국제교류처

KANGWON NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Q1. What do you consider your biggest challenges while living in Korea?

Like most international students, I think the biggest challenge for me was moving into a new country alone, where people don’t know me and I don’t know much about the language. I think moving to a new country is already a big hurdle, and if you combine that with struggling to understand even the most mundane things like proper waste disposal or topping up your transportation card, it’s easy to feel lost and confused.

Q2. Could you tell us what kind of place or meaning KNU holds in your life?

KNU has quite literally become my second home, as I spend most of my time on campus, as well as meet up with friends or go to and from other places through bus stops within and outside the campus. Since I am already familiar with KNU, it helps me feel more comfortable and at ease when I stroll around the university, which is very picturesque during all four seasons of the year.

Q3.  What is your goal, or what would you like to achieve this year, hopefully?

I would like to concentrate on doing more research that will eventually pave the way for the completion of my Ph.D. degree in Geology, which includes going on fieldworks, doing experiments, and writing papers. I would also like to get a higher TOPIK score within the year.

Q4. What advice would you give to students who are interested in studying in Korea? 

It’s very exciting, challenging, and fulfilling, all at the same time, to study in Korea. If you can, prepare yourself as much as possible, like familiarizing yourself with the language and the culture. Most importantly, keep an open mind and be ready for the new experiences that you will face once you arrive.

Q5. What new habits or hobbies have you developed while staying in Korea?

I have learned that self-care is very important if you want to be more productive in any activity or to achieve any goal you want to achieve. While it is important to always give your best in everything you do, it is also equally important to listen to your body and to your mind, and be aware of what works and doesn’t work for you.

Q6. Did you have any meaningful or fun experiences observing the cultural differences between Korea and Philippines?

Definitely! I think one of the more interesting “culture shocks” I have experienced is that they don’t really eat fried chicken with rice here in Korea, but in the Philippines, fried chicken with rice is actually a very common meal. Also, we don’t really have public/common baths in the Philippines, so imagine my shock when I actually visited one for the first time!