Reflective Learning Journal Semester 2 2018

Your name Alyssa Bersamina

date November 23, 2018

Topic Living in Korea

In this reflective journal, I’d like to reflect upon my experience living in Korea, as well
as the experiences that my peers shared in class. I’d like to specifically reflect on the
difficult, interesting and awkward things that we experienced as foreigners living in
Korea. I’d also like to reflect upon the expectations we had and how had it changed
today.

For our sharing in this particular topic, I learned that all of us foreigners had similar
difficulties we encountered and we had similar things we found interesting and

Description: awkward during our stay here in Korea. One of the most common, if not the most
common, problem we had here was the language barrier. A lot of the times, we could
What incident, event
or idea are you going not get our point across to other people because people don’t understand us. However,
to reflect on?
if I think about it, this should be expected since it is a foreign country for us. Another
difficulty most of the students in our class struggled with is the culture shock, which
What did I learn in put many of us in awkward situations. For example, a person in our class said he got
this class(over the
past three weeks) lost because people were overly helpful despite not knowing the correct directions. For
me, the thing I found most difficult was the attention given to us by locals in general.
When we walk in stores or restaurants or simply establishments, I feel like some
What did I read for
this topic? Koreans make an impression on us based on our race or just generally based on the

(apart from the text) fact that we are foreigners. However, I think most of us found experiencing the culture
of South Korea very eye-opening. Honestly, I was so scared prior to my visit to Korea
because a lot of the materials and reviews made by foreigners said that people here are
not really that accepting to foreigners. But since coming here, I’ve met so many
Koreans that has been nothing but nice to me. It is also nice for me to see Koreans with
other foreigners and being nice to them.

For additional information, I watched videos in YouTube that had foreigners speak
about their first-hand experience in Korea. I also read forums in the internet about this,
like in Quora. I saw a lot of the things we discussed in class mentioned. Lastly, I read
articles and a blog published 5 years ago entitled “Finally being honest: The story of
 how I really feel about Korea”. This made me see the perspective of a different person.
Truly, people don’t have the same experiences always.

The thing I found most interesting in this topic was learning about what my peers found
awkward and difficult and knowing why they find it so. As for the reason, I saw that
these things are mostly due to the fact that these are different comparing to their own
culture in their own country. For example, a groupmate of mine told me that he found

What was the most it awkward crossing roads and sitting on vehicles because cars were driven on opposite
interesting things I sides of the road compared to their country. Discussing it as a class and as a group was
learned and read for
this topic- why was interesting for me because it made me see the similarities in our experiences as well as
that? the differences. Some of the things they found difficult in Korea was not necessarily
the same for me, and some that I do didn’t necessarily apply to them.

For me, it was good learning about the culture or Korea. Experiencing everything first-
hand, as compared to reading it in articles, reviews etc., make it much more memorable
Evaluations: what
and true for me. I don’t have to second guess the opinions of others in the internet
was good and bad
about the because I already have experienced it and formed opinions on my own.
experience?
I guess the thing that I really found surprising was that most of us came to Korea at the
.
same time and for the same purpose but most of us have so much different experiences
What was new or
surprising to me? and takes on Korea.

Analysis: As a result of these classes, I’ve definitely changed my views of South Korea as a

What have I changed country that is not accepting to foreigners. When my peers shared their experience,
my mind about, as a they shared a lot of difficulties but most of it were just because of things associated
result of these
classes?(over last with being in a foreign country. Most of it didn’t have anything to do with Korean’s
three weeks) biases towards foreigners. I can also feel that a lot of effort are being made to make a
multicultural society especially here in Gwangju.
 In conclusion, there are a lot of difficulties living in a foreign country but these
difficulties are also avenues to learn and form opinions. Understanding the culture is
Conclusions important as well because a lot of the times, different nationalities will have different
(general): What can
be concluded, in a practices and different views. It is important to have mutual understanding so that there
general sense, from would be peaceful coexistence.
these experiences
and the analyses you I could also say that despite the fact that Korea is known for not being generally open
have undertaken?
to different foreigners, it doesn’t apply to all the places in Korea and all the Koreans
out there. In fact, a lot of effort are being made to stop bias and that fact is that people
are growing and starting to change.

Personal Action
plans: What could
you do differently in If I were to experience difficulties as a foreigner once again, I think I could use what I
this type of situation have learned in this class and try to make things work. If it’s about culture, I think the
based on what you
best I could do is to understand everyone is different.
have learned?

I am still unsure
One thing I’d like to be able to discuss more in class is the different views of Koreans
about……
about foreigners. It’d be nice to know what exactly they think or what their common
assumptions are when they see foreigners. It’d also be nice to know what level of
involvement they’d like to have with us.

New Words

Xenophobia intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries.

Halal denoting or relating to meat prepared as prescribed by Muslim law.
Culture shock the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly
subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.