College Years in South Korea

Bao Yang is a student at Mount Mary College and a Classmates Connecting Cultures Blogger corresponding with the Social Work Club at Mount Mary. Bao is currently studying abroad with ISA in Seoul, Korea.

Epic High — a hiphop band in South Korea — came to Konkuk to perform at the end of the year festival.

We just wanted to say hello to our friends who were working at the tent, but once we got inside the group of middle-age men pulled us down to sit with them. On the long table were bottles of empty Soju and beer with bowls of multicolored fried corn chips placed in the middle of the table.

Then a middle aged man wearing a pink dress shirt walked in and sat down at the table.

He shook all of our hands then asked us our names. We replied. Then he asked if we were students of Konkuk University. We answered, yes we were. We further explained that we were members of the English Conversation Club (E.C.C.), that was hosting the restaurant tent that he was eating in. He smiled, surprised. His friend, who sat next to him explained that they were the presidents of the E.C.C. in the 80′s.

Hasta Luego, Sevilla

Courtney Fraley is a student at Baldwin Wallace University and is an ISA Classmates Connecting Cultures  blogger corresponding with a her study abroad office at Baldwin Wallace. Courtney is studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain on an ISA Spring 1 program.

Dear Amigos,

Feels like I was just counting down from 100 days until I leave for Spain with my Spanish-flag-colored countdown chain. Then, it was down to the day before I caught my flight to Madrid when I had never been so nervous for anything in my entire life. I was preparing for my first time outside of the States, the longest period of time without seeing my family, and the accomplishment of a 7 year long dream.

Now, after 4 incredible months in Seville, Spain, I have been home for a week. I never thought about the day I would be back home. It is bittersweet, but being home has given me a few moments to reflect on my time abroad.

 

Plaza de España- One of my favorite places in Sevilla

Missing My Costa Rican Home

Alex Somborn is a student at University of Arkansas and an ISA Featured Blogger. Alex is currently studying abroad with ISA in San Jose, Costa Rica.

I’ve been back in the U.S. for a total of 4 four days now, and let me tell you, it has been no walk in the park. I was warned about experiencing culture shock upon arrival in Costa Rica but there is nothing more shocking than coming back to the American culture as I have recently discovered. The agendas, the pace of life, the “instant gratification” speed of it all, it’s crazy, and it’s definitely something that takes time to adjust to.

The Unforgettable Tastes of Peru

Svetlana Fenichel is a student at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and an ISA Featured Blogger. She is currently studying abroad with ISA in Cusco, Peru.

Chicha morada, a common Peruvian drink made of purple corn, and picarones, a Peruvian sweet

There are so many things I am going to miss about Cusco: the people, the mountains, the language, the beautiful streets and plazas. All of these things have become so dear to me over the last three months. But above all, I am surely going to crave the delicious meals my host mother has been cooking for me.

Saying “Slan” to Ireland

Elizabeth Hurd is a student at Saginaw Valley State University and an ISA Featured Blogger. Elizabeth is currently studying abroad with ISA in Galway, Ireland.

It’s an odd feeling, really. I’m sitting in my room with my suitcases half packed. I’m organizing my paperwork and making sure everything is in order. I’m cleaning my apartment, to make sure that everything is in order for me to leave.

Saying Goodbye to Sevilla: 5 Things I’ll Never Forget About My Semester Abroad

Kayleigh Fladung is a student at University of Dayton and an ISA Featured Blogger. Kayleigh is currently studying abroad with ISA in Sevilla, Spain.

Plaza de Santa Isabel is down the street from my apartment. There are usually people eating lunch, playing music or catching up with friends under the gorgeous orange trees.

“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” — Mary Anne Radmacher Hershey

With my days left in Sevilla hitting single digits I can’t help but think back to the very beginning of this journey and how it has changed me. All of the planning, decision-making and nerves about studying abroad quickly turned into the trip of a lifetime once I stepped off the plane in Madrid three months ago. Spain is a beautiful country, and Sevilla is rich in history, culture and tradition. I’ve seen my fair share of Spanish cities over the past few months, and while each has something special to offer, I always find myself thankful for choosing Sevilla. I could list one hundred things that make Sevilla uniquely wonderful, but here are five of the things I’ll always remember about my time here.

South Korea: Learning the Local Language

Bao Yang is a student at Mount Mary College and a Classmates Connecting Cultures Blogger corresponding with the Social Work Club at Mount Mary. Bao is currently studying abroad with ISA in Seoul, Korea.

Can you see the mixture of English and Korean? A clash of the old and new society.

What’s the need for there to be so many different languages in the world? Wouldn’t it be easier if the world spoke only one language? But of course, that would require the people of the world to have the same culture. After all, language distinguish one group from another. Otherwise, we would all be grouped into Asians, Caucasians, Africans and so on. By the way, these race groups (Asians, Caucasians etc.) don’t exist; only ethnicity and culture exist.

Winds of Change in Chile

Samantha McCauley is a student at Miami University and an ISA Featured Blogger. Samantha is currently studying abroad with ISA in Valparaíso, Chile.

View the bedroom window where we watched the first thunderstorm of the winter.

The other day I started to walk from the city of Valparaíso to my class in the neighboring town of Viña del Mar. It takes a little over an hour on the sidewalk that runs along the ocean, but it is a pleasant walk that I like to take every now and then. The other day, however, there was a strong wind coming in from the ocean and dark clouds off in the distance. I was only about halfway to Viña del Mar when the rain came.

It’s Time to Hang My Hat and Leave Granada

I have tried to write this blog post about 12 different times, and I still do not know how to express how I feel about leaving. I’ll admit, although I am bursting with excitement to see my friends and family, the idea of leaving Granada is a bit scary.

My Turning Point in Chile

Molly Sorensen is a student at The College of New Jersey and an ISA Featured Blogger. Molly is currently studying abroad with ISA in Valparaíso, Chile.

“Nothing behind me, everything in front of me, as is ever so on the road,” – Jack Kerouac

Since writing last, my perception of Valpo has done a complete 180-degree turn.  Within the past two weeks, I have had some of my most trying moments, followed closely by some of my best.