2018 - 2019

2018 - 2019

MARCO POLO FUND Study / Traineeship report

This form needs to be completed by every student who has received a scholarship from the Marco Polo Fund.

Last name

First name

RUG registration number (S)

Please enclose a 2 page report on your experiences abroad, using the following headings:

1.

Your study programme or your internship programme

Language

3.

Finance and other conditions

4.

Preparation and contacts with the faculty before, during and after your stay

Housing

6.

Culture

Free time

Travelling

Other

I hereby give permission to the International Office to publish my report on Study Info to inform future students

Yes X No Future students may contact me for additional

information

Yes X No

Signature Participant

………

Date: 21/02/2019

Your study programme or your internship programme

At Pusan National University my major was called Global Studies, which is a combination of disciplines aimed at creating a broadly encompassing image of the world. The courses I took were quite easy compared to the ones I had here in Groningen; I think this because PNU is specialized in the natural sciences, rather than the social. I had three teachers, all of them special in their own right. Three of my classes were taught by William H Poore, a tenured professor that has been teaching at PNU for decades. His courses were not particularly insightful, but were interesting and fun nonetheless; we found ourselves engaged in discussion often. Mr. Yamaguchi was my Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy teacher; former National Defense Force employee, very intelligent and highly qualified in his area of expertise. I learned some very valuable information about the domestic political situation in Japan, as well as the geopolitics of the East Asia region. Last but not least, Chriss Hennessey proved himself to be a true global guru. In each class I had with him, my opinions were challenged and I had ample opportunity to discuss, as he built his Globalization course around facilitating debate. Overall, the study itself was satisfactory, I went through some interesting material.

Language

Korean language is difficult to get grip on. The alphabet is one of the easiest to comprehend, but the vocabulary and pronunciation can be tricky. If you have an iron will and you already enjoy Korean pop culture it should be possible to learn the language at conversation level in around 3 to 6 months, depending on the level of dedication.

Finance and other conditions

I recommend getting a Korean student bank account ASAP ( it’s free, but there are a few forms to complete which might take a while) and getting a one-time international transfer of funds to be used during the exchange, so that no extra costs are inquired while you are there. There is a bank on the campus and they advertise cards for students. Groceries are just as expensive as eating out. Canteen food is mixed in terms of quality, ranging from absolutely delicious to not so good, but still a good deal to get the canteen subscription.

Preparation and contacts with the faculty before, during and after your stay

Before arriving it was very difficult to communicate through emails, so I recommend making phone calls (keep an eye on time difference). The process appears rigid and complicated, but as soon as you get to Busan people will be helpful and friendly, so I would suggest not to stress so much. Follow the instructions and inquire about the unknowns. If you get no answer then it is probably not that important, wait until you get there.

Housing

You can use the dorms, good place to meet people but compared to western set-ups

there are very strict rules and a curfew. Therefore I would suggest also looking into

individual accommodation through an agent (GET A KOREAN BUDDY –there is a buddy

program- SO THEY CAN HELP). Koreans usually ask for a very high deposit, which will be returned after you leave (usually around 2000 Euro). This deposit is so they can keep the rent price low, which it usually is, the higher the deposit. Do not hesitate to negotiate, businesses are very trustworthy in South Korea.

Culture

Korean people and culture are amazing. Do not be afraid to engage in every opportunity to the fullest. Accept their rules without politicizing and you will experience the united soul bond this nation has – you will see brand new form of beauty, a homogenous, wholesome beauty. The religion, art, architecture, music, food and people are all one strongly unified force which keeps itself in a seemingly perfect balance. Only in the last weeks of my exchange did I have epiphanies about the meaning of Hongik Ingan. This culture contains a lesson so valuable that it cannot be expressed into words. Just arrive there and ease into being, feel the flow of the nation, do not judge anything, be calm and enjoy.

Free time

You can play any sport imaginable, Ping Pong is fun and easily accessible. The university also offers student clubs focused on different activities which you can join. Restaurants are found on every street and prices are reasonable, so eating will just become a hobby quite quickly. There are PC Bangs on every street as well, where you can play videogames. Busan is full of temples and mountains, so you are never too far away from a good hike. The beach is also an option if you are going during warm times. Most importantly, use your free time to venture outside campus grounds, it is very easy to get caught up in that area. Allow yourself to go partying Seomyeon, you might have the most unlikely of adventures.

Travelling

Japan is the cheapest and closest destination, so going there is the easiest and most attractive option. China is also close and has cheap tickets, but the visa can be costly depending on your country of origin (for me it was 100 euro). Taiwan is another potential destination, very warm, green place. Travelling around Korea is very easy and can even be done on a bike if you have the courage.

Other

Let loose, everything will be perfect, it always is.

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