Like Aidan, Samuel completed a semester abroad in South Korea last year. He tells us about this experience…
Why did you decide to do this mobility and why this destination in particular?
I wanted to go to Korea because it was the most culturally original destination, the most exotic. I had already had the opportunity to travel to Europe and North America, but the Far East was unknown to me. The fact also that this region of the world is not one of the most treated at HEIP encouraged me to discover it.
Did you adapt quickly to your new environment?
I was a little lost the first night in Seoul to choose where to eat, but the atmosphere is pleasant in town, you quickly feel at ease. The first days to visit Seoul, we had no big difficulties. Even when it comes to getting around, the transport network is similar; the subway is even luxurious. Taxis are really cheap. Changing the diet might have been a bit difficult, but the food is really, really good, if a bit spicy. The campus was very nice with lots of green and a large library to work on.
How was your stay from a cultural point of view?
We visited the country well: Seoul, Busan, Daegu, the North Korean border, the island of Jaeju. Transport is not very expensive. Daegu, the city where I was studying, was really big. There are many things to discover. The mountains around the city are also very atypical; there are many temples lost in the middle of nature. At the university, there is an association of international students who organize events and visits to other cities.
We visited the country well: Seoul, Busan, Daegu, the North Korean border, the island of Jaeju. Transport is not very expensive. Daegu, the city where I was studying, was really big. There are many things to discover. The mountains around the city are also very atypical; there are many temples lost in the middle of nature. At the university, there is an association of international students who organize events and visits to other cities.
What would be the outcome of your experience?
Korea is a very pleasant country to which I would like to return, at least to travel for a few weeks. The locals are very friendly with Europeans. However, working there is another matter. I have the impression that to work with Koreans, you should not want to count your hours.
Why would you recommend HEIP students to go on international mobility and in particular to Korea?
Staying abroad is always enriching and allows you to become more independent. For those looking for a truly different spirit that combines modernity and tradition, Korea is the ideal.
Do you have an anecdote to tell?
One of the first weekends, we went up with a group of international students on a mountain near Daegu. Arriving at the top, we met a rather nice gentleman who was an executive at Samsung. He came down with us; there must have been about fifteen of us, but he invited us all to the restaurant.