Before participating in the language exchange program, I devoted most of my time to my major coursework. However, the language exchange experience was a transformative one. It broadened my horizons and motivated me to explore a variety of topics outside of my major. Driven by an insatiable thirst fo

One day in mid-February, before the spring buds had even sprouted, I set off to a place I had never been to before. It was the Czech Republic, a place I knew only as being famous for its beautiful cityscape and the birthplace of several renowned classical composers. New challenges faced in college l

In one year, I challenged myself and explored a world I never knew existed. I had never dreamed of living abroad before because I was too scared, but I overcame my fears as an exchange student and now I aim to find a job and live abroad. I have learned that not thinking too deeply and having a just-

To begin with, if I had to briefly introduce myself to anyone, I would clarify myself as "a challenger" without a doubt. I lived abroad from a very young age, and I have been exposed to a lot of unfamiliar environments. Now, it has been years since my family settled in Korea, and the comfort that co

In 2023, I spent the hottest summer in Taiwan. Being an exchange student, which is only open to university students, is a possible dream that everyone can achieve during college at least once. I participated in the exchange student program and achieved what I had hoped for: I experienced the wider w

It may seem a little ridiculous, but the reason I decided to go abroad was because I wanted to live on my own. My parents had not allowed me to live on my own in Korea, so I decided to go abroad! Then, I narrowed down my options to English-speaking countries, hoping that it would help me improve my

Now, more than three months after my global exploration project, I have this to say to the readers of the Sookmyung Times "Don't hesitate, just do it." When you're not sure if you're interested in something or not, or if you're worried about whether you'll be good at it, I recommend just doing it. I

Many people dream of being exchange students, and I was one of them. Being an exchange student in Norway, a country not well-known to Koreans, made it even more special. "C'est la vie" is a French phrase that means "that's life." It expresses emotions of being both happy or sad. I learned this phras

Looking at all the photos that I took last fall and winter, it all feels like a dream. All the beautiful scenery and beautiful smiles in the photos were taken when I was an exchange student. Those times showed me a different world and broadened my perspectives. I always had a vague dream of living a

I decided to study abroad because I just wanted to live in the USA at least for a year. I expected to use English, live alone, have new experiences, and meet many people there. I have heard that regrets come from results not from the process. I am still trying to keep it as a core memory and not reg

Imagine reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English 24/7 in a completely different country that has a totally different culture! Wouldn't it be exciting? Every day is a challenge and a series of achievements. It might be a little stressful because it's harder than you think to be thrown int

When you arrive at Oslo airport, you can first see the word, 'Velkommen' which means 'Welcome' in Norwegian. Imagine you are in a country alone where you have never even heard the kind of language they use. A strange country, strange language, and strange people made me feel like I was all alone. Ne

'The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must destroy a world.' This is one of the sayings in Herman Hesse's novel 'Demian.' I would say this expression encapsulates my exchange student life. While living in Korea, I finally realized that I was 'a big fish in

Do you know about SIWA, the leadership group of SMWU? It has continued friendship with the Mujigae Camp, the group which mostly consists of Korean adoptees' families in the U.S. Despite the Covid-19 situation, foreign exchange programs have not stopped for SIWA. At first, we were disappointed becaus

Imagine waking up in the morning and seeing the Alps rising up in front of your eyes. It's an everyday part of life in Konstanz. If things I have never experienced in my life become the most common things I meet in a new place, it is only natural that I feel awkward in the gap between them. However,

Many people are afraid of challenging themselves to do new things. It has never been an easy process for me either to meet new people or decide to go to a new place alone. However, after getting this experience, I gained confidence that I could try something new alone. From now on, I would like to i

There was a phrase that I always kept in my mind during my student exchange period. "Don't be shabby by poverty for a while. Throw away the idea that you have something to lose. Treat every situation as a device of romance. It is a privilege of youth." It was the past four months when I wasn't afrai

"Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant, and to face the challenge of change," said Martin Luther King Jr. People are usually satisfied with the way they have lived. People can stay in their comfort zone to avoid feeling afraid. However, th

In January 2021, I heard that I had been accepted as an exchange student at Coe College just as the number of COVID-19 confirmed patients in the United States had reached an all-time high. I pondered a lot and was very worried, but I decided to take the bull by the horns because I needed experience

Hello, my name is Shin Yujin, and I'm Lee Yebin. We are English members of the Sookmyung Interpretation Volunteer group. Nice to meet you. We hope that today's interview will help many international students who will visit the school in the future. How did you end up coming to Sookmyung Women's Univ