Finding Myself Far from Home

Q1. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Hao Bowen, and I am an international student from Dalian City, a beautiful coastal city in northeastern China, known for its pleasant climate and modern architecture. I have been living in Korea for about a year and a half and am currently a freshman majoring in Business Administration at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU).

Q2. Why did you choose Korea and SKKU?

I have been dreaming of studying abroad since I was a child. Among many options, I chose to study in Korea, largely influenced by my mother, who is Korean. Thanks to her, Korea felt both familiar and accessible to me. I wanted to experience university life as soon as possible, so I chose the SKKU Korean Language Center to learn Korean, rather than a regular language academy. There, I was able to experience not only the language but also the vibrant atmosphere of the campus, which made me want to attend SKKU even more.

Q3. How is your life at SKKU?

As an international student, I still face some challenges, especially in understanding the academic expressions used in lectures. However, I try to overcome them by reviewing with my friends and actively participating in group discussions. Outside of class, I have found many ways to make the most of my life here. I particularly enjoy eating Korean food with my friends, and one of my most memorable moments was when we had Korean barbecue after midterms. Afterward, we played games at a board game café in Hyehwa until late at night, talking about everything from our majors to our dreams. These moments make my college life in Korea even more special.

Q4. What have you learned about yourself while studying abroad in Korea?

The biggest challenge I faced while studying abroad here was living alone in a foreign country and taking responsibility for everything on my own. At first, even small things like going to the doctor or opening a bank account seemed difficult. I especially remember the time I got lost in the subway and had to use a translation application to ask strangers for directions. I was very embarrassed and nervous at the time, but then I felt a great sense of accomplishment that I managed to figure it out on my own. This experience gave me the confidence that I will be able to handle whatever challenges may come in the future.