Good Evening!

I had an amazing trip to Thailand the other weekend with Jarenn (a FISH scholar)!  Together, we saw palaces, temples, rode an elephant, pet tigers, and took a boat down a floating market.  Not to mention, we ate A LOT of food! We were fed on all of our plane rides, we ate pho during our Vietnam layover, and we had a river cruise dinner buffet and a lunch buffet!  We had an unforgettable time and still can't stop talking about it!

Back in Korea, I have just been studying.  A few papers and tests coming up again! I also celebrated my 21st birthday this past weekend with a few friends! We ate dinner and had a cake! They are so sweet for taking me out =]

On Tuesday, I met up with one my contacts from Ewha, Hye-Soo Kim.  She was such a sweet girl!  She came to meet me at Ewha after her interview with KoreaAir and we had dinner together.  She spoke English very well, and said it was because she studied abroad in the States.  After dinner, we went shopping! We will be meeting again more more time next Friday.


Here is some basic information about living in Korea and about my school =]

Ewha Womens University: Did you know that this school has their own subway stop?! It is pretty easy to get to from the airport to the university (there is also a bus that will take you to one of the gates).  Ewha is a beautiful campus, full of trees and pathways through nature.  Some of the buildings are new, while some are traditional.  Be careful, though!  The school is built on a hill, so be watch your step (especially for those girls who wear heels)!  The Yonsei University International Dorms are also right across a main street of the International dorms of Ewha!  How convenient!

Dorms: The International dorms here are wonderful! You can request for a single or a double room, and if you want a bathroom in it.  I have a double with a bathroom.  The rooms also comes with a mini refrigerator, a cooling.heating unit, bed, desk, and lamp.  There is even a balcony!

Books: When it comes to books, there weren't too many (if any) hard-cover textbooks, which means that the books were significantly cheaper! Lots of professors have powerpoint slides that they teach from, however, they also expect you to read the book.  The business school organized a used-textbook sale on the second week of school.  You can also get your books from there (business textbooks).  Since they were used, they were even cheaper! I didn't see used books sold at the bookstore.

Classes: I am taking 3 business classes and 1 economics class.  Foreign students are graded on a different scale than the regular students.  Here, only 75% of the students can get "A"'s and "B"'s.  Foreign students don't have to compete with regular students for the 75% (they get the grade that they deserve).  Also, professors state that English-taught classes are harder than regular Korean-taught classes, therefore, they will add a slight curve to the grades.  Most of the professors seem really nice and helpful.  A majority of them have good English, although some don't.  It will make you pay more attention in class. =]

Living in Korea: Food in Ewha's main cafeteria is relatively cheap.  The most expensive dish is 3,000 won ($3).  Food outside of Ewha is also cheap (around 5,000 won, or $5).  Street food is also delicious and cheap!  Don't worry, the food is safe to eat! Groceries are very expensive!! Fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk, cereal, and more cost a lot!  It may be cheaper (and easier) to eat out.
Clothes and shoes are also very cheap!  5,000 won to 10,000 won for blouses and 20,000 for jeans!  Don't be afraid to buy goods from street vendors!  They are also cheaper. Pack light so that you have room to take back all your clothes and shoes!

Getting Around: The subway is very efficient! The subway is close to the school, and you can almost get anywhere you need to go.  Be sure to load your "T-Money" card, and use it to get on and off the subway.  The T-Money card can also be used on the bus and the taxi!  How easy! Watch out for the taxis though! They are fast drivers (and sometimes crazy), however, it was very cheap option.  If you are planning to travel a short distance, some taxis won't pick you up, because they won't make enough money off of you.

I hope this guide will help anyone who is coming to Ewha!   You will definitely enjoy yourself here.