Vincent Hantanto, Computer Science Exchange at Dong-A University, South Korea (Spring 2014)

Studying abroad was my childhood dream. My dream came true when I joined student exchange program at Dong-A university through “Global Korean Scholarship” from the Korean government. My exchange experience was the best thing that ever happened to me so far. It was truly spectacular.
During my exchange in Korea, I met and made local and international close friends. I also learned to speak Korean. In Korea, I visited many places which broadened my knowledge of Korean History and Culture. I even got the chance to wear the traditional outfit “HanBok”. My life in Korea was not without obstacle. Despite the lack of Korean language skill, I had to take a class fully delivered in Korean and had no choice but to do so. It worried me but I took it as a challenge and an opportunity to learn Korean on a deeper level and to be in a different class environment. It was a unique and enjoyable experience and I managed to pull it off.
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” If you dream to study abroad, never stop seeking the opportunity to realize your dream. You don’t need to worry whether you will ace it or not, as long as you have faith, then take the first step and give it a shot. When you dare to take the first step, you will learn and adapt through the experience.