and traditions. While living here in Seoul, I get to see how Koreans are really respectful and how conservative they are. How well prepared their food on the table, how they celebrate national holidays, and how one person loves their own entertainment programs. Before I just look at them through videos and pictures but today, I'm experiencing all of them at one glance while living here in South Korea. The feeling is really unforgettable and I will really cherish it.

#What I loved most during my stay in South Korea?

Living here in South Korea is really great so far. I really love how convenient everything is. When I say everything, I literally mean everything especially when it comes to transportation, restaurant, and coffee shops! Every coffee shop that I see on the street is really cute. The food here in South Korea never disappoints me, but the serving is really big for me and for a lot of people it's really normal and usually that one big bowl is for one person.

Korean people are really nice and respectful, they really want to help you if you need help despite speaking a different language. They will try the very best they can to help you, and I think that's really one of the nice things here in Korea.

# What I learned during my stay in South Korea?

Living here in South Korea has many interesting experiences to try, so I gotta say that grab that opportunity because that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. While living here alone I learned more about myself and I knew what I am capable of doing. I learned how to embrace new culture because that's one of the ways how to adapt to this country as a foreigner. It allows me to be more open and helped me how to see people and accept them for what they do in a different side of life. During my stay here, I spent going outside to explore which I don't usually do every time back in Finland because my stay here in Korea is limited I have to do time management so while interning I'm also exploring the same time.

#I realized I don't need so much stuff to bring with me

Korea has many surprises especially when it comes to fashion, I realized I shouldn't bring a lot of things with me because I will buy and buy almost everything I see. Kidding aside from that, it has so many cheap cute things that I really buy for memories and to bring back with me to Finland, I realized that I should have brought only 2 pairs of clothes because the clothing style here in Korea is really a high standard. I really wanna buy many things but I have to refrain from doing them because It will be difficult for me to bring them with me back to Finland.

# Living in South Korea is challenging but worth it

This country taught me how to be braver, and stronger, and most especially to overcome fears. I feel like it is really a step for me to move forward and grab each opportunity to help me grow more and to be more independent. I realized that life is like that, there will come to a point when you really need to be alone to overcome things by yourself and you will not be dependable on someone because you know that you can do it by yourself and you know the struggle and how to overcome it. South Korea is indeed a worth it country to live alone and experience good things even though bad things can happen it is common in every country. There will be so much to tell amazing stories to my family and friends about my life here in South Korea.