Angelaiza Obedoza | UCB Study Abroad

"Studying abroad allowed me to grow as a person. I learned to be braver, be more confident, and love myself more. It allowed me to be more independent and more comfortable trying new things."

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

Studying abroad was honestly one of the things on my bucket list before graduating. I thought I would miss my chance because of COVID, but fortunately, restrictions and policies were loosening up. As an avid Kdrama and Kpop fan, I have always wanted to experience what it would be like to study and live in Korea. When I found out that there was an in-person summer program at Yonsei University, I knew that I had to go.

What salient identities do you hold? How did your identity/identities impact the way you prepared for, or chose your study abroad experience?

As a graduating senior, I didn’t want to end my college journey without studying abroad, which has been on my bucket list. Throughout my college years, the opportunity to study abroad was there but there were always obstacles. Being a transfer student, I was focused on completing my lower-division requirements for my major and my Associate’s degrees. This meant strictly following my academic plan and taking classes over the summer. The summer after my senior year was my final chance for me to study in Korea.

Describe a typical day for you abroad.

I had two classes Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:40 PM. After class, I would usually eat lunch in the cafeteria or go to a restaurant nearby. Depending on my assignment workload, I would either go to the library or explore the city. Sometimes, I would study at a cafe. I also attended most of the extracurricular trips planned by Yonsei on Fridays. On the weekends, I would explore the city with my friends. Throughout my study abroad experience, I felt relaxed and laid back.

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

Most of the courses for my program were taught in English. I took Introduction to Computer Graphics and Introduction to Korean Studies. I thoroughly enjoyed both classes and would highly recommend them. Compared to Berkeley classes, the classes that I took were chill and not stressful. The workload wasn’t too heavy. I felt that I had enough time to study and have fun.

Often, studying abroad can influence or shift our understanding of our own identities. How did your experiences studying abroad impact your understanding of your own identities? And/or what lessons did you learn in general related to your identities?

Studying abroad allowed me to grow as a person. I learned to be braver, be more confident, and love myself more. It allowed me to be more independent and more comfortable trying new things.

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

The most memorable aspect of my time abroad is taking public transportation. I was amazed at how convenient it was to go anywhere and was very surprised by how clean the subway stations are including the public restrooms. Walking out at night felt very safe. There were a lot of CCTVs everywhere. Also, Seoul has a lot of unique cafes with delicious drinks and food. Everything was just so cute!

What would you recommend to students considering studying abroad, especially if they share similar identities and/or are considering your country or program?

I recommend they watch vlogs of people who went to the program/countries they were considering. Also plan ahead, especially with getting plane tickets.