Yonsei University

It was a constant struggle. I mean, I chose the country to learn more about it...to feel a culture shock in a way..but it was an absolutely different language from my own. Learning it though...it motivated me for that very reason. But no matter how much of an effort I made it did hinder my social life with native Koreans because if you don't speak to them or approach them...don't expect them to come to you...unless its about something weird cause you DO get weird looks for being foreign. You should consider taking atleast a whole level 1 course before coming here... Even ordering food was a challenge at times especially because there will be those one or two times where they will take advantage of the fact you are a foreigner and will make you order whats more expensive or will be rude and unattentive to you because they know you can't say much back.

Significant financial surprises? mmm, don't go crazy spending if you know wiring money or your means of support doesn't come right away. I received a stipend from the school for my meals but I got so excited to see money that I blew it SO fast. On top of that my wonderful hardworking momma would send me $100 every 2 weeks...but once I blew my stipend and all I had was 100 every 2 weeks...Life got hard...And hard called for Ramen...FOR ALL MEALS. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner...It was all I could afford. It was horrible. Ramen makes me so sick to see now its scary.

Best bars? Sinchon and Hongdae for sure. Only because they are so cheap especially when you are on that student budget and wish to use money to travel then on expensive drinks like I did at least! On those nice nights though you can never go wrong with going to Gangnam once and a while. Octagon is the best club they have out there at its Free on Thursdays. Also if you happen to be a little familiar with Korean familiar faces (aka celebs and actors) you run into many out there! They all like to spend time around Apgujung and expensive areas (hehe) The Han river is GORG during the summer. It does get busy though! (not that it's a surprise....South Korea is a tad crowded on the weekends, be prepared to get bumped into every now and then) Student Life? Yeah....You make that for yourself. Foreigners stick to foreigners. They don't tell you that. No one will EVER explicitly tell you that...but as time goes after you realize you aren't on vacation, but actual living there for XX amount of months...Your integration with Koreans at school is almost non existent unless your Korean is A++, You're really pale and cute, you find yourself a Korean connection, or are just Korean. It's sad, but unintentionally (at least I hope thats always the case...) They don't know how to accept diversity...So Koreans WILL ALWAYS stick together.

I reallllly really hope not to sound pessimistic because OVERALL, the country is AMAZING. As a "tourist" you get everything out of the culture an frankly the culture is beautiful and so are the people. There's always things going on and its actually quite fun! But don't expect much from Yonsei as a foreigner especially in the aspect of clubs and activities...I just want to be super super clear about it because I have yet to see any review be honest about that in that aspect. I'm a very social person...I have no problem going up to someone I don't know and saying hey! At first when you first get here it's funny to both you and them...because well you both can't speak to each other...but as you spend more time here you realize its no longer funny on your end...you sincerely wanna be friends with these people or find your niche in a sense not just be I guess the funny 5 second encounter. I think that was probably the hardest out of the experience. But just as I said it...it's the EXPERIENCE right? Good luck adventurers!

My Goshiwon was small but it was just outside of Yonsei and located right by the subway (which is honestly your main source of transportation anywhere in Seoul aside from buses and taxi's coming home from long nights with friends if you didn't spend it in Sinchon)