Hallym exchange taught me more than just academic study

By Angela Marie Ng, University of the Philippines Diliman / UP Diliman

Going on exchange was the best decision I’ve ever made. My experience taught me so much more than academic study. I discovered so much about myself – my likes and dislikes, my limitations, and the extent of my ability to grow and improve as a person – that I might not have realized if I had not gone on exchange.

(View from the top of Bonguisan Mountain – next to Hallym University)

I learned how to budget my expenses and maximize my time. Living alone in a different country really forced me to fend for myself. It can be scary at first, but Hallym really takes care of its students. They assigned us a local buddy, an automatic friend, even before we arrived, so they could help us physically and culturally navigate South Korea and share in our crazy escapades as well.

(me on Hallym sports field)

I also learned to say yes to new and exciting adventures. Before arriving in South Korea, I made a promise to myself to have no regrets. I told myself to make the most out of this trip, to try things I’ve never tried before, and to enjoy every single moment, both the good and the bad. And that is exactly what I did.

(Yonggungsa Temple)

I explored Chuncheon, Seoul, and Busan. I visited temples and palaces, trying on the 한복 (hanbok) or the traditional Korean attire as well. I ate all kinds of food, even 산낙지(san-nakji)or live octopus (it’s not too bad, so don’t miss out on this). But without a doubt, the best part of my exchange journey was the friends I made along the way. Most of my friendships were built in our beloved international dormitory and in the engaging classes we shared. I even met up with students from other universities in Chuncheon and Seoul. I still talk to most of them online, and we plan to visit each other’s countries soon!All the people I encountered and the memories we created together were what shaped my semester to be the most unforgettable experience of my life.

(Wearing Hanboks in Gyeongbokgung)

If I could only give one piece of advice, it would be to keep your mind open to anything and anyone. It might not be easy but force the fear and anxiety out of your system and just go for it. You won’t regret it!

Hallym ‘Buddy’ program

You can read about Sam’s spring 2019 exchange here. In her first blog post she talks about her arrival and Hallym’s ‘buddy’ system.

Her blog is excellent, so if you wish to read more about Sam’s time at Hallym, please continue to read about her experiences here.

Club culture at Hallym University

By Lukas Kreinau, the University of Applied Sciences Bielefeld, Germany

Being an exchange student at Hallym University was possibly the most exciting experiences I had in my life. Except making a step forward academically by having to completely rely on my English skills, it also gave me the opportunity to manage myself in a different culture and country and to conquer any obstacles that lay ahead. Before arriving at Hallym University, I knew that getting to know new people would be an essential part. Simultaneously, meeting new people would be one of the more difficult obstacles by my imagination. Of course, this would by quite easy in a familiar environment but given the fact that I was in a new country with a completely different culture compared to my home country and on top of that, travelled alone, the thought of not being able to connect to the Koreans was one that did bother me. In hindsight, joining one of Hallym’s student clubs really made things easier which is why I would always recommend any exchange student to do so as well.

At the beginning of the semester, the club fair took place on the campus of the University where different sports and culture clubs set up booths in which they introduced their club and students could sign up for. On one day when I was walking back to my dorm, I happened to walk across the club fair ground where I was approached by what seemed to be the captain of one of the soccer teams. He asked me where I was from and when I replied that I was from Germany, he asked me if I was interested in joining their soccer club. Since I actively played soccer in a club in Germany for many years, I did have an interest and after confirming when they practiced, I signed up for the club. For many years, I wanted to try out baseball and knowing that South Korea was a big baseball nation, I planned on joining the baseball club. When I found the booth of the baseball club, I approached it and had a quick chat with the people there. They told me that exchange students never join the baseball club which is why they were delighted that I showed interest and pursued me to join. I was hesitant at first since I already joined a club but knowing that the chance of trying out baseball would most likely not happen again, I also signed up for the baseball club.

From what I can tell, the majority of members of the clubs were made up of Korean students. So by signing up, it gives you the opportunity to interact with the Korean students and to establish friendships while stepping out of your comfort zone and tendency to stick with the students from your country or the other exchange students. The language barrier might be a problem sometimes but the students with a lower English proficiency will not try to block you out either. Hallym University has its own Intramural League in which the teams of the different major’s compete against each other. To register as a player that can compete in the Intramural League, registration at the office of the ‘Campus Life Center’ is necessary. The teams mostly practice once a week, so participation does not take up a lot of your time.

The club activities and the people I met were one of the most memorable parts of my whole stay at Hallym University. It gave you a better understanding about how the students interact with each other and enabled you to learn about their culture. The time you spent with the club members was not just limited to the practice times. Usually, there was a first meet up before the season started where all members would gather and go out together. You spend the whole night where you get to know each other better. Oftentimes after a practice session or a match, you would go out for dinner together. From my experience, I felt that there was a great bond between members, so it was not just an extracurricular activity. Members would contact you or vice versa and you would do something together either by visiting the local University festival or a sports event in Chuncheon or Seoul. Probably the best part of joining a club would be the ‘Membership training’ that takes place once a semester. It’s like a field trip for which you can sign up for where you and the other members rent an apartment for the weekend outside of Chuncheon. There you would spend the time doing activities like doing sports, cooking, drinking and playing games.

In summary, I would definitely recommend anyone to at least considering joining a club whether it be sports or cultural activities. The memories I have made and the people I have met there are things that I still frequently look back on today. It really gives you the chance to create an experience that will last with you and to create relationships and contacts which you will reach out to even after your stay in South Korea. From the few other exchange students that joined clubs, none of them have regretted their decision and I can promise that you will not either.