���ϲ�����

Hussain in a hanbok

Hussain Cochinwala, an urban planning major with a minor in East Asian studies, participated in Yonsei University’s in Seoul, South Korea. Although his interest in East Asian culture inspired him to apply, Hussain’s concentration is in Japanese, so he knew next to nothing about Korean culture. Ultimately, the decision to study in Seoul was made with the intention of stepping out of his comfort zone.
 

Making friends on exchange can be hard, but Hussain took advantage of the repetitiveness of his academic schedule. 

 
“The fact that I took two classes meant that I kept running into the same people over and over again. Even the people who are initially shy open up over time and that helps.”

Friends came easily, but the food took some getting used to. Seafood, while extremely popular, is not something that Hussain often eats. He eventually came to appreciate the sheer variety of Korean cuisine: from rich stews to grilled meats, vibrant fermented sides and wholesome rice dishes. Food became a new source of comfort. 
 

Hussain’s planning courses, such as ecocentric design thinking, was centred around Korean culture and society, giving him a truly unique perspective on the country as an exchange student. 
 

Hussain’s most memorable moments in Seoul were towards the beginning and end of his trip, thanks to Yonsei International Summer School. 
 

“They really went out of their way to make sure that the international students' experience was memorable and unique from start to finish. From the orientation, its dance events and different talent showcases all the way up to the graduation ceremony, when everyone threw their graduation caps at the same time.”
 

It was through his experience that he became truly comfortable communicating with people from other backgrounds. 
 

“Before, I was slightly hesitant about meeting someone who speaks a foreign language as their main language. I think I now have a better understanding of what questions to ask and a better overview of different cultures that can help me when I talk to people while travelling.”
 

“We talked a lot about planning for the environment, planning for conservation and a huge focus of ours was honey bee conservation. I got to learn a lot about how cafes and independent organizations go about building artificial hives in order to preserve honey bee populations and it was really interesting.”
 

Hussain recommends doing as much research as possible about your destination before you get there, despite not having done so himself. He recognizes that adapting to a foreign country with limited knowledge was a valuable learning experience, but it was unnecessarily stressful. Even small efforts, such as downloading translation apps ahead of time, can really help you mentally prepare yourself for what’s to come.