Langubridge Seoul Summer 2017

My time spent in Seoul during July of 2017 through the Langubridge program was excellent and life-changing. The primary reason that I enjoyed this program was due to how organized and dedicated the staff was to make the trip a positive learning experience. Months before we left our home country, my friends- who were also attending, were put in contact with a Langubridge representative via email. She was very attentive and understanding of any concerns we had, as she always responded with diligence to our countless questions. Prior to being accepted into the program, I was required to fill out application forms. These forms are not only made to assess the habits and personality of the student but are also to better match students with potential host families. The application process was something that caught my attention because it highlighted the effort that goes into making the student homestay program as seamless as possible. As a result of this my host family and I meshed very well together. Another cool thing about Langubridge is that they do their best to accommodate towards the needs of their students. Since this was my first time traveling abroad, I requested that I stay in a host home along with one of my friends that was going on the trip. Keep in mind that Langubridge does not guarantee that every request will be honored, however I was very grateful to have my request fulfilled. There was also a group Facebook page, and group Kakao Talk that was created by our trip leader, she used this to better keep everyone accounted for. Upon arrival in Seoul, my friends and I were easily able to make our way through customs and locate our host parents. My friend and I were made very comfortable with how kind our host family was. We each had our own room, and a super cute dog named Cream! In the following weeks, we attended language and culture classes at Hanyang University. Our group of 30 students was broken up into smaller classes based on skill level and we went from there. Overall, I will say that the classes were extremely helpful as was our professor. Our teacher was very patient and made sure to take the time to explain each lesson in detail so we got the most out of each class. Aside from classes at the university, we also had daily culture trips around the city. Whether it be to the National Folk Museum of Korea, to one of the world's largest theme parks Lotte World, we were given the experience of a lifetime. It was during these trips that our knowledge was extended beyond the walls of a classroom and into the vibrant social life of Korea. One of the most memorable outings we had was going to MBC and experiencing the technological side of Korean culture. I was even able to make friends with Korean students my age and am still in contact with one of them to this day. This coming July will mark one year since being in Seoul, the trip that changed my life as it opened my eyes to the world around me. Being an ocean away from my home, I learned to assimilate and adapt to new surroundings. I learned to be still and observe the beauty of diversity as people thrive in different cultures. I think that's one of the things that makes this program a stand out- that it's SO much more than just Korean classes. I'm forever grateful to Langubridge for giving me the opportunity to study in such a wonderful place, and gain memories that I will hold onto for a lifetime.