Solo Adventures/Tips and Tricks for Solo Traveling! :)

 Hi everyone! My name is Kayleigh Mosher, and I spent 6 months studying in Alicante, Spain. Between January and June of 2023, I traveled to 6 countries: Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Morocco. An important goal of mine was to solo travel in Europe. While I was across the pond, I went on a few solo trips and some of my favorites were Barcelona, Valencia, and Paris! I hope sharing my experiences and tips will help you when you decide to study abroad and/or solo travel! 

Picasso Museum - Barcelona, Spain

Traveling alone can be a scary yet transformative experience. As I am writing this entry, I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the time I spent exploring the beauty and uniqueness of each place I traveled. Solo traveling felt special to me because I was completely in control of every decision I was making. Whether it be waking up early for the sunrise, or strolling down a random street aimlessly, or striking up a conversation with someone and deciding to change my plans just so I can keep talking to them, I was happy because I was doing what made me happy in the moment. While I was still in school between taking these trips, being able to make my own schedule was great because I would set my sights on finding a cool library or bookstore that I was able to sit down in and get my homework done. For me, these places that I went to to get work done felt like safe spaces. 

Solo Adventures: Barcelona, Valencia, and Paris!

VALENCIA

One random day after class, I was sitting in the grass on campus at the University of Alicante and I decided to look up train tickets to Valencia. To my surprise, round trip tickets were only 30 euro Thursday to Sunday. I booked the tickets, found a cheap hostel, and within 24 hours I was at the train station. It was incredibly nerve racking, knowing that I was about to be by myself in a foreign city, miles away from anyone I had known, but I soon fell in LOVE with Valencia! After visiting many cities, I have to say that Valencia is by far my favorite place I visited! I quickly found that this place is a very safe and welcoming destination for female solo travelers, and I met so many other women just like me that expressed the same comfortability.

- Where I stayed: Purple Nest Hostel

While In Valencia, I stayed at ‘Purple Nest Hostel Valencia’ in an all girls 10 bunk room. Everyone I met while staying there was incredibly nice, and I even went out with a group of girls I met on the first night there! One of the things I loved about staying in hostels, other than the fact that it was cheaper than any other option, was that almost everyone I met had the same sense of adventure and curiosity that I do. A great piece of advice that I took and ran with was to make friends with others in your hostel. Most hostels I stayed in had events such as pub crawls, board game nights, etc. for the purpose of meeting new people. This is a great way to make connections with people from all over the world.

- What I saw: 

• The City of Arts and Sciences

• Mercado Central

• Torres de Serranos (Ancient Town Gate)

• Plaza de Toros de Valencia (Bullring)

• Catedral de Valencia

BARCELONA

- Where I stayed: Zero Barcelona Hostel - Now known as Jacobs Inn Barcelona

This was the nicest hostel I stayed in during my travels. We had big storage drawers that my travel backpack could fit in while it was completely full, outlets, a light, and a curtain for each bed space, and a shelf above your pillow for your phone/valuables at night. This is a top-tier accommodation compared to some other hostels I've seen that throw up a couple pieces of plywood and call it walls. Breakfast was an extra fee (I don’t exactly remember how much extra but it couldn’t have been that much because I was ballin 'on a budget) and it was delicious! I stayed in a mixed 12 bed dorm (Men and Women). I went into this scared to stay in a mixed dorm because I didn’t feel comfortable sleeping in a room with men I have never met before, but people stayed in their own areas and everyone I met was very nice. 

- What I saw:

• La Sagrada Familia

• Picasso Museum

• Mercat de la Boqueria - Famous market in the city center

• Park Güell

• La Rambla

• Ciutadella Park

• Casa Batlló

PARIS

This was an amazing experience I will never forget! I flew from Alicante to Paris, France by myself. I flew into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, and when I got off the plane, UBER pieces from the airport to my hostel were $50!!!! I do not have the funds for that! So I took a minute to rethink my options and decided to try and figure out the train from the airport into the city. After about an hour of trying to speak broken French, almost getting on the wrong train, and looking completely lost, I finally got on the right train and only paid $4 for a ticket! I was so proud of myself. 

I met up with two of my friends that were also studying abroad through HPU, one in Seville and the other in Paris. We were all staying in different places, but met up to sightsee, eat dinner, and go out! I still considered it solo traveling, but I had the plus of seeing friends along the way! It was great to be able to have that sense of freedom and independence, while also being connected to home and having safe people to turn to.

- Where I stayed: BVJ Opera Montmartre - Youth Hostel 

This hostel was in a great location with a lot of foot traffic. In the area, there were museums, parks, coffee shops, and super close metro stations. I would recommend staying here if you are traveling to Paris. I stayed in a Basic 10 bed female dorm, but there were only 4 girls in the room the whole time. Breakfast was included in the price and it was gooood too! I paid a total of $80 to stay there for 3 nights. I felt very comfortable, and I even met a girl that I still talk to now.

- What I saw:

• Eiffel Tower

• Arc de Triomphe

• Louvre

• Tuileries Garden

• Montmartre

• Musee D’Orsay

• Luxembourg Gardens

• Sainte-Chappel

• Shakespeare and Company Bookstore

Tips and Tricks for Solo Travelers:

1. Research the destination

1. Be aware of where you are booking accommodations - “Is it in a safe neighborhood?”

2. Keep friends and family updated on your itinerary and/or share your location!

3. Seek advice from locals!

4. Never look lost! 

1. Act like you know where you are going at all times! Of course in the middle of busy tourist areas it is common to stop, look around, and take it all in, but in less populated areas or at night, I always make sure to look like I'm on a mission!

5. Pace yourself!

1. You are the only one you need to worry about now! That means you can do whatever you want, whenever you want to do it! This can be very overwhelming for some people and it is important to remember to pace yourself if you need to. Personally, I get very stressed out when I am traveling because I try to cram every possible thing into two or three days. This is when I try to remember that I can sit down, have a cup of coffee, and just observe.

6. Journal

1. I tried to keep a journal of my travels, but I simply forgot or got too busy and I regret it too often. I recommend you take notes of anything and everything that you think is important. Sometimes I look back on a picture and think about how I felt at the time. If I kept a journal I could whip it out and be transported back to that memory. I highly recommend you journal where you go, what you do, eat, feel. Anything!

7. Homework can be done anywhere!

1. I had a heavy course load when I was abroad and ended up with hours of homework every weekend! Instead of staying cooped up at home sitting at a desk in my room, I decided to take my work wherever I went! I found beautiful old libraries and bookstores, cafes and parks to set up and get some homework done. I thought this was a fun way to go off the beaten path of common tourist attractions by finding places where locals might be working as well. 

I cannot stress enough how important solo traveling is for self discovery, and I hope I can encourage you to take the leap and expand your horizons by participating in HPU Study Abroad!

“You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.”

― Miriam Adeney

Lots of Love, Kayleigh :)

Advice for Studying in Alicante, Spain!

 Hi everyone! My name is Kayleigh Mosher and I studied abroad in Alicante, Spain this past Spring 2023 semester. I was in Alicante for 5 months, and I traveled around Europe for a month before coming home. In this post I will be sharing some advice that would have saved me SO much trouble before going abroad, mostly specific to Alicante, but also some general advice for traveling Europe. Although these are things that I would have been better off knowing before I left for Spain, I would not change any part of my experience. I had the greatest 5 months abroad and I highly recommend considering Alicante for your study abroad. 

THE AREA

Explanada de España 

Alicante, Spain is a beautiful coastal town in the south of Spain. It has the perfect combination of activities for those who love nature, history, gastronomy, and nightlife. It has beautiful beaches, mountains, and castles. I arrived in January when the weather was in the late 50s. It warmed up quickly though, and by April it was hot and sunny, perfect beach weather!  One of Alicante's most popular tourist attractions is the Castillo de Santa Barbara. This is a castle at the very top of a mountain that looks over the whole city and neighboring cities as well. You can see the castle from almost every point in the city and it is a great navigation tool if you get lost in the many small streets. There is also Playa Del Postiguet, the local beach that exchange students would meet up at on weekends and play volleyball, frisbee, or spikeball. Nightlife in Alicante is SO fun! The exchange student organization for the University of Alicante has events at different coffee shops, bars, and clubs throughout the week, and hosts different events for meeting new people. My favorite bar was called Parabarap, and this organization holds events there every wednesday night. If you are planning on studying abroad in Alicante, you should make it a point to go here. It was SO FUN!

Walking through Old Town, Alicante in front of Castillo de Santa Barbara

ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK ALICANTE (ESN)

Formentera Island, Spain

If you are planning on studying in Alicante, you will want to be connected with ESN. This is an organization all throughout Europe that supports and develops student exchange programs. When I first heard of it, I thought it was only for EU students, but anyone can attend their events. Some of the most notable events/trips I attended through ESN were beach volleyball, board game nights, and trips to Ibiza and other islands/beach towns in Spain. Some advice I would have for future students going on this program would be to sign up for any and all events/trips possible with 'Erasmus Student Network Alicante(ESN)'. I met people from all over the world, and some of my best friends by going to events planned by this organization. It is also a great source of information/help if you are worried, scared, having a hard time, etc. 

HOUSING

University of Alicante

I chose to live in an apartment complex through an organization called MICAMPUS. I applied through the University of Alicante website and it was a great option! The building is right across from the university campus. I didn’t have to walk more than 15 minutes to get to my classes from my front door. I lived with 4 other people: 3 girls from Spain and 1 boy from China. We each had our own bedroom with a twin bed, drawers, a closet, a desk, full body mirror, and shelves. We also each had our own full bathroom. We shared a decent sized living room and kitchen. I would recommend living here because it was a great community of students from all over the world. I met so many people living here that I will be friends with forever. While living at MICAMPUS is great, the only downside is that it is a little ways away from the city center of Alicante. The University of Alicante is in a town right outside of the city called San Vicente Del Raspeig. It has restaurants, bars, grocery stores, a pharmacy, and everything else you might need.

TRANSPORTATION

Public transportation in Europe is amazing! When I arrived in Alicante, one of the first things I did was get a TAM card (TRANSPORTE ALICANTE METROPOLITANO). This is a card that allows you to take the public bus and Tram. Every student is eligible for a free TRAM card that is valid from the time you arrive, until the time you leave. The tram was my main form of transportation. It is a set of railways that run from the University of Alicante, to the city center of Alicante, and to neighboring towns such as Benidorm and Murcia. Other than Alicante, I used public transportation to get everywhere in Europe. On weekends, I commonly took trips to other cities/countries, and navigated my way through trains, buses, metros, etc. As a female solo traveler, I felt safe using the bus and metro at night in most places as well. 

VISA

The process of applying for my visa was LONG, difficult, and tedious. There was a lot of information and paperwork required, which had to be sourced from many different locations. I could not have gotten this done without the help of my study abroad counselor, the financial aid office, and my mother. If you have any questions at all about how to apply, obtain, pick up your visa, etc., please don't hesitate to reach out because I know it can be stressful and confusing!

SPENDING MONEY

Before going abroad, I signed up for a credit card with no international fees. I had a Southwest Chase Visa and this worked everywhere I traveled. I also have a Discover card but alot of places did not accept it. I also brought my debit card, however, this card would have had international fees. I chose to charge almost everything to my Southwest Chase Visa and then immediately go online and pay the credit card bill. BONUS POINTS: I received credit card miles and points for all the money spent and earned enough to pay for a couple trips to/from Hawai’i. I would recommend setting aside about $1000 per month during study abroad. I know this sounds like a lot, but if you want to have extra money to go on weekend trips and planned trips with 'Erasmus Student Network Alicante (ESN)', then this is definitely a good amount!

Paella - A classic Spanish rice dish

SPEAK THE LANGUAGE EVERYWHERE!

The number one thing I tell people is to try speaking the language EVERYWHERE you go! It is common for people to hear you talking and immediately start talking to you in English, but locals appreciate the effort and will teach you more than you could imagine. Talking to waiters and cashiers at the grocery stores is how I practiced the most and learned new words.

WHAT TO BRING

• Nice clothes - People dress nicely when they go out, and I used this as an excuse to dress up everywhere I went
• Comfortable backpack for weekend trips - Most flights in Europe will charge extra for a carry-on suitcase, so I got around using only a backpack (counts as a personal item on flight).
• Comfortable sneakers for walking around cities - In Europe you will be walking everywhere. When I went on trips to new cities I would be averaging 10 miles a day. Having comfortable shoes is a must!
• A good water bottle - Most places will not give you water unless you ask, and even if they do, almost all places will serve room temperature water because ice is not common.
• Advil/Ibuprofen - I read before studying abroad that you cannot find over the counter medicine/vitamins in Spain, so I brought 2 whole bottles of Ibuprofen. I am so happy I listened to that person because I could not find any kind of Advil anywhere!
• SUNSCREEN
• Umbrella
• Portable charger
• Journal
• Travel adaptor 
• Copies of travel documents - I thought my mom was crazy for making me take paper copies of all of my travel documents, but it was actually a genius idea. Pickpocketing and theft is very common in Europe, especially in big cities like Barcelona or Madrid. I have friends that had their wallets, phones, passports, etc, stolen, and while I was never pickpocketed or robbed, I felt an extra sense of security having those extra copies of my documents.

I would definitely recommend this program, and I encourage you to choose Alicante for your study abroad. As someone who is not a big city person, Alicante was perfect because it has many things to do, while not feeling too big or too small. I have met so many people from all around the world, and  connected with people who I never would have had the opportunity with otherwise. This experience broadened my horizons in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Taking the big leap of moving halfway across the world to a foreign country, making a life for myself outside of any person I had ever met, making lifelong friends, and seeing the world made me realize that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to. You are just as capable, and I highly encourage you to study abroad!

Stay tuned for my next post about my experience as a female solo traveler! 

- Kayleigh :)

Beans on Toast: 06/10 - The Beginning

 After being here in London for a week, I finally took a special trip to the grocery store and picked up the light blue can of Heinz beans, whole wheat bread (because whole wheat was slightly cheaper than white bread), and lactose free butter (because I’ve never heard of such a thing). And for £5, I finally set off to make the oh so famous Beans and Toast. In my communal kitchen, I toasted two slices of bread (slightly burnt), and put a little butter on each slice because bread tastes better with butter. Before consuming, I opened the can of beans which smelled like tomato sauce and put a hefty spoonful amounts of beans on each toast. I hesitated because the combination would never have been thought of otherwise in my household. I should have filmed my experience to show my future kids that their mom tried this outer world combination. With a deep breath, I took my first bite…. ? Why is this delicious? I don’t understand. It was so delicious. I don’t know if it helps that I like beans, or the tomato sauce adds a savory flavor. But I really like this combination. And the cost of everything for £5 when I have enough for 2 more meals of beans and toast, make this meal unbeatable as my new “college student struggle meal.” This beats my instant ramen and egg combination in terms of effort, cost, and nutritional value. In my instant ramen, it has more carbs than protein, and an overload of sodium. But my American food pyramid told me that whole wheat bread is healthy carbs, beans have beneficial protein, and butter is delicious. I am, surprisingly, a big fan. 

So far, in the past week I have visited, the City of London, two different museums, Kensington Palace, Greenwich, Nottingham Gate, and explored Kensington/ Chelsea area. If I know which trains to take or which bus to catch for class, does this make me a local or a well explored tourist? I think the latter. But throughout all these travels, I realized my most satisfying travels have been where I do the unexpected and not the checklists on the tourist guides you pick up at the hotels. For instance, I’m currently writing this on an hour long bus ride from London bridge to 221B Baker Street. On this cloudy Sunday afternoon, I have no plans nor any appointments, so I figure that I’m okay with taking the bus because 1) it’s free for me, and 2)I get to see more of London this way without having to walk the journey. I do appreciate the tube station, but it can be exhausting just going underground and walking. I’m a bus rider at home in the US, so I’m okay with the journey and time consumption of taking it. It also gives me opportunity to site see places I may want to visit in the future. What better way to fuel my day then with beans and toast to start my day of exploring.

Philharmonic Dining Hall: Chicken and Mushroom Pie

 This weekend I took a trip to Liverpool and titled it “the Beatles.” Yes, you guessed it write, my day and a half trip consisted of me and my friend going around Liverpool visiting the inspirations and important landmarks of Beatles history. We started off the trip by taking off to Liverpool in a delayed coach ride that took 7 painful, sleepy, hours. It took us two stops to pick up people to get there and by the time we got there we were exhausted. We got off the coach and hurriedly made it to the Beatles Story museum where we booked tickets to explore on a self-guided audio tour of the biographies and stories of George, Paul, John, and Ringo. There were lots of artifacts from the four, and I even got to share over Whatsapp a video of the White Room dedicated to John’s famous Imagine music video scene with my grandpa, who loves the song. I thank technology for these moments where I get to share my experience with my grandparents who are halfway across the world. After visiting the gift shop where I reluctantly bought a sweatshirt to combat the 60 degree freeze outside, we headed to our Airbnb to drop off our items. I was surprised to be introduced to our host who is a Liverpool native, and had to carefully dissect her Scouse accent. We then journeyed to the Philharmonic dining hall, the same dining hall Paul McCartney performed at on the James Cordon carpool karaoke show. We had pies, mash, and veg, and by golly was it a better experience than the Sunday roast I had on the first night of my England journey. This meal was hot and filling with a side of gravy to pull all the flavors together. The pie was chicken and mushroom, and although I appreciated the large chunks of chicken, I would have liked to take bigger bites of mushroom as well. I washed it down with a berry rum cocktail. While looking towards the stained glass window where tables blocked the stage that was set up for Paul McCartney to play both his Beatles and Wings classics. I imagined what it would be like if that same stage was set up properly like that day and Paul came out with his solo for Hey Jude or Silly Love Songs. Being in Liverpool made it all the more surreal when we visited various Beatles landmarks the next day.

The Beatles hold a certain place in my heart because they’re songs were part of my childhood the same way that Fiji or Bruno Mars does. I grew up listening to their songs on catered CD’s burned by my mom or grandpa, who loved to share the music they loved. Although my name isn’t Jude, I used the Beatles to escape from reality by using their music as a certain comfort as if they wrote the song to help me get through tough times. It’s in the same way I used food to escape through cooking back home. Food has always been a comfort that holds a meaning of family and love, so to keep my head up through cooking meals for myself at home. This reminiscing of home through mashed potatoes and creamy chicken and mushroom, brought me back to my grandma’s cooking, and from this I realized that while trying to experience my own Beatles adventure, how much they have meant to my childhood and it’s almost like taking parts of Liverpool with me to bring back home. 

If you’re wondering if I had visited the famous Abbey Road in London, of course I have. But being by myself, I couldn’t bring myself to asking a random stranger to ask to take a photo of me stopping traffic for one slightly off angled photo of me trying to mimic the Abbey Road album cover. I stayed to people watch for ten minutes shifting my eyes back and forth from the angry drivers having to stop abruptly for a family taking their fifth photo to the family to the dozens of tourists lined up for their own photo. I would definitely recommend going and getting a photo of your own for making your London era in your Instagram complete. I think the best times to go is when it’s slightly cloudy, in the evening time so the light isn’t completely harsh.

My Experience in Sogang University! (서강대학교)

안녕하세요 여러분!

Hello everyone, my name is Alex Olson!

During Fall 2022, I spent the first semester of my senior year at Sogang University (서강대학교) in South Korea and it was one of the best experiences of my life! I met so many wonderful people and I was able to experience being in a foreign country by myself for the first time; I learned so much about myself and a culture that is beautifully and significantly different than my own!

Sogang University

First, I'll start off with talking about my university! Sogang University is located in the center of Seoul, it's actually a great location by surrounding areas of must-see sights and tourist attractions. It's also easily accessible to many of the subway lines. 

While studying there, I took two classes to receive credits for my minors in English and writing. I also took a US history class for my History Gen. Ed. credit, which sounds peculiar, but it was actually very eye-opening, fascinating and educational to hear history about the US from an outside perspective! I also took a beginning Korean Language class. Sogang University is known for its Korean language courses and offers classes to not only students at Sogang, but other foreign language speakers from outside the university's association. It's a pretty prestigious program that lived up to its reputation because I felt like I learned quite a lot in a short amount of time and I was able to hold many fluent conversations in Korean by the conclusion of the program; It was also very fun, and my teacher was extremely nice, helpful and encouraging!

The university itself is very small and its buildings surround their huge soccer field and basketball courts. It also has large hills that lead up to the library and older buildings that haven't been renovated like the buildings closer to the main parts of campus. There are several ways to enter the university campus, which is convenient depending on which building your classes are in. The main campus entrance is greeted by a huge gate and a monument that symbolizes the university. Accommodations are also available on campus and close to many buildings that hold classes.

Accommodation and Location

During my time in Korea, I stayed in a long-term Airbnb near my university. If you want to stay in the dorms on campus, apply EARLY because they fill up fast! I stayed in an area called Hongdae (홍대), which is a popular area for younger people and is known for its restaurants, fashion street shopping areas, bars and clubs. It's about a 10-minute subway ride (2 stops over) through Line 6 (Sangsu station) and a 30-minute walk from my university. The accommodation itself was very affordable and it was conveniently near many places to visit; I never ran out of anything to do! Hongdae is also near Sinchon, which is another area full of restaurants and shopping areas; Sogang University is located in between both areas but directly next to Sinchon. All of these areas are within walking distance of each other but are also accessible by the subway Lines 2 and 6 (Sangsu and Sinchon stations). In these areas specifically, everything is very close together!

Traveling

Traveling around Korea is extremely convenient and organized. Everything is labeled in English and Korean, and the subway lines reach all around Seoul. Other forms of transportation also involve buses and trains that help you travel outside Seoul. Transporation is fairly cheap but adds up depending on how much you travel. I used subway lines more than buses because I felt like they were faster but sometimes, it's more convenient to take the bus. I was able to travel outside in rural areas such as Pochon, Daegu, Pohang, Gyeongju, Ulsan and even Busan, which is on the southern part of Korea. I used overnight buses to travel because they were cheaper. Fast trains are offered as well but more expensive. Traveling is very easy and accessible; it really just depends on preference and convenience of how you want to get somewhere and what time of day you're traveling!

Money

When I first got to Korea, I was advised to open a short-term bank account so I could access and transfer money easily. I tried to do so multiple times but with the language barrier and other requirements needed as a foreigner, I found it to be very difficult, so I just used the credit cards I brought with me that had no foreign transactions fees on them and then took out cash when I needed it. I think it would have been better to have a bank account, but it ended up being easier just to use cards with no fees and cash. One big source of money I do recommend using is the T-money card. T-money cards are reusable cards that you can transfer money onto and refill with money continuously. They're available at any train station or convenience store and you can keep adding money to it whenever needed. T-money cards are especially helpful for subways stations where you can just tap them and go!

Some Tips for Korea!

#1 - Be sure to get your visa early enough before going to Korea! Sogang University also requires foreign exchange students to have evidence of having $5,000 minimum of pocket money in order to instill financial stability while you're studying in Korea, so be sure to save up!

#2 - The only necessities I couldn't get in Korea were charging converters and full-body towels! I got charging adapters off Amazon for a very reasonable price before I left, but when I arrived in Korea, I was shocked to learn people use handcloths instead of bath towels after showering. Full-body towels were hard to find and if I did find them, they were expensive! So, be sure to think about those necessities before going!

#3- Beware about cultural differences! For starters, so many people in Korea smoke cigarettes, they're everywhere! If you are someone that has breathing problems, just be mindful of areas you are in as the congestion of the air in the city of Seoul is not as good quality as other places. Also, Korea is a Confucius society based off of major principles surrounding respect, especially for those older than you, so keep that in mind when addressing people there.

#4 - There are designated areas on public transportation for older and pregnant people, don't sit in those seats! If there are no pregnant people using them then it is fine, but the seats at the end of each train carton are specially for elders only; Don't sit there, I've seen youngsters get scolded!

#5- Learn Hangul if you can! Hangul is Korea's beautiful, national language. There are similarities between Korean and English as some words in Korean are borrowed from the English language, therefore, learning Hangul will make it easier to communicate with others and navigate the city. People in Korea also tend to be more conservative and keep to themselves compared to people in America; Learning how to communicate in their language breaks that barrier and really helps you immerse in your experience in Korea as well as make it easier to connect with people that you meet there!

#6 - Download Kakao Talk, Kakao Maps, and Naver Maps! Google maps doesn't work in Korea so downloading those map apps are extremely useful for navigating the city and Korea in general! Kakao Talk is also everyone's preferred use of communication so it's nice to connect with others through that app. Otherwise, you can text people off your phone if you purchase a SIM card, which I recommend you doing!! SIM cards can be purchased at airports but mostly only last one month. There are areas in Hongdae or in city areas where you can purchase long-term SIM cards that give you a Korean phone number and unlimited internet data (which are cheaper than the ones at the airport!).

#7 - Be prepared for the weather! I came at the end of the summer, and it was burning hot, then fall came and it was beautiful and cool; then I experienced the coldest winter ever - the wind chill is no joke! Pack necessities to brace these weather changes. I remember getting sick twice during the semester because of the changing weather so be sure to protect yourself with your attire!

#8 - HAVE FUN! Explore as much as you can and eat all the delicious foods that Korea has to offer! The culture is so rich, and their history is full of stories that have developed their way of life. I seriously had the best time just learning about a country that is so different from the one I was raised in. I loved connecting with everyone I met there and learned so much about others different from me; I can't wait to go back in the future!

Studying abroad in Korea was the best experience for me; It was the best place to go by myself for the first time and I learned so much about traveling, independence, and of course, Korea! I'm very grateful that I was able to have this opportunity through HPU's Study Abroad Program. I hope my blog post helps those in the future who wish to study at Sogang University or traveling to Korea in general! 

Until next time...

Advice from a fellow Japan Lover

     Going to Japan has always been by dream ever since I was in middle school. I fell in love with the culture, started to learn the language, and gained interest in studying in Japan one day. I am very grateful to say I have achieved my dream and have experienced many things throughout my time here. As my time here is coming to an end, I wanted to share with everyone some things I have experienced such as culture shocks, coping with homesickness, education in Japan, and living in Japans society

Things I did not know before coming to Japan

Although Japan is a very advanced country and many people can speak English, there are still those who cant speak it especially if you go outside of Tokyo. Learning some basic Japanese phrases will help you communicate and navigate more easily. 
Another thing to note is that Japan does not offer many foreign payment methods. Make sure you have a credit card that is common in Japan such as Visa or Mastercard. If you only have a foreign card that is not as common, for example I use Discoverers, any convenience story has international ATMs where you can withdraw cash but it may come with a fee. I recommend going to 7eleven.

When it comes to living alone in the dorms, one thing I did not know before arriving is that Japan has strict recycling riles. Make sure to separate your trash correctly and follow the guidelines in your accommodation. The dorm will most likely give out information about this when you move in. 

Japan offers many seasonal attraction such as cherry blossom viewings, festivals, and flower garden attractions. Be sure to stay connected and updated with the current events going on in your area and capitalize on going to them. Some ways you can do this is following a Japanese tourist attraction account on social media or the local news. You wont regret it!

How I dealt with homesickness

Personally, I did not experience much homesickness despite it being my first time living alone especially in a foreign country. I am very grateful for this because many of my friends experienced homesickness right away. Over my time here one thing I missed the most about home was the food. Although the food in Japan is exceptional, there's something special about eating my cultures food for example, kalua pig and cabbage, laulau, and poke. There's not much you can do about this because nothing beats home cooked meals, but I was lucky to have many Hawaiian themed things due to Japans love for the state. I often went to Hawaiian restaurants, cafes, and clothes shops just to feel a sense of connection to home. If you ever miss your culture, do some research to see whats in the area and try it out! I also was blessed to have some people from Hawaii studying abroad at my host school and quickly because friends with them. There are many students around the world that study abroad and many opportunities to connect with them whether it be to connect with people from other cultures or those with similarities. 

What the educations system is like in Japan

My host university was Aoyama Gakuin University. The school is located in the heart of Japan, a very trendy place called Omotesando and a 10 minute walk from Shibuya. This is the thing I loved the most about the school I went to because it was in such a convenient place to explore all the trendy places in Japan such as Harajuku, Akihabara, and Shinjuku. As for the education itself, there wasn't many options for exchange students as we can only take classes that the schools gives us a list to chose from. I would estimate this to be around 100 classes mostly focusing on Japanese and lower-level business and communications courses. These classes are all offered in English but they do offer other classes in Japanese that you can sign up for. I took 3 businesses classes in Japanese because I needed the courses to graduate. This was probably the hardest thing during my time abroad as I am not fluent in Japanese and two out of the three classes only had one grade, the final exam in class in Japanese. If you are confident in your Japanese, I say taking Japanese classes in Japanese is the way to go because theres many more classes to choose from. You also have the option to drop the course if you don't like it or find it too difficult. Just make sure you register for a lot of credits (around 20 credits) and drop the classes you don't like or don't need. As for course load, it is much less than HPU. Most classes in Japan only grade you off of a final exam or final report. However if you are taking Japanese language classes, those tend to have weekly assignments. I did not take Japanese language classes due to being a high enough level to drop them so all of my classes only had a single assignment as my grade. This made it a lot easier for me to explore Japan which may be better considering your only there for a limited time. Depending on what type of workload you prefer some classes may be better to take than others so make sure to check the syllabus for each of them and plan around that.

Conclusion:

Take chances. you may only have the chance to do these things once so take the opportunity and don't shy away from new experiences or stepping out of your comfort zone. 

Be open-minded. The people you meet there will have very different views in life but know that they don't mean any harm and are just there to have fun and enjoy Japan. Many people, especially the exchange students will make plans the day of which may be uncomfortable with the planners but take the chance if you have the time! It's a great way to meet new people and do things you never thought you'd do. 

Respect the culture. Japan is a very reserved country and people tend to stay in their own bubble. When in public places especially in the metro (train system), try to stay quiet and respectful to others. We all know the saying when in Rome do as the Romans do!

If you are planning to go study abroad in Japan, there's so much to look forward to. You will have so many opportunities to meet new people and try new things. Make sure your have your support system in case you get homesick or experience something unexpected. Make the most of your time there and have fun! 

I hope this post can help those who are interested in studying abroad to Japan,

From a fellow Japan lover :) 

A note from June, in Innsbruck et al.

 A note from June.. 

A month in Innsbruck, Austria.  And to say the experience is not what I pictured would be an understatement.  

Some contextual details for my experience are: I didn't know a soul coming here; I'm only taking 1 course which is entirely online; and, I am working my full-time job (remotely) from Innsbruck.  

Some people I've met: my sweet motherly flatmate Rita, a 40-year-old accountant from Germany (found her on Facebook); my other flatmate that only speaks German and stays cooped up in his room; Kyra and Valentina, best friends from Orlando who joined the Erasmus (study abroad) program with me but take in-person classes; Hannah and Charlotte, both in our program and came from England and love some fun; their friend Lara who came to visit; Sarah, she's a spunky Canadian; Julie, from Germany, our dedicated translator, hiker, and introvert; Savannah, also from Orlando, a gentle sweet friend; Lalo and Marco are from Mexico; and Albert, an aspiring photographer from South Africa.  

Some adventures we've had: the Swarvoski museum in Wattens (especially the "no age limit" four-story jungle gym); Hungerberg to Seegrube hike (which we pursued under the impression it would be a brief and easy 1.5-hour trek, that turned into a 4 hour up, brutal but rewarding experience we all were ill-equipped to handle); the disastrous "club" scene where we learned how 9 women should stand up and defend one another in a sea of disrespectful men (where I learned upon returning to the US I broke my foot); the European League Football Game (American football style) to watch the Raiders Tirol defeat Barcelona); the campus spot that seems to be the only place we can find to meet up and talk (its called Sixty Twenty and for some reason, no matter how respectful we can be, they do not seem to like us); the courtyard where we line danced, did the worm, and told jokes at midnight; the gelato place in the square which sells a scoop for 1.5 euros; the carnival that followed the football game (but none of us wanted to spend the money on the activities).  I took weekend trips; first to Zürich, Switzerland where I read 2 books on my kindle in 2 days while walking around the lake and old town (centering and peaceful... I learned how much I enjoyed not weighing myself down with the pressure of seeing and doing everything, but just being, and being at peace); fulfilled a full-circle nostalgic moment of having Swiss Fondue one night; and, making plans for my adventures moving forward. And second to Munich, Germany, where I finally found a gluten-free bratwurst, sat in the English Gardens to read, watched surfing in a river, listened to a violinist in a park, and continued to walk everywhere I went. 

Locations I added before and after June: London, Paris, Venice, Lake Como, Genoa, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Purmerend, and Volendam. 

But what I want to leave you with from this note... Don't put your dreams or adventures on an indefinite hold because you don't have the family, friend(s), or a partner to go with you.  You can do the job, save the pennies, make the smart and safe choices, but still see the world and do the big things, making friends along the way!

I'm proud of you, and I'm proud of me too, xx.