The Education Abroad Network

My study abroad experience in Seoul, South Korea was phenomenal. From animal cafes to nightlife the city of Seoul has a lot of extraordinary events. During my time in Seoul, I got to step out of my comfort zone and learn while living in a completely different culture. Each week Korea University hosted cultural events to immerse students into new and fun experiences. From the first to last day in Seoul, TEAN staff were always there and ready to help whenever. TEAN hosted its own orientation of Anam and Korea University before our official KUISC orientation, which I found more efficient and helpful than the one provided by the university. During orientation, TEAN gave us T-Money cards for the metro, which were godsend to our time studying abroad in South Korea. During the course of KUISC, I made amazing friends that I cannot picture my life without now.
During the Summer, the Korea University campus is full of greenery. The campus architecture makes the University look like a modern-day castle. In the Summer, the temperature is scorching, and the sky is mostly sunny. Located in the campus underground area, there is KU study rooms, a Morning Glory (stationary store), a CU (convenience store), cafes and restaurants, a cafeteria, and KU Optical. While classes were in session, I got to connect with knowledgeable professors in their field and learn in a small class setting, which facilitated the learning process. Professors hold office hours in addition to teaching classes, which are very useful. If you take third to fourth-year level classes, it will be difficult, but I learned great study habits during my time abroad.

The Education Abroad Network made preparing to study abroad easy! They were always just an email or phone call away before and during my semester abroad. At the University of Newcastle I joined two student organizations that really defined my experience and made it unforgettable. In the Newcastle University Mountaineering Club I met a bunch of really cool Australians that were welcoming and willing to teach others. The University of Newcastle Exchange Student Network was great for meeting students from Australia and all over the world.

These were some of the best weeks of my life! I arrived nervous about going to a new country without knowing anyone else on the trip, and I left wishing that we'd had more time there! I loved every moment, but my favorite parts were hiking in the Blue Mountains, surfing in Byron Bay, and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. We learned about conservation in the classroom and on hikes, and we were both able to have intimate experiences with nature and experience city life. Our teachers were so knowledgeable and made class really interesting! It was only three weeks, but we saw and experienced so much in that time. Still, I wished we could have stayed longer! This is the perfect trip for adventurers and nature lovers alike!

Over this past summer, I interned in Sydney, Australia. This experience has changed my life, I was able to make friends all over the world, understand how I react in certain situations, pushed my limits, able to get creative and gain real-world experience in my field of study. TEAN does an amazing job of personalizing everyone's trip abroad. They have employees working in the host cities to help with anything you may need. Where can I get the best dumplings in town? Are there any secret bars in Sydney? I have a cold where can I get medicine under health insurance? I stayed in a hotel with a kitchenette in the heart of Sydney. My hotel was very accommodating and in a perfect location. I had the summer of my life and I HIGHLY encourage others to take the leap and intern abroad.

I had a really good time attending Korea University over summer. It was really great to experience Korea for the first time with many other students from around the world! While studying at Korea University I was able to learn about Korean culture but also interact with a large global community. Not only was I able to meet many new friends during my time in Seoul, I was also able to have many experiences that I would not have had if I had attended a different program. From big group dinners to our big trip to Lotte World. If you would like to study in Korea, I would highly recommend studying in Korea through the Tean Summer in Seoul program. All of the Tean Staff members are so kind and so helpful throughout the whole process, from predeparture to return. 10/10!