The reason I decided to study abroad is because I became interested in Korean language and culture through K-pop and Korean dramas. I liked K-pop since I was in elementary school, and when I became a high school student, I started to seriously study Korean language and culture. As I studied, I began to want to actually go to Korea. Taking Korean language classes as a university student was a lot of fun, and I was able to participate in TSL, an activity where you can interact with international students from Korea during lunch breaks, and make friends. These activities also increased my motivation to study abroad, and this time I was able to study abroad as an exchange student at Sungmyung Women's University. When I go to Korea, I want to experience many different cultures. Until now, I've only seen it on video and I have never had any experience abroad, so I would like to use this opportunity to experience many different cultures. I also want to improve my language skills and work hard to keep up with university classes.
It's been 4 months since I came to Korea. At first, I had difficulty understanding Korean and was afraid to speak, so I couldn't do it well. However, I gained confidence in Korean because I met Korean friends, praised my Korean skills, and understood them to some extent in Korean classes. And I tried to expand my communication by actively talking to my multinational friends in class and going out to eat.
When I was in Japan, I didn't go out often and stayed at home, but after I came to Korea, I tried to go to as many places as possible. I was worried because it was only my first time, and now I can get used to it and enjoy my life in Korea. On days when there is no class, I go to museums and museums to learn about Korean history, but I think I should study words because words are difficult to understand.
At the university, I took many classes exclusively for foreigners. Each teacher gave me various information such as Korean politics, life, and recommended travel destinations. There was a lot of useful information, especially since there was a presidential election this time, I learned a lot about them. In addition to classes exclusively for foreigners, I also took classes in Japanese popular culture. It was interesting to learn about Japanese culture from a Korean perspective, and there were many things that even I, as a Japanese, didn't know, so I learned a lot. In the latter half, I would like to take a class on Korean culture.
The first semester's class is over, and now it's summer vacation. I would like to travel to various places during summer vacation. Also, I want to do my best in the latter class.
This study abroad experience was an incredibly valuable time for me, expanding my future options and changing my approach to learning. The ten months flew by in the blink of an eye.
I feel achieving my goal of reading Korean novels during my time in Korea was a major step in my growth. While listening to lectures in Korean was challenging, there were also many enjoyable moments, and I managed to keep up with my studies diligently. Academically, I have few regrets about my time abroad. In terms of daily life, I became more accustomed to living there and expanded my range of activities during the latter half of my stay. However, I often fell ill, so I reflect that I should have paid more attention to managing my health.
My future goals are still something I need to think about. With two years of university life in Japan remaining, I want to prioritize my studies first. While I'm still undecided about pursuing graduate school or job hunting, I intend to prepare thoroughly for both without cutting corners. Furthermore, I want to study Korean even harder and strive to achieve high levels on exams like the TOPIK and the Korean Language Proficiency Test. I will continue to spare no effort to make the most of the abilities I gained through studying abroad.
