Finishing my first week of classes at Hanyang University , I’ve noticed that most experiences are the same in terms of lecture design and assignments. But I think what makes this academic experience stand out from my experiences at the College of Charleston is that in classes in Seoul, I am an American student, which is one of the lesser majorities of ethnicity on this campus. In my Global Business Communication class, I am the only person from the United States and one of the only white students. While my other class, Geography of Seoul, is bigger in size, I notice more students of Asian descent.
As the only American in my business class, the rest of the students come from Indonesia, Singapore, China, and Germany. Four of the students from Indonesia came together on their trip, all majoring in English Literature back home. During Hanyang’s International Student Orientation, they showed a circle chart of the percentages of students from each country. Out of 1,098 students, 59% of students are from Asia, 24% are from the States, and so on.
Looking at the numbers, it’s not as isolating as I thought it would be, and I enjoy the conversations I have with the other international students. Another thing I noticed is the difference in class length. Each class is 3 hours to accommodate for the month we have to learn. It gives time for a lengthier discussion, but halfway through class, everyone is ready to grab a snack at the popular Seven-Eleven or Cafe Tiamo next to the building!
I also enjoy spending time at the library, which is much more modern and spacious. They even have separate rooms in the library where you can lay back in a comfy chair, on a floor mattress, or in a bunkbed and take naps! They have cinema rooms to watch movies in, and lots of computers and charging ports for convenience. I like the LED lighting and the modern interior that makes me feel like I’m in a science fiction film while writing my blog posts?
The dining halls are always bustling with students dining on Korean food, but also burgers, pizza, tacos, and other food styles. I recommend the Korean beef and rice bowl, kimchi fried rice (pictured), and the Chapaggeti savory noodle dish. The food at Hanyang University is so filling and I still haven’t gotten used to the dramatic difference in food compared to the College’s dining hall food back home.
If you ever travel to Seoul for study abroad, I recommend Hanyang International Summer School!?✈️?