Meet Yana, an exchange student from Java and the Netherlands studying at Hanyang University in Seoul. She loves exploring Korean culture, food, and the city’s attractions. Yana enjoys the safety, efficient metro system, and scenic parks, while navigating the challenges of being a Muslim in Korea.
Interview – Study in Korea
- WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
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Java & Netherlands
- WHAT DO YOU DO IN KOREA?
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I’m currently an exchange student at Hanyang University. I moved here in February 2024, and I am currently in finals to finish my minor. After June, I will be a tourist and enjoy the cities outside of Seoul. I will go on solo trips to expand my journey and I will search for an internship while I’m here. I was planning to come back, so if anyone has tips, let me know!!
- WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN KOREA?
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Before Covid, I was planning to come to Korea, to study IBS full-time, however, due to the huge expense, and lockdown, I wasn’t able to fulfill it and decided to use my study abroad as an opportunity to come to Korea. Not only was it for my study, but also for the culture, food, and the whole experience of living alone in another country as a student. Since one of my best friends went to Korea before me, she told me a lot of amazing things which increased my willingness to go to South Korea.
- WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STAY IN THIS CITY?
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So I’m located in Seoul and live in the Jamsil area. I don’t really have a reason why I stay here, it was just out of luck with finding a room that was in my budget and commuting time. Sometimes I wish to live closer to school, but if I compare it to my commute time in the Netherlands, 30 minutes is nothing 😂. I’m actually happy I live in Jamsil (besides living far away from friends and cultural attractions) because it’s quiet here. Not a lot of tourists around hete, and I believe it’s kind of a rural area. Which makes my stay even better! Another plus is that every time I hop or get off the bus I can see the Lotte tower.
- WHERE IS YOUR LOCAL RECOMMENDATION IN THIS CITY?
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I love the park that is around Lotte world, especially during cherry blossom season. It’s so beautiful there! One tip! Go there right before the blossoms are fully bloomed because it can be so crowded! Luckily I went before it, and it wasn’t as crowded as those videos on TikTok 😂
- WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST WHILE STAYING ABROAD?
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I enjoy every day, no matter what I do. If I stay at home, I enjoy my neighborhood. And if I go out, I enjoy the view, the city, the people, the food, etc. I just love that, no matter what time, I can still be outside and enjoy my day without being scared of being lost, of being alone, or being hungry. Commuting is also something I enjoy. How crazy it may sound 😂 the metro system here is way better than in the Netherlands, and you can be in places within an hour.
- WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE BEING IN KOREA?
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My biggest challenge is food! I’m Muslim, and I live in an area where I have to commute for my food. It’s not always an issue, but when you’re sick or don’t want to go far for food, it can be quite irritating. I remember crying on the phone once to my mom, because every restaurant in my neighborhood I went to, only sold pork. There are some k-bbq places here, but they don’t allow you in if it’s just 1 person. So I try to eat with friends a lot to avoid searching for food, and with more people you have more fun!
- WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KOREA AND YOUR COUNTRY?
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The biggest difference is the behavior of people. For example, cleaning up when you’re done with something. People in Korea clean up when they’re done with eating, and separate the materials in order to recycle. Now, I don’t want to say Dutch people don’t do that, because some actually do! But the majority just leave their trays on the table and expecting restaurant employees to clean it up. I work in a restaurant myself (in the Netherlands), so I see the difference everyday.
- DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE AND FUTURE PROSPECTS?
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One thing I learned for the future is that when it comes to house/room searching, I will have to find a bigger place to stay in. Because I now live in a Goshiwon, and it’s just a small room.
- WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
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For now, it’s to graduate and do my master. For later, I’m not sure yet. I want to build a lot of (working) experiences in different countries, which is one of the reasons I study International Business.
- MESSAGE TO OUR FRIENDS WHO WILL GO TO KOREA.
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Come! And bring your friends with you! Sniff the cultural differences, enjoy the food, ghe history, and the views! Korea has a lot of beautiful places, that not even the Koreans know of!
- HOW DO YOU LEARN KOREAN?
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I learned Korean from series, music, drama’s, and podcasts. I was surprised when I came here of how much I already knew and that I could move around without being scared to talk. I also followed a course level 1 Korean here, and it increased my vocabulary to have daily conversations with Koreans.
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