top of page

Korea Through Our Eyes!

Updated: Mar 29, 2022


It's that time of the year again!

Kicking off World Reporter's new chapter with fresh faces & exciting ideas. Are you ready to meet the brains behind Create Your Korea's upcoming content? The members were 'interviewed' in a simple & brief manner. If you want to get to know their individual colors, keep reading!

 

Q1: How did you first arrive to Korea?

Q1: 처음 한국에서 어떻게 왔어요?

Yousra: Studying in Korea has been my dream since I was 17 years old! This past August, I finally got the chance to come here through the GKS scholarship program provided by NIIED.

지난 8월애 장학금을 바든 후에 한국에 처음 왔어요.


Rukesh: I was intended to arrive in Korea in August 2020 after receiving the GKS scholarship. Due to the pandemic, I came six months later. But, I finally arrived at Incheon Intl Airport on March 11th.

2021년 3월애 처음 한국에 왔어요.


Margarita: I came to Korea as a Master’s degree student in 2017.

불가리아에서 한국학을 전공한 다음에 2017년 한국에 석사 유학 왔습니다.


Q2: Do you have any hobbies?

Q2: 혹시 취미가 있어요?

Yousra: My hobbies differ depending on my mood! Sometimes, riding a bicycle through a park while listening to music is enough. Other times it's baking from scratch or learning a new language! [although currently, I'm too busy struggling with Korean aha..]

제가 기분을 따라서 취미활동을 하는 편이에요. 원래 음악을 듣고나 자전거를 타는 것이 좋아요.

Rukesh: Regarding my hobbies, literature, writing, and reading are my main ones. I write in Nepalese and English. I tried to write in Korean after learning it, too! [However, I'm still not satisfied with any work.] Another hobby of mine is traveling! I trekked up to the Himalayas thrice, Annapurna Base camp, Gosaikunda, and Kalinchowk, all above 4000 meters high!

저한테 문학 작문과 여행은 취미에요.


Margarita: I enjoy traveling a lot and I am grateful that I had the chance to explore most of Korea while studying.

취미는 여행을 자주 가는 것이며 유학하면서 한국의 다양한 관광지도 대부분을 즐길 수 있는 기회가 있어서 매우 기쁩니다.


Q3: What motivated you to join the World Reporters program? What do you hope to get from this experience?

Q3: 어떻게 이번 프로그램에서 가입하게 됐어요?

Yousra: I initially heard of the WR program when I was in Algeria but did not sign up until I received an email via NIIED for the winter semester recruitment after my arrival to Korea! As someone who enjoys new experiences, I decided to hop on this new adventure, sharpen my skills and learn new things!

한국에서 적극적으로 살고 싶어서 신청했어요. 그리고 새로운 경험도 받고 새로운 것을 배울 수 있어서 했어요.


Rukesh: World Reporters allows you to express your experiences and feelings regarding Korea, education, and culture, which I believe is helpful for future students and others who wish to come to Korea. Personally speaking, I also want to polish my skills through this program.

경험을 공유는 것이와 새로운 유학생에게 도움이 되고 싶어서 신청했어요.


Margarita: As the interest in Korea is increasing, I believe that people like me who have been living here for quite some time now can contribute to a better understanding of the country on an international level. In this regard, I hope the information we share through the platform reaches as many people as possible.

한국에 관심이 늘이고 있는 현대세계에서 한국에서 오래동안 산 경험을 갖고 있는 저 같은 사람들은 후배인 유학생이 한국이란 나라에 적응해지는 데에 도움이 될 수 있다는 생각으로 본 프로그램에 참여하려고 합니다.이 플랫폼을 통해서 제 경험을 많은 분들이랑 나눌수록 희망입니다.

Q4: What's your best tip for students coming to Korea for the first time? What was your biggest lesson from living in Korea?

Q4: 다름 와국인 학생들에게 가장 알려주고 싶은 조언은 뭔데요?

Yousra: Since it hasn't been that long since I arrived in Korea. My best tips [for the moment] include; learning how to read Korean, daily social etiquette, and the Apps you'll need most here! [i.e: Naver map]

한국에 오기 전에 스스로 검샥하는 것이 좋대요. 왜냐하면 모르는 문화를 조금 알개 되고 한글도 배우면 도움이 많이 될거에요. 지금까지 여가서 살고 이쓰니 가장 큰 배우는 것은 자기를 아끼는 것이에요.


Rukesh: The tips that I'd like to share with students are as follows:

  • Learn the Korean language before coming to Korea. [at least basic Korean].

  • Check and compare the climate differences between Korea and your country.

  • Consider your food habits.

꼭! 한국에 오기 전에 조금이라도 한국말을 배우세요. 한국에와 고향하고 날씨를 비교하는 것이 좋을 것 같아요.


Margarita: My tip would be: don’t be intimidated by cultural differences or language barriers, but dare to dive into your Korean adventure. The most valuable lesson I learned from living in Korea is patience.

문화 차이나 언어장벽 때문에 너무 부담 받지 말고 한국에서 행복한 시간 보내기 위해서 노력해보세요. 그 건 즐거운 유학의 비결로 생각하고 있으며 또 한국에서 여러 도전을 극복하면서 배우게 된 교훈 중 하나는 인내가귀중한자산이란 사실입니다.


Q5: What's your number one fun activity during the weekend?

Q5: 주말에 가장 재미있는 활동은 뭔데요?


Yousra: Ouuuh, this is a tough question, but I find it most fun to visit new places, cities, and attraction sites! [Occassional dinner & Noraebang with friends is also a must to relieve stress!]

말 마다 시간 있을 때 새로운 곳에서 산책하는 곳이 제일 좋아요.


Rukesh: There are many activities that can be fun, my go-to ones are:

  • Karaoke or Norebang along with friends. [Singing songs is the best way to release stress and have fun for me.]

  • Going to a Korean restaurant and enjoying authentic Korean meals. Especially 삼겹살 [Grilled Pork Belly] for me!

  • You can enjoy playing sports at your university! I play volleyball at mine, which was helpful for me to make Korean friends.

많이 있어요! 예를 중에 노래방 가기 ,한식 먹기 그리고 운동하는 것이에요


Margarita: As I mentioned above, I truly enjoy traveling, so during the first year and a half of my studies I spent every weekend in a different Korean city.

위에서언급한것과같이,여행을 잘 가니까 석사 1학년 때 거의 매주 주말 다른 한국의 도시에서 여행해 봤어요.


Q6: What's your favorite Korean food?

Q6: 입에 가장 맞아는 한식은 뭐에요?

Yousra: My favorite Korean food is 파전 and 호떡! I love fried & crispy food, and these two are the perfect sweet and salty options for my taste palette!

제가 음식보다는 길거리 음식이 더 입에 맞아요. 그래서 호꺽과 파전이 제일 좋아요.


Rukesh: The best Korean Food for me is 삼겹살!. You can cook it yourself and choose the type of food to accompany it. The time spent with friends during it is precious as you'll be

talking while cooking. [In Korea, there are many unlimited 삼겹살 refills.]

가장 입에 맞는 음삭은 삼겹살이에요. 특히 무료 추가주는 식당을 가장 좋아요 ㅎㅎ


Margarita: As a vegetarian, my choice of Korean foods is rather limited, so I mostly resort to bibimbap.

채식주의자이기 때문에 먹을 수 있는 한식은 거의 없는데 가끔 비빔밥을 먹습니다.


Q7: What kind of content are you looking forward to sharing with other international students?

Q7: 이번 팀하고 어떤 콘텐츠를 만들고 싶어요?

Yousra: I am mostly looking forward to sharing personal experiences that are somewhat unique for international students, Halal options for Muslims, and experiences only available in Korea!

한국에서 외국인 학샹들 위해 경험 할 수 있는 것과 도움이 되는 콘텐츠를 만들고 싶어요.


Rukesh:The contents I would l would like to share with foreign students are about culture, etiquette, language, universities, education, and traveling!

다양한 종류의 것들에 대한 정불를 공유하고 싶어요


Margarita: Mostly tips regarding life in Korea as a foreign student.

한국에서 유학생활하는 데에 도움이 될 수 있는 내용을 준비하도록 합니다.





Q8: Why do you think it's important to build a well-informed foreign students community in Korea?

Q8: 여러분의 생각엔 이런 콘텐츠를 알려주는 것이 왜 중요해요?


Yousra: Before coming to Korea, I made a lot of research based on various topics. Had it not been for the content provided by foreigners living here, I wouldn't be able to understand and learn many concepts about living in this society. I found it easier to adapt to day-to-day life here because of my prior research. I'm hoping to give back the same type of guidance I got!

저의 생각에는 외국인들이 모르는 것을 많이 있어요. 재미있는 내용이나 중요한 매용이나 모두에 대해 알려줘야 해요. 그리고 이미 외국 나라에서 살고 있으니 서로를 위안을 주면 좋을 것 같아요.


Rukesh: As I was not well informed with Korea and its system, it was difficult for me too as I did not know about anything! Through the well-informed foreign students' community here, you can learn more before coming and while living in Korea. The provided information will minimize many misunderstandings & struggles.

저의 생각에는: 한국어, 비싼 채소와 과일이에요


Margarita: Most often than not, adequate information crucial for successfully living in Korea is limited on official websites of seemingly relevant institutions and foreigners in Korea heavily rely on word of mouth. That is why building a well-informed foreign students community in Korea is vital for everyone concerned.

평소에 외국인으로서 한국에서 생활하는 것에 대한 정보를 유관기관 같은 공식루트를통해찾기가 쉬운 일이 아니라서 특히 유학생들 사이에 이러한 정보를 입에서입으로전해지는 경우가 많아질 수 밖에 없습니다.따라서,박식하고알만한 외국인 유학생 공동체의 중요성을강조하고 싶습니다.


Q9: What are some of the struggles you faced while studying in Korea? How do you hope to help change that for upcoming students?

Q9: 여러분의 한국에서 가장 힘든 점은 뭐였어요?

Yousra: So far, my main struggle with studying in Korea is the language [especially as a scholarship student, having a time limit to reach a certain level in the TOPIK exam is quite stressful]. Following that, housing in Korea has become a recent struggle of mine [dorms are your safest options as foreigners, but having a roommate can become a nightmare at some point].

지금은 한국에서 산지 거의 4새월 지났어요 그래서 아주 힘든 경험을 아지 해보는게 없어서 다행이예요. 가끔은 한국어 아직 제대로 몰랐으니까 답답해요.. ㅎㅎ


Rukesh: The main struggles for me in Korea were:

  • The language barrier as I did not learn the language before coming.

  • The transportation system; I am from a country where we drive oppositely to Korea. So I always get confused.

  • The Food culture; we generally eat vegetables and rice in Nepal. After coming to Korea, I found vegetables and fruits are more expensive than meat here! [Later, I learned about local markets and shops with less expensive vegetables!]

  • Oh, using chopsticks was another struggle here in Korea. However, I'm a chopsticks master now haha!

다른 사람들돠 대활 랄 때 힘들었었는데 적응하고 있어요


Margarita: The time I spent as a student in Korea went pretty smoothly but I was faced with a lot of challenges such as work culture later on. So, I hope to prepare our audience for how to successfully adapt to life here after graduation.

유학생 생활했을 때 거의 문제가 없었는데 이 후에 한국 노동 문화의 특성 같은 많은 도전을 만나게 되었습니다.그래서 우리 독자분들에게 졸업 후에 발생하는 어려움을 이겨낼수있는방법도 알려드리고 싶습니다.


Q10: Anything else you want to add?

Q10: 다른 말이 있으면 편하게 하세요 ~

음~ 저희가 해보는게 많이 있어서 열심히 할 거예요. 응원해주세요~♡



 

Published by:

CREATE YOUR KOREA

South Korea

.

Author: Yousra Feriel Drioua

Editor: Yousra Feriel Drioua


.

© World Reporters - 2021.22

All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the permission of The Create Your Korea team.


24 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page