Q1. Please introduce yourself.
Hi, my name is Cherry, and I am a 22-year-old student studying Commerce, majoring in Management and Marketing at the University of Melbourne. During the summer vacation, I came to Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) and attended introductory courses of the International Summer School (ISS) program regarding Psychology and Social Problems.
Q2. Why did you choose Korea and SKKU?
I have always been interested in Korean culture. I really enjoyed watching a Korean TV show called It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and I am also into the K-pop group DAY6. Not needing a visa to stay was another major benefit that drew my attention to Korea. That made my visit so much more convenient! I chose SKKU in particular, because it offered a wide selection of subjects outside of my major that I could take. Before I chose SKKU, my priority was to take classes outside of my major, because I was looking for something different. SKKU provided me with just that!
Q3. How was your life at SKKU?
It has been quite good! Everyone is welcoming, and the food is so good. I was not able to explore outside of the campus that much, though, so I think that is my only regret. The most memorable experience I had in Korea was probably the class dinner my friends and I had. Professor Mansoo Yu, who taught the Introduction to Social Problems course, took us out for Korean pancakes and Makgeolli and then to karaoke. I had so much fun because Australia does not have that kind of culture. However, I did have some trouble waking up for my morning classes. I may have missed a few of them.
Q4. How was your time in Korea different from other places?
I would say that Korea is different from other Asian countries in the sense that it is more individualistic than collectivistic. It is much more focused on the individual than I expected before arriving here. Seoul is also much busier compared to Bangkok and Singapore. Seeing the busy streets filled with people going about their daily lives confirmed my image of Seoul as being a truly modern metropolis. It is a shame that words cannot fully embrace the beauty and vibrancy of the place!