[Kyuuu]

Hi everyone

I'm planning to join the YSKLI regular program this april. I just graduated from my high school last year. but I'm not joining college/university yet because I'm planning to continue my study in Korea. is it possible for me to join YSKLI ? is there anyone who's going there in april too ?

[another member]

^
of course it depends on the person.
but if only *I* had a bad time with people from california, then, fine, it's just me.

but when i talk with other people, and THEY tell me that most of the people they meet who are from cali are like that, then there's got to be some trend, right?

i give everyone a chance.
but, at yonsei, the people from cali literally went out of their way to avoid having ANY contact with people who were not from cali.

here in japan, there was one guy from cali who couldn't even look me in the face when he talked to me, but acted like he was doing me a FAVOR by talking with me...
another guy from cali here in japan got an attitude with everyone around him when we were out drinking...even going so far to ask my british friend "why do you guys hate america?".

i think i must have said this before, but either the average person from cali is totally stuck-up, etc; OR the average person from cali who travels to asia is stuck-up, etc.

if someone's going to go to korea, and they're going to be surrounded by people from cali who act like that, at least they should know what they're getting into. i mean, it was very obvious that the people that were not in huge groups were from places that were not california, and it was very obvious that the people from california seemed annoyed that there were people who were not from california there.

i mean, i didn't really care about that state until every other person i met from there was catching an attitude with me. o_O

As a korean-american who has lived in california my entire life, i have to say, i take offense to your multiple announcements of your problems with korean-americans from california. I live in a community that is predominantly asian (approximately 60% asian, mostly of korean and chinese descent) and i rarely encounter people as horrible as you've described. I'm in college now, a UC that is also predominantly asian, and almost everyone i've met, asian or not, has been wonderfully cool. asians and non asians hang out all the time and it was even like that at my high school. who knows, maybe i haven't been paying attention my entire life, and maybe there are lots of people like the ones you seem to hate. they've probably gone and formed their own little groups. maybe i've just ignored them my entire life and moved on. there are always going to be people you don't like, anywhere you go, no matter where they're from. you are obviously generalizing about the people from california and this notion that you have in your brain will probably affect the way you think about any other californians you meet in the future. people who have participated in the study abroad programs in korea have mentioned in this thread that they haven't experienced the same problems you have. isn't that saying something? i understand that you've had negative experiences with korean-american californians, and i'm sorry about that, but i just don't think it's right that you go on announcing it several times throughout the thread. i find it pretty offensive, just as anyone from another city or state or country would if i or anyone else made such harsh generalizations about them as you have. if you want to say those things, come over to california and get to know the people. if you still feel the same way, then fine. but until then, it's just plain offensive. people here are nice. really, they are.

anyway...i'm having a hard time deciding where to study abroad. i've never been to korea, and it is definitely one of my top choices, but there are a couple of more countries that i'd really love to visit. too bad i only have about another year left of school, so i guess i'll have to decide quickly, hah.

[little mixed girl]

As a korean-american who has lived in california my entire life, i have to say, i take offense to your multiple announcements of your problems with korean-americans from california. I live in a community that is predominantly asian (approximately 60% asian, mostly of korean and chinese descent) and i rarely encounter people as horrible as you've described. I'm in college now, a UC that is also predominantly asian, and almost everyone i've met, asian or not, has been wonderfully cool. asians and non asians hang out all the time and it was even like that at my high school. who knows, maybe i haven't been paying attention my entire life, and maybe there are lots of people like the ones you seem to hate. they've probably gone and formed their own little groups. maybe i've just ignored them my entire life and moved on. there are always going to be people you don't like, anywhere you go, no matter where they're from. you are obviously generalizing about the people from california and this notion that you have in your brain will probably affect the way you think about any other californians you meet in the future. people who have participated in the study abroad programs in korea have mentioned in this thread that they haven't experienced the same problems you have. isn't that saying something? i understand that you've had negative experiences with korean-american californians, and i'm sorry about that, but i just don't think it's right that you go on announcing it several times throughout the thread. i find it pretty offensive, just as anyone from another city or state or country would if i or anyone else made such harsh generalizations about them as you have. if you want to say those things, come over to california and get to know the people. if you still feel the same way, then fine. but until then, it's just plain offensive. people here are nice. really, they are.

anyway...i'm having a hard time deciding where to study abroad. i've never been to korea, and it is definitely one of my top choices, but there are a couple of more countries that i'd really love to visit. too bad i only have about another year left of school, so i guess i'll have to decide quickly, hah.

i was talking about my experience at yonsei's summer program in 2003 and 2004, none of the people here were in those programs.
like i said numerous times before, i came into the program with an open mind.
i didn't care that those people were from california, i was just looking to have a good time.
BUT, during both of those times, a majority of the people coming from california had major attitude issues. it wasn't something that i just made up, it was something that other people who were not from california also noticed.
i didn't make any active effort to not hang out with people from california.

they made their own groups, they sat around acting like they were too good to be there. i was just...there.

i also said (a bunch i think) that it might just be those people from california who TRAVEL TO ASIA!
maybe your state is filled with really nice people and all the jerks go to korea and japan.

but, i stand by what i said.

the average person from california that i've met in korea and japan (asian or white) has attitude problems.

(also, if you're a person like the one i described, of course you're not going to notice it. i saw one cali girl's zanga site after i left, and she wrote that the dorm was filled with "non-koreans and foreigners and she feels so weird". wtf is that?)

[remircs]

i was talking about my experience at yonsei's summer program in 2003 and 2004, none of the people here were in those programs.

...

i also said (a bunch i think) that it might just be those people from california who TRAVEL TO ASIA!
maybe your state is filled with really nice people and all the jerks go to korea and japan.

but, i stand by what i said.

the average person from california that i've met in korea and japan (asian or white) has attitude problems.

It's kinda funny how you clarify yourself; as if it made a difference.

You do realize what seed you're planting, don't you? "Stay away from the Californians who TRAVEL TO ASIA."

It's fine that you think that way - no one is telling you to change, so by all means, stand by what you say. It sucks that your experience was so bad 4-5 years ago that you're still so bitter about it even now, but the "warnings" you're giving people are unnecessary. Let them figure out who they get along with or not, rather than make them predisposed to dislike students from an entire state. You've had your say (a bunch i think), we get it.

~

I'll be in Yonsei this spring semester through CIEE. I'm leaving Feb 1st.

[little mixed girl]

It's kinda funny how you clarify yourself; as if it made a difference.

You do realize what seed you're planting, don't you? "Stay away from the Californians who TRAVEL TO ASIA."

It's fine that you think that way - no one is telling you to change, so by all means, stand by what you say. It sucks that your experience was so bad 4-5 years ago that you're still so bitter about it even now, but the "warnings" you're giving people are unnecessary. Let them figure out who they get along with or not, rather than make them predisposed to dislike students from an entire state. You've had your say (a bunch i think), we get it.

~

I'll be in Yonsei this spring semester through CIEE. I'm leaving Feb 1st.

uhm, i don't think "stay away from californians who travel to asia" is such bad advice.
and there's nothing about me being bitter, people...from california...keep bringing up reasons as to why my experience was wrong or whatever.
which is why i'm responding.

and what i've been saying is that the experience for korean-americans is different for non-korean-americans.

people can figure out who they like and don't like.
if you don't like the fact that the people i was with were stand-offish, then there's nothing i can do about it.

also, i started this thread.
i can reply as much as i want, to whom i want. same goes for any other thread in this forum.
if you maybe sat down and read all the posts in the thread instead of jumping in at that very end to comment, then maybe you would understand that i'm not telling people not to talk to californians or whatever.

i created this thread for people to share their experiences with study abroad in korea, so that those that are interested in have a better understanding of how people who went there felt.
i'm quite sure that i clearly stated that in my first post. i'm also quite sure that i stated over and over when i was there and that i might have just happened upon bad people.

yet, not matter how many times i state that, i get people like yourself who are getting on my case for my personal experience.
stop acting like i said that if you go to yonsei that californians will, without exception, act harshly towards you.
stop acting like i said my experience was THE only one to be had in korea.

sheesh!

[jedimindtricks]

I consider going to study abroad to Korea (or other countries) for experience, although I went to Korea a few times before...
I'm currently majoring in Engineering and my school is only associated with Ehwa so if I were to go study abroad, Ehwa would be my only choice.

I'm a freshman right now but I can only go after the beginning of junior year.
Do they have a good Engineering program over there...?
Because it would be great if my school had been affiliated with more schools but since not, if I want to study in other Korean universities, I pretty much have to apply, right?

Also, how long do most people study abroad for?
I'm considering a semester or two...

help meeeee

[remircs]

sheesh!

Hm.

If you actually believed you may "have just happened upon bad people," you wouldn't think that staying away from Californians traveling to Asia is good advice.

Right, you're not bitter. You just resent Californians because of the few you met 4-5 years ago. Oh wait...

No worries, I'm totally fine that people there didn't get along with you.

Never said you couldn't post. I was just expressing my dislike of your rants. (I'm allowed to post, too.) I don't see how they're helpful to anyone. I know I'm not getting anything from them.
And I didn't just pop in at the end. Well, I did posting-wise, but I've read plenty. Excuse me for not having said anything earlier.

You misunderstand. I wasn't getting on your case for your rotten experience, rather your repeated bashing of Californians.
I make one post and then suddenly I'm acting like all that? That's a little harsh. Something about this is familiar...

Well, I'm just trolling now, aren't I? I see that I'm upsetting you, and that'll probably just lead to aggravating your problem, so I'll stop lest you come up with another reason to form some new stereotype. Ciao.

[Aerolite]

I think some of you people giving little mixed girl grief saying that her 'warnings' are unnecessary, are taking it a little too harshly. I say this because I was the one who brought up the topic (as a non-Korean, but I'm also from California) on page 20. So it's not like she came in this thread bashing Cali Koreans out of nowhere.

I was just curious of others' experiences, and I actually found her story particularly helpful. That's not to say that I'm going to assume that certain people at YISS this summer are going to be horrible; I just wanted to get an idea--and of course, take it all with a grain of salt. I understand that I will never know how it is until I go there myself.

I appreciate what she said and I can see why it may offend people. In my opinion she didn't sugar-coat her story and I find her opinions to be very honest.

[BananaPanda]

My university has a partnership with Soonchunhyang University I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this school?

[iiDivineii]

My university has a partnership with Soonchunhyang University I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this school?

I'm attending that school right now. I'm going on my second semester and as far as meeting new people and having fun, it's the best place.
The language program still needs work. It's mostly self study but if you wanted to find a Korean tutor, it's very easy. Everyone is pretty nice.
Just be ready to go up and down the "stairs of death." If you think you're ready... you're not. They have about 5 sets of those bad boys and Global Village is on top of a huge hill. [Global Village is the place where you'll be living.]
The housing is a pretty sweet deal. Everything is pretty much paid for except you have to buy your own food/toilet paper/shampoo and such.

You're be living in a suite with 6 rooms.
As an international student you'll be part of the "Asian Studies" major.
Depending on how many girls/guys planning to attend the same time as you, it might just be you and 11 Koreans or you and another international student. But you will always be rooming with a Korean student. No Coed. But there are always parties where the girls sneak into the guys rooms. [There's a unspoken rule that no guy should step a foot in the girls side of the dorm.]

The people in the office are friendly, just know when to go in there when you need to speak to them.
It takes a lot of time to get things done. But recently there's a new guy in the office and he likes to be a few steps ahead of everything.

That's all I can think of now.
If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.
I also have some pictures of the campus if you want to see.

Edit::
I forgot the best part.
They reimburse you for your plane ticket. 800,000 won.
They also pay you 150,000 won every Friday because you'll be doing exchanges with the Korean students.
So you get paid to sit there and talk to them for an hour and they help you get a cellphone.

[hellogoodbyes]

can i please have info on ewha uni and sogang uni.?
are the classes difficult or harder in korea than american universities?

[violathebee]

for the dorm situation..i was wondering, can you dorm with a friend from another UC or is that impossible?
oh and what is the dorm called that's apartment style? and do a lot of people dorm there?

[yellowblue]

which summer program did you go? and what classes did you take that was easy?

i made some good friends there.
but omg, when i went in 2003....
the girls from my university wouldn't even say 'hi' to me when passing me on the street.

there's a lotta friggin stuck up chicks that go during the summer and it can be hard to find nice ones

my friend is into tampons too.
she was trying to buy her fav kind before heading to korea.

i dun use them so...
+ i brought my own stuff

[qrace]

hmm... my mom doesn't want me to study abroad in korea this coming fall because of the tension between north/south... she's afraid something will break out and balhblah
is she just being paranoid? i don't know if i should take that into consideration... or just go for it and apply! AHH

[jason8830]

is there a gym thats open for students at yonsei university....and by gym i mean weight room....not basketball court......actually both..lol

[peagirl]

is there anyone that's attended the SNU summer program in the past 2 years that can tell me more about their experience?
Most of the people here seem to have gone to yonsei, but that seems more expensive than other colleges.
I'm a senior in high school right now attending a 4 yr undergrad in the fall, so i can't get the financial aid between the two colleges for this summer.

[ordinaRynne]

does anyone know of a good university in Korea which offers Fashion designing courses?
(and best if courses are taught in english of course)
can't seem to find reviews using the search engines...
=D thankssssss a lot. oh and, i'm from Malaysia!

[plz_be_quiet]

is there a gym thats open for students at yonsei university....and by gym i mean weight room....not basketball court......actually both..lol

Yer, there's a gym at yonsei with weights/treadmills so i've been told....but i heard it isn't that good and u have to pay for gym membership.... however if u plan to stay at dmc ville suite which is an alternate but pricier option than i-house i heard they have a good gym there and pool + sauna which i might think of doing next year...

pool + sauna = perfect combo after gym work out

[understanding_fiction]

Is there anyone who takes regular classes at a Korean university? Not summer courses or anything like that.

[Burberry]

I REALLY wanna go to Yonsei Summer Program from summer 2010, but I just have a few questions that I don't know have been answered...

I'm Korean-American, but I am fluent in Korean (no accent, etc)... but will the Korean natives still be stuck up to me? I mean, I'm reading a lot of stuff about the Yonsei regular students not being very nice to the International students... but it seems really pointed toward loud, abrasive Korean-Americans who can't speak Korean well, or non-Koreans in general (not saying that I think that's okay... but that's what the trend seems to be.)

How would it be for someone like me?