I've seen a lot of Seoul, but there are always people who wants to show me Seoul themselves, or just have a place they want me to see. To tell you the truth, I'm getting sick of sight-seeing. It's always the same things over and over again. I go to museums and palaces, mostly. They are all practically the same, and going to so many museums is just so boring. It was okay the first time, but it's just like a plot that gets dragged on and on. It get's old, fast.
I've also had many disappontments, as I was suppose to go travel outside of Seoul, but the trips were cancelled. This hapened on three trips of mine, so I barely got to see South Korea at all. =/
And I also am going back to the states on May 20 because there are no homestay volunteers to host me. I don't understand how no one would volunteer at all. I had two possible places but in the end they refused to.
Friday, May 4
Wednesday, March 28
Language
The way I see it, high school foreign exchange students do not come abroad to study, but just for the experience. We don't really get high school credit for coming here. It's more like a language experience. At least to me, anyway.
It's not like college where you actually get graded and such. High school life is easy for an exchange student.
What I'm trying to say is that this is one of the best ways to get exposed to a language and learn it in its native lands. Go as a high school student, if possible, and you will have a fun time learning the language of the place.
It's not like college where you actually get graded and such. High school life is easy for an exchange student.
What I'm trying to say is that this is one of the best ways to get exposed to a language and learn it in its native lands. Go as a high school student, if possible, and you will have a fun time learning the language of the place.
Thursday, March 15
Visa Information for the United States for Students
For those of you interested in studying in the United states here are a list of helpful websites for you to find great information.
www.usavisas.org - Seoul Embassy's nonimmigrant visa web site in Korean and English
www.asktheconsul.org - Seoul Embassy's Consular section Webste in Korean and Enlgish
www.uscis.gov - Inofmration about SEVIS and other imigration-related issues
www.us-visaservices.com - For making appointments for visa interview at the Seoul Embassy
www.fmjfee.com - For paying the SEVIS fee.
www.iie.org - Web site for the Institute for International Education, where you can find information about the Fulbright program for foreign students.
www.educationusa.state.gov - General information about getting a student visa
www.usavisas.org - Seoul Embassy's nonimmigrant visa web site in Korean and English
www.asktheconsul.org - Seoul Embassy's Consular section Webste in Korean and Enlgish
www.uscis.gov - Inofmration about SEVIS and other imigration-related issues
www.us-visaservices.com - For making appointments for visa interview at the Seoul Embassy
www.fmjfee.com - For paying the SEVIS fee.
www.iie.org - Web site for the Institute for International Education, where you can find information about the Fulbright program for foreign students.
www.educationusa.state.gov - General information about getting a student visa
Tuesday, March 6
Is the Korean Education System that Bad? I
Hello everyone, I am Euntaek David Shin, currently a senior at Daeil Foreign Language High School. High school life is a redundant, robotic life for students in Korea. Five times a week students are required to be at school by 7:30 a.m., have class until 5:00 p.m., then after dinner which students at the school cafeteria, there is a schedule of self-study period that goes on until 10:00 p.m. (12:00 for some schools). Students are expected to participate this self-study period, unless he or she has hakwon(a “second” school) schedules or has a special occasion like his or her family member passed away. Thinking that this is not enough, students also go to school on Saturdays, however luckily finishes at noon. This rigorous system is because of the college entrance exam which is at November during the senior year of high school. This exam consists of Korean, math, English, and four subjects from a category of either science or social studies, and this exam highly depends which university that student would go to, thus the “future” for Korean students. Therefore the educating policy of Korea is focused most on academic education, forcing students to study and study.
The education policy is an issue that students gossip about today. Obviously, so far I have only heard complaints. The main problem with the policy that people talk about is about the focus, academic focus. Students think that high school focuses too much on academic factors, unlike American schools where there are after school activities. I have heard things such as, “having all this forced into my head is making me stupid!” “I have no time for self development” “If I lived in the United States, I’d be doing much better than now” yadi yada yada.
Taking a step back and looking. Is the Korean education just as bad as is looks? Hell? In fact, the Korean education system has merits that not many other education systems have.
The education policy is an issue that students gossip about today. Obviously, so far I have only heard complaints. The main problem with the policy that people talk about is about the focus, academic focus. Students think that high school focuses too much on academic factors, unlike American schools where there are after school activities. I have heard things such as, “having all this forced into my head is making me stupid!” “I have no time for self development” “If I lived in the United States, I’d be doing much better than now” yadi yada yada.
Taking a step back and looking. Is the Korean education just as bad as is looks? Hell? In fact, the Korean education system has merits that not many other education systems have.
Is the Korean Education System that Bad? II
If you have lived in a western culture, you may have heard people saying Asians are smart. This isn’t because Asians are naturally smarter, it is because of the education system like Korea has. When it comes to math and science I am not one of the bright kids at our school, although they are one of my favorite subjects. But when I joined the math team (when I was an exchange student last year in Wisconsin), surprise! I became regional champion. Thank you Korea. Again this does not mean American kids cannot do math, it shows that because the Korean education policy focuses a lot on academics, Korean students have more knowledge and are accelerated in that area. And just in case you did not know, the 21st century is an era of information.
Secondly, Korean students will learn to manage their schedules at an early age. “I have no time for extra curricular activities.” Please… Stop whining. You don’t go around looking for the time to do things, you make the time to do what you have to do. Because Korean students have a fixed schedule at school, the only time they have is in early morning, late night, and the weekends. Not enough time? This may be true when compared with American students. But what about using those times? Not many students do much in the mornings before school. Using this time, even thirty minutes each morning, to do anything productive, is not only an effective way to start a day but an intelligent way to save time. Whether it is exercising, writing a short journal of how you feel, cooking, anything! Students can do the same at night too. And during the weekends, students have two whole days to do any sports, community service, cultural experience, music, art, whatever. Students may think that this busy schedule may limit them from activities, however, actually helps students to organize when to do what, and prevents students from doing unproductive activities.
So, for those of you who are not doing anything fed up with the Korean education, try considering the good side of the education, and take advantage of it. A situation given to a person is something that he has to adapt to, but better than that is to develop himself through the merits of that situation.
Secondly, Korean students will learn to manage their schedules at an early age. “I have no time for extra curricular activities.” Please… Stop whining. You don’t go around looking for the time to do things, you make the time to do what you have to do. Because Korean students have a fixed schedule at school, the only time they have is in early morning, late night, and the weekends. Not enough time? This may be true when compared with American students. But what about using those times? Not many students do much in the mornings before school. Using this time, even thirty minutes each morning, to do anything productive, is not only an effective way to start a day but an intelligent way to save time. Whether it is exercising, writing a short journal of how you feel, cooking, anything! Students can do the same at night too. And during the weekends, students have two whole days to do any sports, community service, cultural experience, music, art, whatever. Students may think that this busy schedule may limit them from activities, however, actually helps students to organize when to do what, and prevents students from doing unproductive activities.
So, for those of you who are not doing anything fed up with the Korean education, try considering the good side of the education, and take advantage of it. A situation given to a person is something that he has to adapt to, but better than that is to develop himself through the merits of that situation.
Tuesday, February 20
Lunar New Years
Last weekend was the first time I ever celebrated this Holiday.
I went with my homestay family to visit their hometown in the countryside. We stayed there for three days. It was interesting how peaceful and quiet it was. I was hoping to be able to at least see the stars at night, but the light pollution was still quite strong. :(
We ate the Korean traditional New Year's food all days I was there. No offense to Korean cuisine, but I did not like the food. Like most Korean food, they were too plain. I still ate it, though. I am one of those people who can eat anything. Just force it in.
During the morning of the New Year day, us young people formally greeted out elders by doing this kneeling bow, standing up to do a 90 degree bow, then get back on the floor sitting on our knees again. And then the elders whom we bowed to will give us our New Year's money.
To the minors, they like this time of the year because they receive a lot of money. I mean a LOT. They receive about 100$-200$ worth of money, and some people even get up to 250$ total. I got about 100$ worth. I did not really want to accept the money since I feel like it is too much, but they really insisted that I accept it, and so I did.
I went with my homestay family to visit their hometown in the countryside. We stayed there for three days. It was interesting how peaceful and quiet it was. I was hoping to be able to at least see the stars at night, but the light pollution was still quite strong. :(
We ate the Korean traditional New Year's food all days I was there. No offense to Korean cuisine, but I did not like the food. Like most Korean food, they were too plain. I still ate it, though. I am one of those people who can eat anything. Just force it in.
During the morning of the New Year day, us young people formally greeted out elders by doing this kneeling bow, standing up to do a 90 degree bow, then get back on the floor sitting on our knees again. And then the elders whom we bowed to will give us our New Year's money.
To the minors, they like this time of the year because they receive a lot of money. I mean a LOT. They receive about 100$-200$ worth of money, and some people even get up to 250$ total. I got about 100$ worth. I did not really want to accept the money since I feel like it is too much, but they really insisted that I accept it, and so I did.
Friday, February 2
My Winter Vacation
So far, my vacation had been boring. It really is boring.
All of my friends I have made will now be high school seniors, and they are too busy competing with each other for the kSAT. =/
But it is not just them. Everyone is busy with their school stuff anyways. It's just the high school seniors that are special. They get to be even more busy than everyone else. The elementary schoolers have it easy though, until they move up to middle school.
Once in a while I bug my friends to try to get them to hang out with me, but I always fail. It's fun to bug them anyway.
Because everyone is so busy, I have to find ways to keep myself busy. What other easy option is there besides video games? Well, that was, and is, my solution to being by myself. At home, I could either watch television, study, read, walk around outside, or play video games. There is not much of a choice to choose something I would enjoy.
All of my friends I have made will now be high school seniors, and they are too busy competing with each other for the kSAT. =/
But it is not just them. Everyone is busy with their school stuff anyways. It's just the high school seniors that are special. They get to be even more busy than everyone else. The elementary schoolers have it easy though, until they move up to middle school.
Once in a while I bug my friends to try to get them to hang out with me, but I always fail. It's fun to bug them anyway.
Because everyone is so busy, I have to find ways to keep myself busy. What other easy option is there besides video games? Well, that was, and is, my solution to being by myself. At home, I could either watch television, study, read, walk around outside, or play video games. There is not much of a choice to choose something I would enjoy.
Tuesday, January 16
In the Admissions Officers' Shoes
The scope of this article is to assist students to understand what may go on in the minds of admissions officers.
How can we tell what they want to know? The admissions application of course! Visit http://www.commonapp.org for a sample college admission application.
Everything on that form has been put there for a reason, they do not want nor need random information.
These are two major factors that admissions officers look for in a candidate.
Academic Success
Academic success is fundamental, especially for Asian students and therefore have raised the bar for others.
Unfortunately, some of these students believe this is the most important factor and have become studying robots. This must change.
Admissions officers have realized this that's why they look for other ways the students can contribute to the university.
How do they check for "other" ways?
There are several ways to demonstrate this on the application. Here are a few:
The purpose of these is not to list as many activities or be arrogant. You need to be show off yourself and at the same time be honest, sincere, and demonstrate that you gained something from the experience. Preferably this is where you show your passion for a particular topic.
Most of this information may be obvious- all you have to do is put yourself in the other person's shoes and ask "Why?" I guarantee you there is always a reason, whether it is a good one or not, it not for me to decide.
This is by no means a thorough analysis, but some thoughts that have come from my experiences. I'd like to hear your constructive thoughts and opinions.
How can we tell what they want to know? The admissions application of course! Visit http://www.commonapp.org for a sample college admission application.
Everything on that form has been put there for a reason, they do not want nor need random information.
These are two major factors that admissions officers look for in a candidate.
- Will the student be successful at our school, specifically academically?
- What can the student provide to our school?
Academic Success
- One way to check this is through the GPA, the admissions offices know this is not a perfect system.
- The SAT Exam is another way to measure a students academic competency, they know this is not a perfect system either.
Academic success is fundamental, especially for Asian students and therefore have raised the bar for others.
Unfortunately, some of these students believe this is the most important factor and have become studying robots. This must change.
Admissions officers have realized this that's why they look for other ways the students can contribute to the university.
How do they check for "other" ways?
There are several ways to demonstrate this on the application. Here are a few:
- Extracurricular activities
- The Essay
- Work Experience
- Honors
- The Short Answer
The purpose of these is not to list as many activities or be arrogant. You need to be show off yourself and at the same time be honest, sincere, and demonstrate that you gained something from the experience. Preferably this is where you show your passion for a particular topic.
Most of this information may be obvious- all you have to do is put yourself in the other person's shoes and ask "Why?" I guarantee you there is always a reason, whether it is a good one or not, it not for me to decide.
This is by no means a thorough analysis, but some thoughts that have come from my experiences. I'd like to hear your constructive thoughts and opinions.
Sunday, December 31
Happy Birthday to Paul (aka Hoo)!
Yesterday, Zacharias, David (은택), Phillip (대언), and I tried to invite him out but he didn't answer his cell phone at all for a couple times across a long time interval.
So then we just went out to a boardgame room and played some games without him. He must have had his own private party somewhere else. It will forever be a mystery.
In Korea, there is not really much to do for a "fun time." I mean, there is, but it is always the same thing, so it gets boring, fast.
There are PC rooms, karaoke rooms, boardgame rooms, restaurants, clubs, shopping, parks (sports), and amusement parks. I am not an out-going person, so half of these options are something I would not want to do. Therefore I always try to find new and fun activities to do with my Korean friends; stuff that I would do in the States. They may be fun, but not always safe.
We like playing games where the loser wins pain. Those games are always fun. I hear it is Korean culture to play games like this, but it would be nice to play games with greater pain involved. :D
So then we just went out to a boardgame room and played some games without him. He must have had his own private party somewhere else. It will forever be a mystery.
In Korea, there is not really much to do for a "fun time." I mean, there is, but it is always the same thing, so it gets boring, fast.
There are PC rooms, karaoke rooms, boardgame rooms, restaurants, clubs, shopping, parks (sports), and amusement parks. I am not an out-going person, so half of these options are something I would not want to do. Therefore I always try to find new and fun activities to do with my Korean friends; stuff that I would do in the States. They may be fun, but not always safe.
We like playing games where the loser wins pain. Those games are always fun. I hear it is Korean culture to play games like this, but it would be nice to play games with greater pain involved. :D
Saturday, December 30
Final Days of the Current School Year
We had finals last week, for the whole week.
Then after finals, there is one more week of school. Then winter vacation starts after that.
Today is the last day of school.
The week inbetween the finals and winter vacation is very easy to the students, compared to the other school days.
Like you would think: there's not much to do now that the finals are over. Nothing more done will affect our grades. So what do the students do? Self-study. That's right. If there's nothing to do, the students would self-study anyways, so for this 'special' time, they self-study for a week, or just talk and play around in the classrooms.
Oh! But you have to be quiet or your class well get yelled at by a teacher that comes by regularly to check up on the classes!
Then after finals, there is one more week of school. Then winter vacation starts after that.
Today is the last day of school.
The week inbetween the finals and winter vacation is very easy to the students, compared to the other school days.
Like you would think: there's not much to do now that the finals are over. Nothing more done will affect our grades. So what do the students do? Self-study. That's right. If there's nothing to do, the students would self-study anyways, so for this 'special' time, they self-study for a week, or just talk and play around in the classrooms.
Oh! But you have to be quiet or your class well get yelled at by a teacher that comes by regularly to check up on the classes!
Thursday, December 28
High School Life, From a Foreign Exchange Student's Perspective
I have been here in South Korea for 132 days now, and the lifestyle here is very harsh for high school students. Heck, even for middle school students.
Every student here competes each other very intensely for better test scores to get into better universities. My high school starts around 7:30 and techinically ends at 17:00, but the students stay to self-study until 22:00, which is the time when the school closes. Then they go home, study some more, sleep late at night around 2 or so, then wake up and go to school again in the morning and arrive before 7:30. They also study 7 days a week, from Sunday to Saturday. But on the weekends, they go to school only around 9:00 until around 16:00 or so.
Therefore, they have absolutely no time for me. Some of my friends who study abroad in America before feels so bad for me, as they had a lot of fun in the States, but here, all they do is study and they cannot show me a good time here. But I manage. I spend time with my home-stay family and have fun with them and neighbors. I also hang out with college friends once in a while, who I have met from other people and friends.
But sometimes, when I have absolutely no one to be with, I play online games by myself or with my family and cousins back in the States.
If you plan to study abroad here as a high school exchange student, well, do not expect much. But hey, don't take my word for it. As long as you make a lot of friends of all ages, not just your high school classmates, then it'll be a great experience! Or if your classmates just doesn't study, then you can have fun with them! But it wouldn't be so good on their part...
As for other level of educations, such as middle school or college, I can guarantee that your school life there would be much better compared to high school life.
Still, I like the choice of studying here as a high school student.
Every student here competes each other very intensely for better test scores to get into better universities. My high school starts around 7:30 and techinically ends at 17:00, but the students stay to self-study until 22:00, which is the time when the school closes. Then they go home, study some more, sleep late at night around 2 or so, then wake up and go to school again in the morning and arrive before 7:30. They also study 7 days a week, from Sunday to Saturday. But on the weekends, they go to school only around 9:00 until around 16:00 or so.
Therefore, they have absolutely no time for me. Some of my friends who study abroad in America before feels so bad for me, as they had a lot of fun in the States, but here, all they do is study and they cannot show me a good time here. But I manage. I spend time with my home-stay family and have fun with them and neighbors. I also hang out with college friends once in a while, who I have met from other people and friends.
But sometimes, when I have absolutely no one to be with, I play online games by myself or with my family and cousins back in the States.
If you plan to study abroad here as a high school exchange student, well, do not expect much. But hey, don't take my word for it. As long as you make a lot of friends of all ages, not just your high school classmates, then it'll be a great experience! Or if your classmates just doesn't study, then you can have fun with them! But it wouldn't be so good on their part...
As for other level of educations, such as middle school or college, I can guarantee that your school life there would be much better compared to high school life.
Still, I like the choice of studying here as a high school student.
Introduction
Hello everyone.
My name is Bee Ki Yang. I was born on April 15, 1988, and I am an Asian-American currently studying abroad here in South Korea. I am not Korean, however, as many people has made this assumption. I am Hmong, which is a minority ethnic group that mostly resides in China. Therefore, I have that "oriental Asian" look, with the very dark-brown hair and eyes.
I have already graduated from high school in the United States in June 2006, and decided to study abroad in South Korea. I arrived here in August 2006, two months after graduating. Some people question why I would want to go to high school here and not college. Well, I came here for the experience. College life anywhere are similar to each other, but high schools and lower level education systems are what is unique in other countries. I did not want to miss out.
I am fluent in two languages - Hmong and English. I also study Japanese and Korean, but I am no where close to being fluent in either languages. I studied Japanese for 3 years and Korean for 4 months.
I am fascinated with computers, and aim to be a software programmer in the future; specifically video game programming. I am currently learning Flash, but it is very difficult.
I hope that you readers out there will enjoy this blog, and get a taste of High School life here from a foreign exchange student's perspective, as you also will receive from a teacher and other Korean students.
My name is Bee Ki Yang. I was born on April 15, 1988, and I am an Asian-American currently studying abroad here in South Korea. I am not Korean, however, as many people has made this assumption. I am Hmong, which is a minority ethnic group that mostly resides in China. Therefore, I have that "oriental Asian" look, with the very dark-brown hair and eyes.
I have already graduated from high school in the United States in June 2006, and decided to study abroad in South Korea. I arrived here in August 2006, two months after graduating. Some people question why I would want to go to high school here and not college. Well, I came here for the experience. College life anywhere are similar to each other, but high schools and lower level education systems are what is unique in other countries. I did not want to miss out.
I am fluent in two languages - Hmong and English. I also study Japanese and Korean, but I am no where close to being fluent in either languages. I studied Japanese for 3 years and Korean for 4 months.
I am fascinated with computers, and aim to be a software programmer in the future; specifically video game programming. I am currently learning Flash, but it is very difficult.
I hope that you readers out there will enjoy this blog, and get a taste of High School life here from a foreign exchange student's perspective, as you also will receive from a teacher and other Korean students.
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