Series of photos of Lewana in South Korea.

Lewana

Major: Data Science

"Being East Asian myself, I enjoyed learning about the similarities and differences between Korean culture/language and mine. As a result, it helped me adapt very well when studying abroad and is part of what drew me to the country."

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

I've always wanted to study abroad since I was younger because I wanted to experience living in another country and culture. I think living in another country is very different than visiting as a tourist, so I wanted to know how it was like. I chose South Korea because I had already learned the Korean alphabet back in middle school and thought it would be a good opportunity to actually start learning the language.

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

Being East Asian myself, I enjoyed learning about the similarities and differences between Korean culture/language and mine. As a result, it helped me adapt very well when studying abroad and is part of what drew me to the country.

Describe a typical day for you abroad.

As COVID was still pretty bad during the time I was there, a typical day would be to go to campus in the morning, chill with friends after class/lunch, then in the afternoon either go explore in Seoul or go shopping nearby where I stayed.

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

I took some major classes but didn't want a schedule that was too difficult as I was studying abroad. The courses were pretty good however it was interesting as one of my classes used Berkeley course material.

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?

I think after studying abroad, I realized how much I liked living in a different country, one where everything felt a lot more accessible.

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

The most memorable part of my time abroad was either the school festival or one of the trips I took outside of Seoul.

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

I think the biggest challenge was COVID because I was really scared to go out in the first half of my experience. I did a lot less than I could've done because of that.

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

I think they should just go for it! It's a great experience you can't really get again, because no matter if you go visit later in life, it won't be the same as being a student there.