My Life At Yonsei

Getting to Yonsei




물 냉면 - Cold Noodle, 1st meal in Korea
and 1st cold noodles dish

During my undergrad time at Baylor University, I got a chance to study aboard in Seoul at Yonsei University fall 2007!  To my wildest imagination, I would have never guessed to be cultured shock but I was on my very first few steps outside Incheon Int'l Airport (closest international airport to Seoul).  Being born in Vietnam and growing up in an Asian household, I "thought" that I completely understand the Asian ways and whatnots.  Boy was I wrong...

I had walked outside ICN in shock with all the limo bus lining up like military trucks.  See this photo (credit to the taker).  I never heard of or seen limo bus before but it seems like people in Seoul use it frequently since more than half the people at the airport awaits their bus.  In the States, you usually get a taxi or someone to pick you up.  Here, you get a third and most popular choice - ride on a limo bus for ~10,000₩ to Seoul (about an hour away).  1,000₩ is similar to $1.  Now that I live near San Francisco where shuttlebus are one of the norm tranportations from the airport in similar ways to the limo bus, I understand the use and need of those limo bus.  I even used these great limo bus when I went back to visit Seoul with my mom in Nov 2010.  Sits were roomy and your luggage safely in the bottom of the coach ("limo bus" - keep forgetting).  

Well just my luck back then, Yonsei was very accommodating to foreign students and had given us an option to get a ride with the school's transportation, which goes direction from ICN to Yonsei, for a small fee. 

After that day, I throw my "knowledge" of Asian countries out the door and embraced Korea one day at a time.  Yonsei was a wonderful start becuase of its location, beauty, and wonderful opportunties. 

Growing at Yonsei



Angela and I at Yonsei v Korea Games (Yon-Ko Jeon)



I took two years of Korean at Baylor before my study aboard so I had the basics down.  Unexpectedly, my Korean level tested out be only around 1.8 but I was in the right class with the some of the coolest international students.

Yonsei had great discounted trips for foreign students like a Seoul bus tour that took us to the famous National Museum of Korea, shopping, eating, and a special boat trip in the Hans River all in one day.  Another great trip was to see the B-Boys, world famous break dancers, show called "Ballerina Who Loves B-Boy", in Taegu (대구).  My most memoriable time at Yonsei has to be the Yon-Ko Jeon games. 



My classes were every interesting.  Finance and International Business were my majors so I took international trade, marketing, Korean language classes, Korean history, and fencing.  All were great and I still remember a lot of the lessons till this day.

Ginny, Jasmine, and I in Korean Hanbok

for 추석event at Yonsei

I stayed at the I-House (International House) dorms while some other foreign students lived outside campus and commute in.  There were benefits to both ways but I really grew my relationship with my dorm ladies so I was lucky to stay at the I-House.  2007 Ladies 2nd Floor!!  We clicked after a few chats and explored Korea together throughout the semester.  I really made life-long friends and it must be my most valuable take from studying aboard.  We are all in different places in the world today but I will always remember our fond times together in class, in karaoke room, clubbing, shopping, eating, and just walking the busy streets of Seoul. 



Yonsei in Autumn



Yonsei was is located in Sinchon (sometimes mistaken for Shinchon), the youth of Seoul because it was close to two other universities (Ewha & Hongik).  Not only was the location fun, it was also fashionable and heavenly place for foodies.  The campus was on a hill side so I had beautiful trail-like paths to class each day.  It was a pain at first becuase it was like hiking up a mountain for class each day but nature grew in on me and I started to enjoy those hikes with friends.  My adventures soon to be posted.

Now that I think about it, I should have started blogging sooner to save my memories.  But they are all in my head and in my heart. 

Thank you Yonsei!