Are you a UBC undergrad thinking about going on a student exchange? It can be a daunting decision. You might wonder, what's it like spending a year or a semester in another country? How can you prepare? And how do you handle it when things go sideways? We talked with a group of UBC Global Ambassadors who studied abroad with a Go Global program. They spoke with us candidly, sharing their personal impressions, fears and misgivings, best memories, top tips and advice. (This is story is part of a series of Global Exchange Insider interviews.)
Meet 21-year-old Ryenne Wen, a 4th-year UBC undergraduate studying anthropology and East Asian language and culture (Faculty of Arts). She grew up in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles (U.S.).
Before you go
Why did you pick Seoul National University (SNU) for your exchange? How did you hear about it?
Seoul National University has a great reputation as the best university in South Korea, something that I was initially drawn to. There are many references to it in Korean popular culture, so I had always been curious about what it would be like to be a student at such a prestigious institution. When I was preparing to apply for Go Global, I picked SNU after consulting the list of courses that were available in English. I still wanted to graduate within four years, so I wanted to pick a university where I could take courses that I could receive transfer credits for and put that towards one of my degrees. Ultimately, I was able to complete the degree requirements for my minor in East Asian Language and Culture with the unique experience of language immersion.
No visit to Korea is complete without renting school uniforms and taking a trip to Lotte World—pictured: Ryenne Wen (photo: Victoria Hong)
What was the application process like? Any tips?
The application process was fairly straightforward. The requirements vary for each faculty, but in terms of materials submitted, all that is needed is a statement of interest and a study plan of potential courses. Proving your interest in your destination, as well as how you plan to apply the experience to your career or academic goals, will help you stand out among other applicants. Additionally, Go Global’s Transfer Credit Portal is a great tool to find courses at your partner university that have been transferred back to UBC by previous exchange students. This can help with general course planning for your degree requirements while on exchange; all three courses I took transferred back to complete my minor requirements.
How did you prepare? Anything to be aware of? (travel, cultural differences, classes, etc.)
Social media is your best friend! I was scouring everything from YouTube videos, Instagram posts and TikToks to build my background knowledge before even landing in Korea. Knowing how to search key terms such as “맛집" for good restaurants will be infinitely helpful when building your list of places to go. When in Korea, apps such as Papago for translation and NaverMaps or KakaoMaps can help you navigate the language barrier, especially since the best restaurants almost never have English menus. For travelling, I made an effort to only travel within the country and to avoid major hotspots frequented by tourists for a more unique experience.
I went on weekend trips with friends to Jeonju, Sokcho, Gyeongju and Pohang to try regional specialties and visit cultural monuments. As an anthropology major, I would never pass up on a trip to a museum in Seoul, many of which were free. Hardcore museum enthusiasts like me can check out the National Museum of Korea for a look into the different eras of Korean history, while those interested in a lighthearted activity can try the kimchi samples at the Kimchikan museum. Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path and explore the city outside of tourist guides.
Some apps I recommend:
- Naver Maps: for directions and reservations
- Papago: for translations
- Wise: for paying back friends in their home currency
- Kakaotalk: for any and all communication
Night views at Wolji Pond in Gyeongju’s Donggung Palace. During my visit on the national holiday of Buddha’s Birthday, admission was free (photo: Ryenne Wen)
What worries did you have beforehand? How did you overcome the anxiety?
The start of a study abroad experience can be extremely overwhelming with the combination of anxiety and excitement. It’s important to take time to acclimate to a new environment and take breaks in between the stresses of moving to a new country. A study abroad experience will always be full of unexpected situations that can be stressful due to a variety of factors; knowing how to adapt to these changes can be a useful skill that improves the quality of your experience. That said, I also highly recommend putting time and effort into improving your language skills, getting directionally oriented in the city and researching new experiences to try out.
Preparing for my exchange semester abroad, I faced two main concerns: the language barrier and finding housing. I had been taking Korean language classes for two and a half years prior, but I had never actually been to Korea before. I knew that I did have an easier experience than some others because I faced less of a language barrier in my everyday life. However, as a language learner, I was treating the experience as a learning opportunity and was worried that I wouldn’t be able to meet the high expectations I set for myself. When I was placed into an advanced Korean class, I had imposter syndrome that made me incredibly anxious about going to class and facing my peers. However, my professor was very understanding after just one conversation, and supported me continuously throughout the semester.
Additionally, finding housing was also a stressful situation. SNU did not guarantee housing for all exchange students. The lottery system and other information I received made me anxious about being able to find housing before I left for Korea in mid-February. Given the circumstances, I decided to look for off-campus housing, which ended up being a great choice for my situation. Thankfully, SNU did provide some information about looking for off-campus housing, which helped me choose a small room near Nakseongdae station. At my apartment, I did not need to share a room or bathroom with a roommate, and had an easier time transiting around Seoul given my proximity to the Number 2 line that goes around Seoul and a shuttle bus to campus.
During the experience
How was the overall experience? What did you learn?
It was great! I thought it was a wonderful opportunity for self-growth, and to push myself outside of my comfort zone and try new things. Of course, there were times where I still faced difficulties or where things did not go according to plan, but I tried to accept both the positive and negative as part of the journey rather than trying to craft the “perfect” study abroad experience.
One of the best meals I had in Seoul. Nothing beats high-quality meat and friendly service from a family owned K-BBQ restaurant. They even gave us steamed eggs on the house, or 서비스. (photo: Ryenne Wen)
“The start of a study abroad experience can be extremely overwhelming with the combination of anxiety and excitement. It’s important to take time to acclimate to a new environment and take breaks in between the stresses of moving to a new country.”
If you could change something or do it differently, what would you change or do?
I would’ve loved to travel more. I did spend a decent amount of time exploring different neighbourhoods within Seoul, but I wish I could’ve visited more cities outside of the ones that I saw. I would have liked to take a weekend trip to Busan or Jeju.
How were the academics?
Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by how manageable the course load was. I enrolled in three classes: Advanced Korean, Life in Contemporary Korea and Korean Language Culture. The latter two courses were aimed at exchange students and were taught completely in English. It was a great opportunity to learn about Korean culture from a different perspective, as I also got to work with domestic students and hear about their experiences and opinions. Advanced Korean was one of the more difficult classes I’ve taken during university: the class was taught completely in Korean. I had major imposter syndrome at the beginning of the semester because it felt like all my peers were much more advanced than me and I was worried about falling behind. Thankfully, my professor was very encouraging and helped me throughout the semester, so I became more comfortable in the class. I was able to make faster progress in my language learning since I was surrounded by people with similar goals and had opportunities to apply my learning every day in a variety of situations.
How was the social aspect?
SNU had a great program called SNU Buddy that partnered exchange and domestic students together. Three exchange students shared one domestic student “buddy,” and then 10 of these “buddies” in a buddy group. Every month, the Korean buddies would release a calendar of various events throughout the month for exchange students to experience the local culture. One of the benefits of this program was that students could choose their buddy based on their written profile detailing their age, major, hobbies and interests. Each buddy group’s monthly calendar was fully customized by the Korean students with no two groups doing the exact same events, so the events were compatible with the interests of the exchange students in each group.
Some would go surfing in Yangyang and others went to a theatre production. There were also big events that gathered all the exchange students participating in SNU Buddy, so you could socialize outside of the 30 students in your buddy group as well. Some events I participated in included a food festival where exchange students could represent their home country’s cuisine, a stay at a Buddhist temple and a talent show. Having all these events can make for a really full social calendar, so I also made sure to make time for myself to go explore the city at my own speed and relax by myself. Though making unforgettable memories with friends is one of the greatest benefits of going on exchange, it’s also important to take breaks for your mental and emotional health as well so you don’t feel burnt out.
After a long day of dressing up in hanboks and wandering around Jeonju’s Hanok Village, my friends and I marked the occasion with a visit to a photobooth—pictured from left: Ryenne Wen, Aaron Worsnop, Jafar Mansoor (photo: Ryenne Wen)
After the experience
Would you recommend this experience to others? What can they look forward to?
Absolutely! Exchange has been one of the most rewarding experiences that has continued to bring me great opportunities even after returning to Vancouver. For me, it was a period of self-growth and has given me the confidence to push myself beyond my comfort zone. I highly encourage anyone who’s interested in exploring the world to give it a shot.
Matching caricatures with my personal buddy from the SNU buddy program—one of my favourite souvenirs I took home (photo: Ryenne Wen)
What was the impact on your academic and personal development?
Going on exchange has without a doubt influenced me to expand my horizons and my ambitions. My experience at SNU motivated me to apply for the UBC Exchange and International Students Club (XISC) in May, where I now plan events for incoming exchange students at UBC. I was also inspired to become a Go Global Ambassador, where I speak at panels and events to share my experiences good and bad to help potential outgoing exchange students. Additionally, I am one of the current Co-Presidents at UBC K-Wave, where I work with various organizations, such as the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver, to spread awareness about Korean culture, media and entertainment. As I near graduation, I hope to continue to foster global connections and create opportunities for cultural exchange, both professionally and personally.
Read more Go Global student stories.