36 Expat Living
Beyond the Books Anjel Abroad By Anjel Iriaghomo
COMMUNITY
I
came from the United States to South Korea with very few expectations. Unlike most of the students I’ve met here, I am not in love with K-dramas, I do not listen to K-pop, and had no inkling of the language. You are probably thinking, “Well why did you come to South Korea?” There honestly were not many factors that went into the decision, but being here has opened my eyes wider than I imagined.
Gwangju News, June 2022
gwangjunewsgic.com
I do not know many seniors who decide to study abroad in their last semester of undergrad, but I would honestly recommend it. Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity
Islands in Shinan, South Jeolla ▲ The very photo-friendly Purple ite purple piece! Province. Be sure to wear your favor
2022�06��.indd 36
that I urge every student to take part in during their academic career. It can be very stressful and costly, but if you are diligent and resourceful, a life-changing experience awaits you. Universities have their own policies, but if you intend on transferring credits, make sure you are aware of the process! At my school, Clemson University, the process was fairly smooth. I first had to fill out a study abroad application where I was paired with a special advisor who walked me through the entire process and was there to help answer my questions. Luckily, I finished my degree requirements last year, so I did not need to worry about transferring any credits back and was able to take classes I was actually interested in. If I were worried about that, I would have had to make sure the classes taken at Chonnam National University aligned with the requirements for my degree back home. After getting the application approved, I had to select the country and program I wanted to attend. I selected the USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium) Gwangju program. The main factors in choosing a program were cost and lifestyle. Korea was one of the few countries with program fees less than $10,000, and Gwangju was thousands of dollars cheaper than Seoul. I also was slightly interested in East Asian culture, having attended an elementary school where I learned a lot of Japanese. Of course, with visa applications, flights, quarantine fees, and more, the true cost really started to accumulate. Fortunately, being awarded a Gilman International Study Abroad Scholarship, USAC scholarships, financial aid, and working full time up until my departure, I was able to be comfortable with coming here for a semester. I cannot emphasize scholarships enough! I have met so many students who did not know they qualified or did not know where to start.
2022-05-26 �� 3:06:11
