Bear Abroad Yaqi

Yaqi Long

Major: Sociology
What led you to study abroad? Why did you choose your country/program?

Because I am a big K-Pop fan, I always wanted to go to Korea to experience the vibe there. In addition, courses offered in study abroad program are diverse and interesting, and some courses focus on the specific culture of the country. I utilized this opportunity to complete one of my major requirements and spent some time traveling in Korea.

What was the most interesting cultural experience you had abroad?

Korean food is very spicy which was beyond my imagination, but I absolutely enjoyed everything I ate there. Be aware of the spiciness if you plan to go to Korea.

What was the biggest challenge/concern of your study abroad experience? How did you respond?

My biggest concern was the language barrier because I cannot speak the language well. However, there was no problem communicating with classmates because most of them speak English. I made friends with people who are also in the UCEAP program, and they helped me a lot on improving my Korean.

Describe a typical day for you abroad.

I have classes in the morning and the afternoon. Meanwhile, I go to lunch and dinner with my friends after class. We like to try different Korean dishes and study in nice cafés.

What coursework did you take while abroad? How did courses abroad compare with Berkeley classes?

I took two courses which are Korean Cinema and Contemporary Korean Culture Wave. The class structure in Korea is very similar to classes in Berkeley. Grading was fair, and the workload was manageable.

What was the most memorable/meaningful aspect of your time abroad?

UCEAP has various activities that help students break the ice and make friends. I went on two field trips with UCEAP students. We watched the Nanta show and had a lot of fun exploring the city.

What impact did studying abroad have on you personally?

I spent a wonderful summer in Korea, and I got to know more about the Korean culture and Korean society. Studying abroad was a great experience to me, and it helped me graduate on time.

What would you recommend to students considering studying abroad, especially to your country or program?

If you like K-Pop, Korea is a must-visit place. Korean culture is extremely interesting, and there are a lot of fun events going on everywhere. Korean people are generally nice, and Korea is a very safe country.