An International program series: A Winter Odyssey at Yonsei University’s Enchanting Winter Program
South Korea is a top study destination for most students. A country that is renowned for its entertainment industry, particularly with the rise of K-pop. South Korea is also home to major technology conglomerates like Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. Along with this, it is also home to one of the top private universities in Seoul, Yonsei University. Yonsei University provides excellent global programs for international students including one particular program in collaboration with Telkom University is the Winter program.
Meet Tyas Grania Butarbutar
Tyas Grania Butarbutar is an International class student from S1 ICT Business who participated in the Yonsei Winter Program (Sinchon Campus) in her second year of university. The duration of her program was from 26th December 2022 – 17th January 2023. Tyas had the opportunity to take in the beauty of the season and participate in a rich academic and cultural exchange. As Yonsei University’s strategic location is located in the heart of Seoul, Tyas had easy access to explore other parts of South Korea allowing her to immerse herself in the enchanting winter wonders of Seoul, creating memories that last a lifetime.
Campus environment
One of the influencing factors that led to Tyas’ decision to participate in the winter program is indeed the captivating campus vibes that Yonsei is renowned for. From the lush greenery to state-of-the-art facilities, the Yonsei campus is a haven for students looking for an engaging and fulfilling educational experience. Despite being located in the heart of Seoul, Yonsei’s campus has a calm and pleasant ambiance with plenty of leisure activities to do while waiting for your next class. The architecture of Yonsei University reflects a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity which was one of the riveting memories from Tyas’ experience. Tyas often visits the cafes and stalls around her campus like Jamba Juice.
Academic Exploration: A Global Classroom Beyond Borders
Tyas also had the opportunity to delve into the diverse academic offerings during the winter program including unique courses, collaborative projects, and the international perspectives gained from engaging with fellow students from around the world. Diversity is celebrated in Yonsei University’s exchange student classroom, where students from Singapore, the US, the Netherlands, Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea mingle in a vibrant mingling of languages and customs. Yonsei’s classrooms promote cross-border relationships while using modern technological teaching methods. Tyas mentions that the Yonsei classrooms were one of the surprising discoveries as professors used a digital white board that was connected to the professor’s laptop. This Cutting-edge technology classroom setup was certainly a new experience for Tyas. Some of the courses that Tyas took during her time there were “Korean Popular Culture And Korean Wave ” And “Introduction To Big Data Analysis”.
Adventures Beyond Yonsei
Being young and high spirited, Tyas explored the city of Seoul to her heart’s content. With other exchange students of the same age group, it was easy for Tyas to find friends to wander through the city. From the historic palaces of Gyeongbokgung palace, to the bustling streets of Seoul adorned with neon lights and trendy cafes to visiting the iconic Namsan Seoul Tower to enjoy the panoramic view the tower offers Tyas and other exchange students made endless memories of exploration filled with surprises at every turn. Getting lost and finding unexpected beauty, encountering locals, and stumbling upon the city’s genuine essence was a core memory of Tyas’ winter program.
Post-Winter program Impact
From overcoming cultural barriers to embracing a new way of life, the winter program at Yonsei becomes a chapter in the student’s life story that extends far beyond academic achievements. Not only do students get to create memories of a lifetime, but they return to Indonesia with a wider perspective on different educational and cultural settings, deeper understanding of global issues, differing cultural norms, and alternative approaches to problem-solving. They also go through a journey of self-discovery, Facing challenges independently contributes to personal growth, self-confidence, and a heightened sense of self-awareness.
