Being Abroad, Culture Shock, and Realizing

Week 1

Hello there, greetings from Seoul.

Its true that this is my third time being in Seoul, but i have a different purpose now, not as a tourist, but as a student. I am studying International Relation in Graduate School of International Studies Sogang University. Come and say hello to me if you are coming to Seoul or even to my campus. I really exited to meet all of you if you come to Seoul, just let me know.

To be honest, this is my first time studying abroad. Yes, i am studying in the different city before, but its still near to my hometown so i can easily going back on the weekend, but now? The airplane ticket is so high (USD price is really incredible nowadays sigh..) and also i have to take 7 to 8 hours flight to be back home, so i guest, i won't go home that much. 

Why? Why Korea?

Such a simple question but yet everybody asking about this to me. In my point of view, choosing the country for studying is not just about how good the education in that country, but also about the country environment it self. 

Why not US? Why not in some country in UE? Why not going to Australia or Singapore? Its nearer to Indonesia right?

I made a list, i am comparing it and yes i choose Korea. In the simple way, i am not really comfortable with the western culture and i'm scared of it. Australia? Some of my friends studying there and they not recommend someone like me (like what?) to studying there, while Singapore? Singapore is to close to Indonesia and i am worry that i'll be come back home often. So yeah i choose Korea.

Korea has a really friendly atmosphere (yes because it still in Asia) and also people here is not giving a S*** about your business. The environment is really good, the living cost is not as high as Japan and quite the same with Jakarta actually, and yes i do love KPOP.  

Culture Shock

In the first and second time I've been here, i am not really paying to much attention with the people here. At the first time, i come here without knowing a thing. I am purely coming because i have a business here and my colleague at that time is mostly from outside Korea, the environment it self is really formal. In the second time, i come as the tourist who wondering around Seoul with my family, doing shopping, went to the museum and others. And this time, i came as a student, and i got a huge culture shock in my first day at class.

In Indonesia, SBM ITB to be exact, every student can't use a short pants. 3/4 pants is fine, but no short pants. Here, every female using HOT pants in class, not a SHORT pants. In the first class, i showed up with my jeans, t-shirt, and flats shoes and i am surprised that i am the most formal student at the class. Yes i understand that this is still summer (almost fall to be honest) but wow in Indonesia using short pants is not polite, so i am shock! Not only using hot pants, some of the students also using fit flop (sendal jepit) to attend the class, omg my head is spinning around. 

The other culture shock is about the individuality culture here. At first i was thinking that they didn't like me and everything cause we are fine at class but then after class they go by their self anywhere. After a while i got the point that that just their culture to do everything alone. They just going everywhere alone or by two (really good friends) or with their couple (iya pacar maksudnya pacar). In Indonesia, we used to go everywhere on a group aren't we? So this is surprising me a lot. For example, Loise and i just met a week ago in Hongdae because we are going to the same school (Sogang Uni) and we are from Indonesia so we have a common situation. I accompanied her to the real estate agent to find an appropriate flat for her because she didn't living at school dormitory. The agent asked us how long we've been friends because we are really close, we are laughing and told him that we just met 2 days ago and the agent was in shock. People in Korea is not getting close easily he said.

Another culture is taking stairs and walking in beyond human speed. Okay, make a note about this if you want to do a business with Korean people, they are really fast in everything. They are walking really fast and don't like to wait at all. Walking is something in common here, people walking to everywhere. From Sinchon station to my dorm for example, if i were in Jakarta, i will take an Ojek or even calling for my mom to take me from the station. In my walking speed, it will take about half an hour to reach dorm from Sinchon station, but when i am walking with my friends, its only take 10 minutes, FREAKING 10 MINUTES and i am out of breath. 

People also used to taking stairs here. There are two reasons for this, the first one is to save the electricity (?!) and the other one is because they don't want to wait for the elevator. The first time i arrived at GSIS building, i am waiting for the elevator, i was at the 4th floor and will going to 5th floor to the administration room. When i am taking elevator and going out on the 5th floor, everybody looked at me strangely, and now i know that people here will taking a stairs if they just go for one or two level. The other day, i was meeting one of my friends who taking a stairs from the first floor to the 6th floor. I am giving up!

Realizing 

What i am realize? I am realized about how hard and tough our education system is. In the first class, the lecturer explain about rules and the class schedule including the assignment, mid term, final term, and also the absent rules. Everything they explained is really similar with what i have done in Indonesia, for example we should make a class presentation, role games, we can't absent for more that 3 times and anything, but all the people was in shock and thinks that the rule is insane, what??

The other thing is about the require books, so the require books for master degree here is the book that i've been using it for my bachelor degree. I am shock.

So i think its enough for now. I will give more information about what to bring and what to do in the first week you arrive in Korea for studying next time. I don't know when, it can be tonight, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or even next week. Please feel free to contact me or leave a comment bellow if you want to know about how to registering for studying in Korea and all. Or you can email me to falenoo@gmail.com because people find it hard to get the information about studying in Korea, i will help you as long as i can.

Bye now.

@falenoo