Spending time abroad has broadened my view on the world. Prior to the First Year Seminar Abroad, I was under the impression that most places were like the United States. While I did not have the opportunity to experience their typical education system, I was able to visit a few history museums. It was interesting to see the difference in how information is presented in South Korea compared to the United States. It was also very interesting to hear how different their prospectives of major historical events was from what I learned in the United States.

It has always been my dream to travel but I haven’t been given the opportunity until now. I have been interested in Korean culture for around seven years. I first became a fan of the music and eventually gained interest in K-food, K-drama, and K-beauty. Being able to experience a place I had only ever heard of was an incredible experience. I was able to apply what I was learning in the classroom to what I was currently experiencing. I experienced culture shock because everything was so different and new. Everyone was speaking a different language, there were so many new smells, and it was a lot to take in. It didn’t take long to adapt and once I did, I had the best time. Even something as simple as walking to the convenience store was an adventure. Convenience stores are everywhere, and they are ten times better than the ones in the United States. The roads in South Korea are very narrow, especially in villages. There are also lots of hills and valleys which were difficult to walk on but at least I reached mGwangJang Market. There was lots of food, but I ate Tteokbokki, which is rice cake, and Hotteok, which is a pancake with sweet filling.

I enjoyed every adventure we took but my top two were the baseball game and the day we learned a K-pop dance. We learned a routine from a professional backup dancer, and it was a glimpse into daily life for many high schoolers training to be Idols. After, we walked around Hongdae, which is filled with small shops and vendors. The atmosphere is completely different from American baseball games. Everyone is chanting and singing while waving signs. There was also not a lot of security, and they didn’t check bags, which would never happen at an American game. After the game a few of us went to Gangnam and just walked around, enjoying the nightlife. It was wonderful. As I previously stated, traveling is on my bucket list and South Korea being the first destination was the cherry on top. I was sad to leave, but now I have something to look forward to in the future. I’m definitely going back. It was truly a dream come true.

Prior to the FSA I had never left the state, let alone the country. The only other language I’ve tried to learn was Spanish but that was just to communicate with relatives. As soon as I stepped off the plane, I was spoken to in Korean. It was a little uncomfortable at first because I don’t speak Korean, but I learned other ways to communicate. Most days we had to figure out communication on our own. Thankfully, most of the locals knew enough English to direct us and they were all incredibly kind. There were a few times where someone I talked to didn’t know a lick of English, but they still tried their best to understand. Whether that meant using a translating app or just pointing and smiling. It was scary at first, but the locals made it less stressful and were very helpful. Kindness and respect are a big part of Korean culture. Korean society is strictly hierarchical, meaning you must respect your elders and anyone who is more experienced than you. While a system like this has its faults, it makes communicating easier. Anyone I went up could have easily given me a dirty look and walked away but as I said, every single one tried to understand and help me. It made many of us feel at ease.

One myth I busted was that it’s dangerous to study abroad. From the moment we arrived at the moment we left, I felt completely safe. Of course, every city has it’s dark side, but I was fortunate enough to not see that side of Seoul. They had strict gun laws and less crime than the United States. I was even able to leave my umbrella outside of stores and it was never stolen. I would never do that in the United States. In my experience, American schools are more dangerous than the streets of Seoul.

I am of Hispanic descent and a first-generation college student. My parents and grandparents never had an opportunity to attend college let alone study abroad. I never thought I would be able to travel until after I graduated or retired but thanks to this scholarship, I was able to participate in this unique experience. I am truly grateful that I was given this amazing opportunity. I hope my story excites others and encourages them to participate in a study abroad program.

• Name: Cierra Bonilla
• Status: Freshman
• Major: Human Biology
• Hometown: Lansing, Michigan
• Program: FSA South Korea - Track 1 - K Cultures