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Trip to South Korea

Report of Valentina Popova on the internship at the University of Koryŏ.

Trip to South Korea this spring to the Korea University ( 고려대학교) as an exchange student was the second for me, so on arrival the were no admiration, no surprise concerning the culture of the country, its people. Because the first time I was able to go on a six-month internship on the senior 2 year at Jeonnam University. Everything was familiar, familiar as if I never left. But, despite the fact that I was back to a familira country, to a familiar educational system, a new University has brought new memories, new friends, new experiences.

After studying for six months in the Koryŏ, you begin to realize that the University deserves the title of one of the country's best Universities. As well as HSE Koryo University can boast with the names of well-known professors and lecturers in various fields of science, and equally famous alumni ( the President of South Korea Lee Myung-Bak studied at the University). The educational process is built on the familiar American system: the student chooses those subjects that he wished to hear, of course, concerning his major and his faculty. However, for exchange students there is an exception: we could actually choose those items that we liked, that were necessary or that simply wanted to hear, it was enough to score only the required number of credits. So, the whole University is easy and fun. I was amazed by a huge variety of different clubs, which are held every year with the beginning of the semester. Students, and foreign also, can come to the tent to any club to sign up and become a full member and participant in its activities.

I liked the fact that the University created an organization of Korean students who help foreign students not only to learn in the educational process and to solve problems, but also to diversify our student days of rapid activity, to attach to the Korean student culture, to show the country, its peculiarities. So, for exchange students there was KUBA (Korea University Buddy Assistants), and for constant foreign students there is KUSA (Korea University Student Assistants).

Student life in the Koryo can be filled not only with many interesting disciplines, but also with various festivals (the biggest and the famous among them – EPSILENTY), the spirit of rivalry with another famous University South Korea Yonsei ( 연세대학교), festivals dedicated to the representation of the cultures of foreign students and more.

Just a few sentences cannot describe all the time to see and hear in the Koryo, all of whom you were able to talk and all events, where you were able to participate. So I came to a conclusion - challenge the unknown without fear, step out of your comfort zone, and you can see that the world and people are more interesting and surprising than they sometimes seem to us. And I would like to thank especially the teachers of our Korean branch for these unusual and unique six months in the Koryo. Without you it would have been impossible and I would not have become who I am today.