First Week at Yonsei
- Ashleigh Tarkington
- Jul 5, 2017
- 4 min read
It's the end of my first week at Yonsei! I survived move in, orientation, and my first couple classes. I thought I would break down my experience was for each of those days.
CALANDER BREAKDOWN:
June 22nd: Arrive in Korea
June 22nd-26th: Sick in Korea
June 26th: Check into my dorm
June 27th: Orientation
June 28th: First day of Classes
June 29-30th: Classes
MOVE IN
Oh my god, what a horrible process just to try and get to the building. My mother had left really early in the morning to catch her plane so I was on my own. A reminder that this was the last day I was sick, it was my first time exerting a lot of energy after being weak. My hotel called a taxi for me, I loaded my luggage, and we were on the way. My taxi driver didn't any English which was okay I could communicate basics in Korean. He ended up dropping me off on the opposite side of campus (west side) in the science/engineering section. I was stranded, weak, and with no internet for a map.
After calling several people and the housing office I was on my way to the front gate. Keep in mind that my program is international so its a lot of foreigners but the campus was full of Koreans. I couldn't find anyone to point me in the right direction if they were apart of my program. It took me 2.5 hours to get to my dorm (its usually a 10min walk). The length is due to me being weak with a lot of luggage in 85+ weather & 100% humidity. I stayed positive by thinking about how I was almost there and in a couple hours I would be fine but man, I never wanted to break down in public so badly.
I cleaned up, relaxed, and alone in my room before my roommates arrive I worked on this blog. I was feeling pretty down listening to tons of groups of people outside from my balcony meeting up. I tried to get some people to go out to dinner with me but the hours went by and no responses. That was until Aijah got back to me! We went into Sinchon (city outside of campus) to grab some food at a small place. We spent hours talking and she mentioned wanting to have her first legal drink here in Korea (drinking age is 19 & korean age system adds a year to your life). We headed to a bar and had some beers (great choice for someone recovering, right?) but my spirits were high & I felt great.
We both headed back to the dorms together and encountered a GET OUT situation where a Korean girl was running full speed our direction from the dark. We were like "wtf..." and ominous choir voices started off in the distance. WHO IS SINGING AT LIKE 11PM NEXT TO THE FOREST?!?
(sorry can't find the running gif, best I could do)
Yet, needless to say it was my first normal night in Korea. I was so tired of being in a bed shaking or in the bathroom dealing with god knows what. I ended up meeting my roommate once I got home & we got to talking before sleeping.
ORIENTATION
Somehow the morning came and I was off to orientation with my roommate and Zoe. Opened with the economics dept. kpop dance club performing for us. Then led into the usually stuff... campus life, rules, courses, and the city. I had lunch with a group of girls in Sinchon, payed my $13 to the bank, and chilled at the dorms! I spent the rest of my evening with my boyfriend, Josh, whom had just arrived from Chicago to Korea. Josh's family lives in Uijeongbu (의정부시) outside of Seoul so we have to plan to see each other because of train schedules. We ate lots of food & met up with his cousins to see a Korean play! It really tested my Korean but I guess not that much since Josh explained they were speaking in a weird old Korean he didn't even understand.
Second night of Korea, check!
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
My schedule is the same M-TH with the exception of the first week being W-F. Yonsei only allows 2-3 class (6-9 credits) for the program so you're not "overloaded" in 6 weeks. I am one of those kids that's taking the whole 9 credits so my daily schedule looks like this.
They adjusted the schedules for all class after the first day for 20mins instead of 10mins between classes. My first day was okay and I realized I like my Korean American class the most (you'd think contemp. korea but NOPE). I am lucky that I have all 3 classes in one building so I don't have to worry about finding other buildings on campus. I made friends pretty quickly in my classes, something I struggled with at Columbia, so I feel good being here.
My classes have lots of reading! That's something completely different from going to an art school in Chicago. So I've been coping with the hours lost from my readings. Hopefully it gets better but it probably won't lol.
LOOK OUT FOR MY NEXT POST ON LIFE HERE AT YONSEI/SINCHON!
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