Today I road a train en route to Busan, South Korea. To celebrate the ending of my midterms, a couple of friends and I planned some trips together. About twelve or so people are going to travel to Busan with me but after that, my friend, Luann, and I will be going off on our own to Taiwan for 4 days and Osaka for one week. This will be the first time that I will be leaving South Korea since arriving. Prior to this, I have only been to Jeonju which is another city in S. Korea. Most of my friends left for Busan yesterday (Thursday) afternoon but I had to stay back because of my ITM class today (Friday). It was possible for me to miss this one class without it affecting my participation grade but I didn’t feel comfortable not attending class. This class only meets one day a week and every lesson is content heavy. I am glad that I ended up staying and attending class because now I feel a little better about having fun for the next two weeks. Yes, you read right! I will be traveling for two weeks straight! :D Next week is going to be jam packed with holidays like Buddha’s Birthday and Children’s Day. The following week will be elections day in Korea so that is another holiday that I have utilized for my travels. I woke up early today to pack (yes I know that this is last minute but this was the only time I had during the week.. haha) and finish up some last minute planning. To help you future travelers out there, I have created this packing list for the two weeks! Feel free to tailor it to your own personal needs. I did not bring a carry on luggage suitcase with me to Korea (silly me) so my only resort is to pack in a large check-in luggage. In the end this worked in my favor because I plan to do some shopping while in Taiwan and Japan. For now, it is only a bit of a hassle because I have to lug it with me on the bus and train. Thank goodness I have a friend traveling with me to help me carry it haha. I had a blast riding the Train to Busan! Luckily, I didn’t turn into a zombie on the way there. My friend, David, and I decided to ride the fast KTX since we were traveling at night and didn’t want to miss the bus. There is an option to ride the longer train for half the price but we couldn’t afford losing anymore time. We were on the train for about three hours and then we got off to catch the bus to our respective Airbnb’s. We had to take the same bus but we were going to get off at different stops. I felt the most nervous about having to leave David because it would be my first time traveling alone to a foreign location in South Korea. Google maps was also not working for me ㅠㅠ so I had to pay close attention to the bus stop names - With my limited knowledge of hangul I had managed to make it to the Airbnb in one piece. Currently, my friends and I are staying at a place close to Haeundae Beach which is a prime location for tourists. Luann and I went to the beach at night to just chill and hang out. Some nice strangers on the beach gave us sparklers to play with after seeing us admire their fireworks! I had a wonderful start to my travels! Until next time lovelies~ Cheers!
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Midterm season is upon us at Yonsei University. The hustling and bustling of the students is constant and stress can be felt throughout every hallway. If you are studying at Yonsei during the spring semester, that means that you will experience your first round of midterms starting second week of April and ending typically at the end of the third week or sometimes at the end of the month. My midterms officially start next week Monday (April 17, 2017) and I will be finished by the Friday of that week. In total, I have two in class midterms and two take home midterms. Luckily, I only have one class that I am really worried about which is my Productions and Operations class. Other than that, my Entrepreneurship, International Management, and Korean class should not cause me too much stress. My Entrepreneurship and International Management classes require me to review a case study and give my recommendation on whether or not a company should continue with their business plan. Each question is tailored a little differently but the concepts are basically very similar. Both of these assessments encourage me to do outside research on top of reading the provided materials that were given to us. I have one week to complete this essays so I am not too worried about finishing in time. As long as I am on top of it and do work every day I am sure that I have what it takes to complete these assessments with good marks. I found this method of taking a midterm very interesting as it does not require me to memorize facts and data; instead, the professors allow and even encourages us to look for outside resources to help back up out statements. They expect us to apply what the material we learned in class to real life situations. The theme of “it’s not what you know, its how you find and use that information” is very prominent throughout the business courses taught here at Yonsei. Personally, I prefer this method of assessment opposed to the scantron method as it allows me to think outside the box to expand my thinking and personal learning. I have in class exams for my Korean class and Productions and Operations class. I am not too worried about my Korean class because I find learning the language fun and enjoyable. My productions and operations class on the other hand is causing me a bit of grief as there are a lot of theories and formulas to remember for the midterm. One other thing to note is that there are not too many classes that provide review/ practice tests for the students. That means that you would have to study the material all on your own and hope for the best when you take your exam. Some tips that I have to give are to start studying well in advance before your midterms. At Yonsei, like in most asian countries, your grade is based on a curve. That means that if you score above the class average you are fine but if you score below then you will have to work a lot harder during finals season to be able to pass the class. Students here at Yonsei University are among the best in the nation and have experience studying really hard for assessments. I am not trying to intimidate you, but it is of the utmost importance that you try your best in all of your subjects. Working hard only benefits you in the long run, so although it is really fun to explore a foreign country in your free time, please remember that you are also here to learn and be a student. Another tip that I have to give is to go to the professor’s office hours to ask him questions and clarify anything that you are confused about. Once you develop a personal relationship with the professor and they see that you are really trying your best, they will be happy to take time out of their busy schedule to help you. Howdy everyone! Week #3 was a blast! Read more of this post to see what I did this week. More pictures of Week #3 are also located in my Weekly Recaps gallery.
The food is delicious, cafes are cute, and its a great place to get fashion inspiration from Seoul’s young and wealthy. Garosugil is located close to Gangnam so it is very nice and modern as opposed to some of the other traditional parts of Seoul. Luann and I woke up early in the morning so that we could catch the bus to see if we could beat the lines to cafe and coffee shops. What we failed to do was research the hours of the stores... Business starts later than usual around this area (compared to the entirety of Korea even though Korea itself starts at a later time than the rest of the world), so Luann and I had to wait around for a bit before some of the shops opened. Anyhow we didn’t wait that long and it was a lesson learned for us to research the area before visiting it. Walking up and down the streets was really cool. I was amazed at how beautiful the shops were. It is a bit more expensive to shop here than in other parts of Seoul but you are paying for the quality and longevity of the goods.
The perimeters of the base of the tower is adorned with hundreds if not thousands of couple locks <3. Its the perfect place to go to with your significant other to just sightsee or eat ice cream. There is an entrance fee to get into the tower and from what I can remember it is about 10,000 ₩. which is about $10USD. There are various things to do in the tower such as send post cards, or eat at a cafe/ restaurant. I opted not to eat there since I had already eaten in Hongdae and it was kind of pricey at the tower restaurant. At the top of the tower you can see a 360 degree view of beautiful Seoul. On a clear day you are able to see the mountains of Korea in the far distance.
Hongdae is the best place to go to if you want to go to animal cafes. That is probably where I am going to visit next! I believe that there are sheep, cat, dog, and meerkat cafes there.
Hello everyone~ week #2 flew by so quickly that I almost forgot to update my blog… haha! The highlight of my week was getting to spend time with my dear friend, Brenda, while she traveled to Seoul from Hong Kong. Follow her blog here to see some adventures with Brenda. Another highlight of this week was starting my academic semester at Yonsei University. Overall, I am having a blast exploring the area around Yonsei and taking my classes. To look at more pictures for week #2, please head on over to my Weekly Recaps gallery.
It’s official! I am an international student at Yonsei University!!! Woop woop. It has precisely been one week since I landed in South Korea. My week was full of happiness, making friends, and exploring the city. This week, I am most proud of taking the initiative to visit all the places that I did. I landed one week prior to school starting so I had a lot of free time to roam through the districts and get lost in Korean culture with my newfound friends. This week I have visited Sinchon, Idae, Hongdae, Myeongdong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, Kwangjang Marketplace, and Dongdaemun. I am going to make separate blog posts for each area to highlight some of the best restaurants and stores. Here is an overview of my week. To look at more pictures, please go to my Weekly Recaps gallery.
Until next time~ Cheers!
Today marks the day that I am officially starting my study abroad journey! I will be flying on a direct Korean Airlines flight from the Honolulu Airport to Incheon Airport. The flight will last about 10 hours and I will land in South Korea at about 5:55pm in the afternoon. To be honest, I am quite dreading the long flight as I always experience some air sickness. Also, this will be the first time that I will be flying completely on my own. Fortunately, my friend, Julie Li, will also be flying to Korea - but on a different flight. We plan to meet at the baggage claim at Incheon after we land to regroup and find our AirB&B host. Our AirB&B host is very nice and will be picking us both up from the airport to drive us to our room. We will be sleeping there for one night before heading to Yonsei first thing in the morning to check into our dorms. Dorm check-ins start at 9:00am and I plan on being there bright and early so I can settle in quickly and relax a little before I start exploring the city. Leaving home is a bittersweet moment as I am excited to be able to finally live my dream of studying in South Korea, but also a bit sad as I have to leave my friends and family. The time difference doesn’t make it easy as there is a big 18+ hour difference between Seoul and Hawaii. :,( Luckily, phone apps like KakaoTalk, FaceTime, and Facebook Messenger help connect me back to home. It puts ease to my mind that Hawaii is only one call away. I highly recommend downloading the KakaoTalk app well before traveling to Korea to help familiarize yourself with the user interface. KakaoTalk is the main form of communication for local Korean citizens. I also recommend checking the weather trends leading up to your flight to S. Korea so you know what to pack and bring on the flight. Currently, it is around 0 °C in Seoul. To help you out, I have a created a little carry on packing list below. Note: this is what I have packed and you can pack more or less depending on your needs.
Until next time~ Cheers!
After accepting your nomination to Yonsei University through the MIX program, you will then need to complete the Study Abroad at Yonsei (SAY) application to fully complete the process. The only way to receive the SAY application is through direct email. The regional coordinator of Yonsei’s exchange program will send you an email that includes link to the application as well as your personal login information to the site. The application is straight forward and should not take you a long time to complete. It is crucial that you follow the criteria that is listed in the application. The deadline for the application is in Korean time so mark your calendars accordingly. I did not have to mail anything in (unlike in previous years for the SAY app) but I still completed my application well ahead of the due date. Important application tips
ID PHotoYour ID photo is critical to your identity while in Korea and very strict rules have to be abided when taking the photo. Below is a picture of the requirements that have to be met. Requirements:
***note the photo has to be 3.5cm x 4.5cm*** Upload in .jpg format I used my iPhone camera to take my photo so it is okay if you do not have a professional DSLR to take your ID photo PassportThe SAY application requires you to upload a scan of your passport. I uploaded mines in .jpg form. At the time I didn’t know whether or not Yonsei wanted all of the attachments in PDF or JPG format. I just took a shot in the dark and it worked out! Luckily, I already had a passport on hand by the time that I started the SAY Application. I highly recommend getting a passport once you’ve decided on applying to a study abroad program. It takes a good 4-6 weeks to receive a U.S. passport so please plan ahead and don’t procrastinate! You can get your passport done at the Hawaii State Library or UH Manoa’s campus center. Health InsuranceMy personal insurance plan does not cover me internationally so I had to purchase insurance from MIX. When I started the SAY application I had not purchased the insurance yet so I just attached a PDF that stated “Insurance proof to be provided on admission.” It looked like this. I wanted to purchase insurance only after I received my acceptance letter from Yonsei. ***very important*** You are allowed to edit your personal information after you have submitted your application. Please remember to upload proof of your insurance as soon as you have it. Personal StatementAt the end of the SAY application, there will be a word doc for you to download and complete. There will be roughly 4 short response questions that should only take 1/2 of a page each to answer. I spent a considerable amount of time working on my short response answers and I made sure to be respectful and honest. Make sure to proof read your responses before uploading the word doc to the application. And... congrats! You are completed with the application You have now completed the application. Now you have to wait for your acceptance packet which should come in about a month from the due date of the application. Your acceptance packet can be picked up at the MIX office in QLC. Your next step should be applying for dorms. Stay tuned for posts on how to choose/ apply to the dorms!
Until next time~ Cheers! There are a lot of things to consider when applying to a study abroad program here at UH Mānoa. UH has two programs from which you can choose from - the Mānoa International Exchange (MIX), and the Study Abroad Center. Below is a brief breakdown of what each program has to offer.
Keep in mind, both these programs will give you an amazing study abroad experience - but choose wisely! There are different positives to each program. Personally, I have decided to travel abroad with the MIX program as it was more cost friendly and had the university that I really wanted to attend, which was Yonsei University. I also enjoy planning out my own excursions and having the free will to explore the city at my own convenience. how to apply for Mānoa international exchange (MIX) program When applying for MIX, make sure you have the following items before completing the application:
The online application for MIX should not take you more than 2 hours to complete (trust me, it is really straight forward). Answer honestly and make sure to have valid reasons as to why you chose your specific university. The application asks you to pick the top five schools that you want to attend. Mine were 1) Yonsei University, 2) Korea University, 3) Seoul National University, 4) Sogang University, and 5) Ewha Womens University. Although it is not guaranteed that you will get your top choice, the advisors do a really good job of placing you into one of the schools you listed. Remember, the study abroad experience is what you make of it! Go in with a positive mindset and unforgettable experiences will come your way. I am very fortunate that I was nominated for Yonsei University (my top choice :D yay)! Before I completed my application, I made sure that I did extensive research on the schools that peaked my interest. I made appointments with Rikki Mitsunaga from OSAS and she was very helpful in directing me to which universities matched my interests and academic path. I also made appointments with Vinnie Burns from MIX to learn more about the application process. Yonsei University proved to be the university that I wanted to attend the most. Located in the heart of Seoul, South Korea, I knew that Yonsei was where I wanted to be. Most importantly, Yonsei University has an AACSB accreditation. It was very important to me that I chose a school with AACSB accreditation because it means that all of the credits that I receive at Yonsei will transfer back to UH Mānoa when I return from my study abroad. To learn more about AACSB accreditation, click here. I cannot stress enough the importance of deadlines when applying for your study abroad. MIX has a priority deadline for the application. If you submit your application before the deadline then you will have a higher chance of being nominated for one of your top universities. If you do not meet the priority deadline then your chances of being nominated for one of your top universities are significantly lowered. The deadlines for Spring and Fall are different so mark your calendars accordingly. After you have submitted your MIX application you can relax for a bit until nominations come out. MIX will nominate you to one of the universities that you have listed. Nomination to Yonsei University does not mean that you are accepted into the university. Nomination simply means you qualify for the exchange program and your basic information has been sent to the university. Your MIX advisor should send you another form for you to complete regarding whether or not you accept your nomination to Yonsei University. After you complete your nomination form you should receive an email from either your MIX advisor or Yonsei University about what to do next in your application process. Stay tuned for how to complete the Yonsei application! Until next time~ Cheers! Dear Mr. Graeme Freeman and Freeman Foundation, I would like to expresses gratitude to the Freeman Foundation for awarding me with the Freeman Scholarship for the 2017-2018 school year. I am deeply grateful to be a part of such an encouraging and driven cohort. This scholarship has given me the financial and emotional support to study abroad at Yonsei University in South Korea in Spring 2017. To tell you a little about myself, my name is Elizabeth Quach and I am currently a junior studying Finance and Management Information Systems at the Shidler College of Business. Growing up in Hawaii all my life, I am most excited to study abroad in a foreign country and have the “college experience” - to allow me to find my strengths, my weaknesses, and what I need to gain as a person. As an avid believer of learning through the reflection of doing, I truly believe that studying abroad will allow me to expand my horizons and grow personally and professionally. With the this scholarship, I will have the support to travel across the world to learn about new cultures and traditions of people. The human experience is something that I am passionate about and I believe that the value of life is found through interactions between different groups of people and being respectful to each other. I will take this semester to learn with an open mind and heart to expand on my international relations and business skills. Once again, thank you again for the generous monetary donation and continued support. Without your support, I would have not been able to have the opportunity to have this experience of a lifetime. Warmest regards, Elizabeth Quach |
About meMy name is Elizabeth (Liz) Q. I am a full time student studying at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. I am extremely passionate about helping people, learning things and developing relationships. Archives
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