Hi! I'm Sarah, and I'm a former high school exchange student in Korea who now helps high school students from around the world have amazing educational experiences in Korea. Below I have compiled some tips for making the most of your time studying abroad as a high school student in Korea!
Tip #1 - Be Open to Making Friends for Life
I came to Korea with a girl named Carol-Anne at age 15. While we don’t talk every day, my friendship with her is one of the most special and unique relationships in my life - she was the one standing beside me while we both went through a hugely transformative experience.
Every single person you meet this summer has the potential to become a treasured friend. That girl you see sitting by herself during the pre-departure orientation? She might just be your future maid of honor at your wedding. The class clown who keeps cracking jokes in Korean class? He could be your future co-founder of a business you start here in Seoul.
Exchange programs like NSLI-Y, SPARKS, Rotary, etc. attract a special kind of young person: ambitious, adventurous, and ready to take on the challenge of immersing themselves in a new culture and language. You already have that in common, which is a pretty solid foundation for a friendship. So, make it a point to reach out, especially to those who might seem a bit shy or who are struggling to fit in. Everyone's just a conversation away from becoming a new friend.
Tip #2 - Trust Your Instincts
Remember, you're all here because you're bright and capable. If something doesn't feel right, don't hesitate to speak up. Trust your gut and seek out a staff member for guidance. It's our job to ensure you have a safe and rewarding experience, and sometimes, a little reassurance or advice can go a long way.
Tip #3 - Embrace the Ups and Downs
Life as an exchange student isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Some days will suck, sometimes for no good reason, just like back home. It's okay to have moments of homesickness, to feel overwhelmed, or to not always meet your own expectations. These feelings don't mean you're failing at the exchange experience or that you're ungrateful or that something is wrong with you - they're just part of the journey. If the tough days start to outnumber the good ones, reach out to a staff member and talk about it so they can help you access any resources that might improve your experience. We are here to help!
Conversely, not every day will be fraught with unending challenges and misunderstandings. Yes, navigating a new culture and language can be daunting, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Language mistakes or cultural faux pas may seem humiliating at the moment, but I promise that most of them will become funny stories you will laugh at with your college roommates (or write about in blog posts for future generations of exchange students) someday. Try to roll with the punches, and don’t take yourself too seriously!
Tip #4 - Remember that There's Always a Next Time
Six weeks feels like it’s going to be a long time away from home, especially if you’ve never stayed away from your family before. But time will fly by - it’s inevitable.
A lot of exchange students (including myself when I was in high school here) go into a mild panic and frantically try to check bucket list items off once the second half of the program starts. Weeks 4 to 5 of the 6-week program can feel like time is slipping through your fingers, and I’ve seen students get serious FOMO and decision paralysis as they attempt to see and experience everything that Korea has to offer.
I’ve been guilty of this myself - After I hit the halfway mark on my 10-month exchange in high school, I would sometimes get very upset and emotional if I ended up being unable to go out, see friends, or “do something” due to schedule conflicts, program rules, or even my own exhaustion or other health-related issues. “Wasting time” by resting, staying inside, or spending time on my own gave me extreme anxiety.
“Sleep be damned,” I wanted to say - “Who knows when I will be back?”
But I did come back. And the exchange students I have known who have wanted to come back to Korea have done so for the most part. The thing is, once you come the first time, you are far better-equipped than you ever have been to return for jobs, internships, scholarships, or other opportunities. The hardest hurdle to cross—questioning if you'll ever make it to Korea—is already behind you simply by the nature of your participation in this program.
So try to check in with yourself and figure out what is best for your well-being each day - especially when you’re experiencing that panicky FOMO feeling. Some days, that’s going to mean hitting up an Instagrammable cafe in Hongdae with your program friends. Other days, that’s going to mean spending the entire day in bed without saying a word. And that’s okay.
For days when you have spare time and adequate energy but aren’t sure of what you want to do, I recommend fending off decision paralysis by spending an hour or two curating a list of things you’d like to experience in various areas of Seoul. Include a variety of low and high-energy activities, and don’t be afraid to visit a museum, cafe, or store by yourself if your friends aren’t available. Keep the list on your phone so you can whip it out when you’re feeling bored and want to do something fun - just don’t get obsessed with checking every single thing off!
Feel free to use these lists of things to do in Seoul for reference:
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