When I first arrived in Korea, I knew I was in for an adventure. What I didn’t expect was how cool it would be to meet people from so many different places, each with their own stories, cultures, and aspirations. As someone who transferred to UT through the CAP program, I was familiar with the feeling of stepping into new spaces. But this time, instead of focusing on the challenge of starting over, I was excited to see who I might meet and the new connections I might make!
Even though I came to Korea with another UT student, we wanted to branch out and meet as many people as we could. Yonsei University offered so many opportunities for exchange students to connect during those first few weeks: Mixers, campus tours, and group events that brought people together from all corners of the world. We attended nearly everything, chatting with students from France, Japan, Germany, Indonesia, and more. I started to realize that studying abroad in Korea didn’t just mean learning more about Korean culture; it also meant being in an environment where everyone I met connected me to other cultures.
As a dancer, I found that one of my favorite places to meet people wasn’t even on campus. It was at one of Korea’s most famous dance studios, One Million Dance Studio. My friend and I started going almost every week, and every class was filled with dancers from all over the world. There was something special about getting to dance with people from multiple backgrounds.
One day, I met Mimi, a dancer from Singapore. What started as a simple plan to grab dinner after class turned into a full night of talking. After dancing, we wandered through the city, grabbed dinner, and ended up at a cozy 24-hour café where we talked until four in the morning. We compared how we grew up, what our dream jobs are, and how we got into dancing. It was one of those conversations that just flowed, and by the end of the night, it felt like I had known her for years.
That night at 4 a.m., as we walked Mimi home, she told me she was actually graduating soon and heading back to Singapore to start her full-time job as a journalist. I was shocked. This whole time, I thought she was another exchange student like me. It turned out she was here on a solo graduation trip, spending her last few weeks of freedom before entering the workforce. I was truly amazed by this coincidence. Here was someone close to my age, already pursuing her career in media, the same field I hope to work in one day.
She left the next day, and we saw her off to the airport. We keep in touch, and I often think about how studying abroad gave me connections that not only crossed cultures but also aligned with my personal and professional goals.
Meeting Mimi reminded me that some of the most valuable experiences abroad come from the people you least expect to meet. Throughout my time at Yonsei, I found these moments everywhere. Whether it was chatting with a Japanese dancer about choreography, practicing Korean with classmates from Europe and Southeast Asia, or bonding over late-night meals with new friends, each interaction becomes a new part of my study abroad experience.
It’s wild how small the world can feel once you open yourself up to it. If you’re considering studying abroad, go for it. Not just for the travel or the classes, but for the people you’ll meet. You’ll return home with friendships and perspectives that stretch far beyond location.
This post was contributed by Laila Dieye, Global Ambassador for Fall 2025. Laila is a Moody College Senior participating in an exchange program at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.
