So far I have been here for over two weeks and have had so much fun. Everyone here at the program is so kind and helpful. We have four Korean student mentors who look after us really well, are super fun, and speak English.

At the dormitory, two people share a room with a bathroom, a small fridge, and lots of storage space. We are here during summer break, so there are not many people living in the dorm. The shared kitchen has a microwave and a water purifier with boiling hot and cold water.

To my disappointment, we don’t have any homework. Instead, we attend classes, go on fun field trips, and find places to eat. However, don’t count on this as there might be homework in future years. Also, it will depend on your language level and your enthusiasm for learning. We do, however, have a test at the end.

We have to pay for our own supper, but lunch is provided except on weekends. Sometimes we eat in a restaurant, but for the other days we get a coupon to use in the cafeteria.

I’d absolutely recommend coming to the program if you are debating it, and I hope this information helps you plan your trip.

Nakira, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea, 2019

As I spent more time observing, I noticed many things new to me. There were often places where people would walk in the middle of the street as there was little space on either side. Cars would also be parked where people would be walking, and when there was a sidewalk, sometimes it would be attached to the neighbourhood shops and contain neat little steps and ramps. There seemed to be no end to street vendors selling vegetables, fruits, rice cakes, and all kinds of meats. This is something you’d only see back home at specially planned farmer’s markets. It was also clear that pedestrians had to be very careful because, although there were marked crosswalks, drivers rarely stopped to allow people to cross. However, in some of the busy areas where there were a lot of people, it was easier because drivers were forced to move slowly to avoid collisions. These are just a few of the things that stood out as different from my home town of Victoria.