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Ese Okonigbo, who is a Senior at �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ University majoring in Fashion Design, participated in a four-week long academic exchange program during the summer. This summer program takes place yearly at Dankook University in South Korea and includes a four-week academic exchange program that is six credit hours; the program offers courses in Business, Communication, Fashion, History, Korean Language and Culture, and more. Before this academic program, �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ students can also participate in a three-week long teaching internship called the “Global Village,” in which students get to teach English language skills to Dankook students.

The two classes that Ese took gave her great memories and opportunities to work with other students. 

“We took only a couple of courses while I was there, but I had a great time. They were very interactive, especially the class I took in the afternoon. We always worked in groups, with the courses having a lot of presentations and hands-on work learning how to sew.”

Ese praised everything she got to learn and do in this program, stating that

“I learned a lot, and I still want to go back to South Korea! My favorite thing that I got to do was getting the chance to see the differences between South Korean and American culture. For instance, I learned that it is considered rude to talk on a bus in South Korea. Learning about their history in museums was also great.”

A hanok village, which is a village featuring many restored traditional Korean houses, was one of the locations that Ese loved in South Korea, as she stated that the 

“hanok village was my favorite place to explore, as it allowed me to see so much from Korean films and Korean history as a whole.”

Another aspect of the program that Ese enjoyed were the opportunities to interact with other KSU students studying abroad there. 

“Spending time there with other �鶹��Ƶ������ȫ students was nice! I met one of my best friends in South Korea. The experience allowed us to bond. I would say that I met some amazing people because of the program.”

Ese made sure to emphasize that the people of South Korea are approachable and kind. 

“They were normal people, just like me… They are very similar to us and nice.”

The program was a great experience for Ese, and she made sure to recommend it highly, stating that students should 

“Go for it! You will not regret it.” She also emphasized that “One of the things you should know about South Korea is that it’s very safe. Regardless of the time of the day, you can explore the city, be okay, and have fun.”

If you are interested in studying abroad in South Korea, you can learn more about the Dankook University semester and summer program here.