Adjusting to Korea: Language, Stress, and Community

In my Korean class at Sogang KLEC (Level 2), there are students from China, Japan, Thailand, France, Germany, and even someone from Puerto Rico. Out of all the students, I get along best with the person from Puerto Rico, the people from France, and the Thai students. The students from Japan are nice as well, though.

My first month here was rough. I was super reserved and honestly not putting in as much effort as I should have to study Korean. I was in over my head, and with ADHD and anxiety, I wasn’t making the time to review my flashcards. I’m probably one of the weaker students in the class, especially because many of the other students have already been in Korea for 3–6 months, giving them an edge in natural exposure to the language.

Transitioning from my English bubble into full Korean mode was a huge shock, even after the intensive summer workshop I did. I remember not wanting to come on this trip last month, and I’m still battling feelings of homesickness and being out of place on some days. But now, I feel more adjusted, and the experience has given me a lot of perspective on my sense of community and my friendships back in Florida. Being here made me realize what I was missing back home.

I’ve also had some small moments of victory that boosted my confidence. For example, I once got lost and ended up asking for directions at a bunch of different small stores until I managed to find my way back to my apartment. That felt like a real accomplishment.

Interacting with students from different countries has also taught me a lot about communication styles. I’m on the quieter side, and to some that can come off as standoffish, but to people from Thailand and maybe China, it’s actually seen as respectful in class. I’ve also noticed how students from Japan will sometimes ask something like, “Why are you mad?” even if I’m not visibly upset which is a way of taking care of others, which feels different from the U.S., where people usually only check in like that with close friends. I’ve also noticed that in my first month, students from Western countries tend to speak up more in language classes than Asian students, which I think reflects different classroom cultures and expectations.

One of the highlights has been the Thai students in my class. I make jokes with one of them when I mess up in Korean, and we just chuckle together. That has taught me the value of keeping things light while learning and not taking my mistakes too seriously.

Another struggle has been my sleep schedule. I’ve been late to almost every class and even missed about a couple classes, which is embarrassing. I really need to calibrate my sleep routine better. If I’m here next semester, I plan to cut down on spending and switch to an afternoon Korean class, which will likely have fewer students.

Overall, it’s been a challenging but rewarding transition. I’ve learned a lot about my own limits, how I handle stress and adjustment and the value of community while learning a language in a new country. 

When I’m stressed, I usually go quiet for a while to process things internally. Sometimes I get caught in dark, spiraling thoughts or isolate myself. Other times, I pretend it’s not happening at first, but within a month or sooner depending on the situation I usually snap out of it. The first month here was incredibly stressful, and honestly, my spending habits reflected that. Looking back, maybe I was a cautious, anxious baby, which explains why I tend to retreat and process internally when I’m under pressure.

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