From Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
My name is Michela, and I am a full-time student enrolled in the last year of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice’s undergraduate program majoring in Korean Studies.
My home university was founded in the late nineteenth century as the first Italian institution dealing with advanced education in Business and Economy, and later on enlarging its areas of study and research also to Humanities, Languages, and Sciences.
With its main seat located in a Gothic building facing the Grand Canal, Ca’ Foscari’s peculiarity is to be composed of many lecture classrooms positioned in different areas of Venice island and even in the Venice Mestre district, part of the mainland. This particular trait of my home university was undoubtedly one of the most fascinating, as it was allowing me to explore Venice while going to classes. There is no such thing as a campus similar to the Korean ones, equipped with all the facilities a student could need, therefore Ca’ Foscari students tend to consider the whole island of Venice as their campus. Despite being a tourist city, with its wonderful bridges and historical monuments, Venice can show unexpected and secret beauties to those who live it every day.
While I was attending university, I experienced how stunning and poetic this city can become when there is nobody around, on quiet Sundays and rainy afternoons, when the lights are off and nature awakens.
During my stay in Venice, I also experienced the 2019 devastating flooding, which covered the city with more than one meter of water: that particular event could be considered as the moment when I felt like I was truly a part of the city for the first time. Venetian people’s unique resilience inspired me into becoming a better person, a better student, and never surrender in front of adversities. Studying the Korean Language was not easy nor quick, but thanks to my very much qualified professors, both native Koreans and Italians, I could fully appreciate not only the language but also the History, Literature, Arts, and many other aspects of the Korean culture, willing to learn with enthusiasm.
Moreover, since Venice, and Ca’ Foscari in particular, are multicultural environments, I had the chance to interact with many different people, scholars, exchange students, and visitors, from all over the world, even when studying. In fact, one of my home universities’ goals is to be “international and internationally-minded”, as the website reports, resulting in a very globalized learning setting that also offers degree programs and classes entirely in English and partnerships with other international universities. Ca’ Foscari was really a stepping stone to realize my potential and open myself to change and grow, and I will always cherish the life lessons I understood there.
To Ewha Womans University
Since I started my degree program in Korean Studies I knew that I wanted to go to Korea as soon as possible: everything I was learning in the books, I wished to be able to experience someday.
When I started studying in this specifical field I got more and more interested not only in the language itself but also in Korean history, philosophy, arts, and literature, deepening my knowledge with enthusiasm and passion, trying my best to interact with Korean culture as much as I could, attending in-person or online conferences and events. However, it was when my application for Ewha Womans University was accepted that I really felt like I was on cloud nine.
Ewha was my first choice for studying abroad, being globally recognized as a pioneer in leading the era and an institution oriented to expanding women’s potential, and after attending the Spring Semester there, I am convinced that this experience will stand me in a good stead in the future. I felt like I was a part of the Ewha community from the very first day, being the professors and the students both very welcoming towards us international students. I learned in a very fast and complete way, challenging myself every day through class assignments and exploring different environments. In fact, in my view Korean work-life balance is one of the fairest I have ever experienced: while studying in Korea, I would give my best preparing for my lessons but still have a good amount of time to discover Seoul and its surroundings, creating precious memories and relationships.
I must admit that being a vegan caring about the environment, I was not sure whether Korea would have a welcoming attitude towards my lifestyle choices or not, but I found Ewhaians a very accepting community, willing to listen to others’ opinions in a very respectful way. Moreover, Ewha’s surrounding area is full of restaurants that offer plenty of plant-based options, so I felt like I had even more choices compared to my hometown.
I loved every second of being there, the sounds of the city, the people, the food, and the atmosphere, and I feel so grateful to have been able to live in such light and energy. This adventure helped me enlarge my view of the world, and even though now that I am back in Italy and I miss my beloved Korea so much, I decided to take this affection with me wherever I go, enjoying every little thing and being as welcoming with others as Korean people have been with me.
