Three days after I landed in Seoul, the populace around me suddenly became a couple of years younger. In South Korea, you are considered to be 1 on the day of your birth, and you continue to gain a year in age on the first of January each year after… read more
South Korea
Discovering South Korea
Leaving home changes you. After deciding to leave Brazil to study in Texas, I learned that changing our environment can shape who we are, the decisions we make and the people we strive to be. And now, my decision to travel to South Korea has profoundly impacted me as a… read more
What Makes You Special?
As the lovely cherry blossoms have gently taken flight with the breeze, I face the harsh reality that my time in South Korea is, unfortunately, not going to last forever. I’ve made amazing and unforgettable friends who have made me feel welcome and safe. I think about the ways my… read more
Step by Step
When I missed my connecting flight to South Korea three weeks ago, I thought it was a sign from the universe that leaving home wasn’t the best idea. I struggled to find peace while I hastily shouldered my heavy duffel and tried to figure out how to get on the… read more
Ending My Teenage Years in Seoul
I am very thankful to have spent the last parts of my teenage years in such a beautiful place: Seoul. Not only am I able to experience and have a better understanding of everyday Korean culture and lifestyles, but I have also been able to understand myself better. Throughout… read more
Unspoken Rules and Making Friends
Korea is a high-context culture, which means people here communicate implicitly, unlike in the U.S. In Korea, there are a lot of different cultural norms, so foreigners entering this country may have difficulty adjusting, especially since Korea doesn’t explicitly mention these rules in their everyday lives. For example, going to… read more
The End: Korea
This post was contributed by Kevin Lee, a Global Ambassador for fall 2020. Kevin is a Government, International Relations and Global Studies, and Asian Studies major studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea. Read his first blog post. It is finally December, and my time in Korea will soon come to an… read more
Enjoying Korea
This post was contributed by Kevin Lee, a Global Ambassador for fall 2020. Kevin is a Government, International Relations and Global Studies, and Asian Studies major studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea. Read his first blog post. Stay tuned throughout the semester as Kevin shares his experiences abroad! I am… read more
“You HAVE to Study Abroad During Your Four Years at UT Austin”
It’s a statement you’ve probably heard at least once during your time at UT Austin. From the campus tour to orientation, I recall at least a dozen times during my first year alone where I was told that studying abroad would CHANGE MY LIFE. Now, it’s the fall semester of… read more
One Last Stroll Through Seoul
Hi all! It’s Celeste again, writing to you one last time from Seoul, South Korea. Coming into this study abroad trip, my friends and I were all in agreement over one thing: we only had one semester (FOUR months!) to make this trip count. Although four months seemed like an… read more