To better understand what living and studying in South Korea is like for an NCAI student, I was able to ask Julie Kim from the graduating class of 2020. She is currently living in South Korea\u2019s capital city Seoul and studying at one of the top three universities in the country, Yonsei University. Although Julie was born in Daejeon, South Korea, she moved to Nicaragua at a young age and started attending NCAI in first grade. Over twelve years at our school, she became an active member of the community and made a lasting impact on the middle schoolers who knew her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mia Klaehn enthusiastically shared “Julie inspired me to take up elementary small groups and also to join the worship team.\u201d A sentiment also mirrored by Sofia Santamaria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After graduating in June, Julie moved back to South Korea where she had to and still is adapting to such a different culture from the one that she grew up knowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Climate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to her, the climate is \u201cvery different!\u201d Unlike Nicaragua, Korea has four seasons because of its latitude north of the equator. Its winter normally spans from December to March when it is so cold whereas its summer lasts from July to August when it\u2019s extremely hot. You might think the humidity here in May is bad, but Julie says the humidity in Korea is \u201cinsane.\u201d She does, however, \u201clove fall and spring when it is very colorful and not too hot or cold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Culture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In South Korea, there is a vibrant nightlife or as Julie puts it, \u201cnight culture\u201d. According to a travel guide on Seoul night culture, there is something for everyone. From relaxing river cruises to bustling night markets and street food, from delicious Korean BBQ under the stars to cultural experiences in Insadong, Seoul\u2019s nightlife is diverse and alive and a major part of Korean culture in general. However, Julie is not a night person, but instead she gets to enjoy the time when it\u2019s less crowded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another interesting part of the culture is that the social routine is almost wholly different from anything in Nicaragua or the rest of the Western world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a routine for teens and young adults when they go out with their friends. You first must eat a meal with them, either brunch\/lunch\/dinner. Next, you go to a cafe, and then end up doing karaoke. Karaoke is very developed in Korea and popular. According to John Lim, Korean people, across many demographics, love singing and singing with friends is important. To end the night you go take a picture at a photo booth. The idea of going to multiple locations is not common here where friends might go for dinner or a movie or to get ice cream, but in Korea, it is very common to go to at least two different establishments. As Julie explains it, \u201cThese are the MUST DO things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So much so that within four months in Korea, Julie had already taken over 20 pictures. These are just two remarkable examples of the different culture in South Korea and how much there would be to experience and explore if you lived and studied there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Transportation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPublic transportation (Subway, bus, taxi, and train) is well developed in Korea,\u201d Julie informs us. If you have heard something about South Korea, there is a good chance it\u2019s been about the transportation. Not only is it clean, but it\u2019s well organized, accessible, affordable, and, most of all, easy to use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Julie continues elaborating that \u201cyou can only use a transportation card to get on the bus and subways (no cash is allowed).\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n A big difference between South Korea and Nicaragua is that it is safe to walk in Korea at all times. In fact, South Korea is one of the safest countries in the world with very low crime rates. It\u2019s no wonder that Julie walks to the Yonsei campus, which takes about 10 minutes. Even elementary students younger than ten walk around on the streets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Social Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from some of the routines, Julie has found \u200b\u200bthat there is not much of a difference regarding social life. She does, however, remark that she did \u201chave to try to make friends; you have to approach first, [because] not many will go up to you first.\u201d South Koreans are generally very friendly, warm, and kind, but it might take some time to forge deeper relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Life Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The estimated cost of living in Seoul for an international student is approximately US$1075 a month which is very affordable in comparison to other major cities around the world. Cities like Chicago and Boston are often more than twice that amount. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Healthcare<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Julie dives straight into one of the best things about Korea, which is the National Health Insurance that covers healthcare for all citizens. The NHI Service is required for all foreigners expecting to stay in Korea for more than 6 months but gives access to one of the most accessible and best quality healthcare systems in the world. Living and studying in Korea would give you access to what The Legatum Institute in London considers the third-best healthcare in the world. It is also very economical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhenever I go to clinics, I pay about $3-4, and the prescribed medicines are about $3-5 (cheap, right?),\u201d Julie explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Food<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, food is expensive in Korea. A small meal at a cheap restaurant can be anywhere from USD$4.50-6.00, whereas, at a regular Korean restaurant, the price can range from USD$8.85-13.30. The most expensive food is often foreign food. Still, the cost means that it is more economical to eat at home rather than out and about. Julie does mention that Cafeteria food is about $4-6, but if you go out, it is about $15-20. Surprisingly, what gets especially expensive is fresh fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, in Julie\u2019s experience, \u201cIt\u2019s not as expensive [when] compared to the States\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clothing<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As you may know, Korea is very advanced in fashion trends. Clothing prices can vary, like in other cities. It is possible to get cheap clothing, just as it is very possible to get pricey quickly when looking at brand clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Julie asserts, \u201cEverywhere you go, there are clothing shops and online shopping is something common in Korea which I love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also notable that some tourists travel to Korea just for the shopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employment<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCurrently one of the biggest troubles for young adults in Korea is that it is difficult to get a job,\u201d Julie laments. \u201cThe economy has slowed down drastically, [so] there\u2019s lots of competition among\u2026 people. Job entrance exams take months and years to study and pass.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s not even everything, there is a lot more. \u201cIt is a sad reality.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n School<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSchool is fun and tough,\u201d Julie says pragmatically. She states that \u201ctime with friends is always [an upside] and the amount of studies and assignments are the downsides.\u201d There is always a lot of pressure on Korean students to excel, but, thankfully, spending time with friends is an important rest period. Nonetheless, this leads to \u201cit [being] difficult to manage\u2026 time wisely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Academic System<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While university and college tuition isn\u2019t regulated nor set by the South Korean government, school tuition across the prestigious spectrum is generally the same. The usual range is US$5.800 and US$6.500 per semester depending on the area of study. The difference between undergraduate and graduate degrees isn\u2019t that big either. In recent years there has been an uptick in popularity and interest in South Korea which has led to numerous scholarships for international students. The best scholarships usually come from the South Korean government itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Higher education in South Korea follows the 3-tier degree structure with a bachelor\u2019s degree taking anywhere from four to six years, a master\u2019s degree taking two or more years after that, and a Doctoral degree taking another two or more years on top of all of that. There is also the US equivalent of an Associate degree offered which is called a Junior College Diploma. Something to note, however, is that it is extremely competitive and strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, \u201cAttendance in Korea,\u201d Julie describes, \u201cis very important. I\u2019ve heard from many exchange students, and they told me that in the States or\u2026 Canada, you would skip class and go to travel. In Korea, we don\u2019t do this. If we miss [a third] of the class, we get [an] F.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked to rate South Korea as a place to live and study, Julie gave a 7 out of 10. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She goes on to explain, \u201cI am still in the process of adapting to Korea. The language and the study [are] difficult. I spend most of my time reviewing past lectures and doing my assignments which is stressful. Yet, I love what I am studying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSeoul!! A clean, crowded, and colorful blend of old and new, modern and historical, latest tech and antique – and ohhhhhhh the food!\u201d Mrs Stuebner exclaims. If you didn\u2019t know, she and her husband fulfilled a dream of theirs and visited South Korea. Like Mrs. Stuebner, getting to explore South Korea is a dream of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":2671,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spirit-life"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/student.nca.edu.ni\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/file-2-1024x985.jpg\")
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South Korea would be an amazing place to pursue your higher education dreams, whether by enrolling at a prestigious University or by becoming a part of an exchange program at a university wherever you are. From the picturesque scenery to the electric night culture, if you let it, South Korea will easily find a place in your heart for its food, its culture, and its people. It is an experience that will last a lifetime and expand your worldview more than you could ever imagine. Let \uc11c\uc6b8\uc544, \ub0b4 \uc601\ud63c\uc544 become your heart\u2019s anthem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"