Tag: studyabroad

Pre-Departure Feels

Published on by Abigail HopperLeave a comment

As my departure date has quickly shrunk from three months to three days, I’ve found myself swept up in a whirlwind of emotions, challenges, and seemingly endless bullets on my to-do list. My ten months in France have gone from a silly abstract trip to very, very real. From spending hours comparing sim cards and the best banks for international use, it seems like there’s always one more thing that needs to be figured out. Where’s the nearest grocery store? What if I get sick (what’s a girl gotta do to get some acetaminophen :/)??

It’s 48 hours before my departure, and while there’s still much to be done, I can say that there is a lot that I have figured out. I’ve chosen an area I like in the city, signed a lease on a Banksy-themed studio apartment, acquired my visa, and registered for classes. I’m almost through the process of packing and filling in anything I might not be able to get when I arrive (resisting the urge to fill my bags with mac & cheese cups and chick-fil-a sauce).

I’m finding my excitement to be closely matched with anxiety, and can go from being thrilled to tearing up about leaving my friends and family in seconds. The thought of not knowing anyone in a new city is daunting, and I’m finding myself running through countless scenarios where things are wonderful or horrible or anything in between. So, if you’re also feeling nerves or guilty about the excitement being bogged down by fear, I can assure you that you’re not alone and that it’s a perfectly normal way to feel! Change is hard but there’s so much to be gained! I keep thinking back to how hard it felt when I first left my hometown to come to DU, and how many incredible people I got to meet and I’ll the experiences I’ve gotten to have.

Here’s to new beginnings!!

Funny American Things in Korea

Published on by stefaniepaikLeave a comment

Korea is well-versed in deep history and culture. On the other hand, Korea has grown into a very diverse country that offers global companies that are localized to Korean society. So to commemorate all of the strange American things I have experienced, I created a list of my favorite places.

Costco

The wholesale company, based in Washington state, has various locations all around Korea. In the greater Seoul area 6 Costco’s. The layout of the Costco is the same as the ones in the US, the only big difference is that the Costco here are multi-storied. Korean Costco will have parking on the basement floors, and then there will be a 1 and 2 floor for merchandise. Merchandise is localized to Korean taste. The best part of Korean Costco’s experience is the food court. The most popular item is the bulgogi pizza. It was fairly good, but I found the cheese on the pizza to be a little strange.

Ikea

While Ikea is Swedish and not American, I enjoyed going to Ikea for fun back home. So Ikea here is generally the same. All the merchandise is the same, still a long labyrinth of furniture. At the Korean Ikea, the menu is similar to the US menu. One thing I noticed is the large amount of vegan options. It’s interesting because vegan options are not super extensive in Korea, but it is growing among the population. The food was pretty good; thought it was a little bland. Also, the garlic bread was sweet, so I didn’t like it.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s has locations all around Korea. Recently, Korea has been doing more localized menu options such as the Jindo green onion burger. In my personal opinion, I don’t like Korean McDonald’s. The fries don’t have that signature American saltiness. Also, McDonald’s does not allow customization so I don’t want to order any burger cause I hate tomatoes. It is a fun experience to try but don’t expect it to taste the same as America.