Steve's sandbox

Category: Monthly Reports

  • Caitlin Manchester: 풍성한 한가위 보내셨기를 바랍니다! I hope everyone had a wonderful Chuseok~ October 2025

    눈 깜짝할 새에 또 한 달이 지나갔습니다!

    요즘 너무 즐겁게 지내서 그런지, 시간이 정말 빠르게 흐르는 것 같습니다. 그래서 저는 수업과 다양한 경험으로 가득한 하루하루 속에서, 한국을 탐험하는 한순간도 놓치지 않으려고 노력하고 있습니다.

    강원도로 떠난 여행이야말로 이번 달 제일 보람이 있는 일이었습니다. 웰빙과 전통문화를 중심으로 한 여행이었는데, 말로 표현할 수 없을 만큼 소중한 경험이었습니다. 저희는 먼저 정강원이라는 한국 전통 음식문화 체험관에 가서 전통 비빔밥을 만들어 먹었고, 장을 발효하고 보관하는 전통 항아리에 대해서 배웠습니다.

    그 다음에 저희는 삼양목장(고산지대에 위치한 아시아 최대 규모의 목장)에 방문하여 한국의 지속 가능한 농업에 대해 배웠습니다. 도시 생활의 번잡함에서 벗어나 푸른 초원에서 자연을 느끼니 마음이 한결 편안해진 것 같았습니다. 그리고 농부들과 한국어로 대화를 나누면서 그들의 삶에 대한 예상치 못한 통찰도 얻을 수 있었습니다!

    도시 생활로 돌아오니 다시 바쁜 일상이 시작되었지만, 그 초원의 맑은 공기가 아직도 기억납니다.

    그뿐만 아니라, 이어서 저는 친구와 함께 농업박람회에 다녀왔습니다! 다양한 농산물에 대해 자세히 알아보고, 기후가 작물에 미치는 영향을 더 깊이 이해하며 여러 가지 독특한 음식과 음료를 맛볼 수 있어서 아주 흥미로웠습니다. 특히 저에게 가장 인상 깊었던 것은 인삼 부스였습니다! 영국에서 쉽게 볼 수 없는 음식이라서 그런지, 그 맛과 건강 효과가 모두 신기하다고 생각합니다.

    이렇게 바쁜 일정들 속에서도 가장 기억에 남았던 이벤트 중 하나는 두산과 LG의 결승전이었습니다! 경기장은 셀 수 없이 많은 사람을로 가득 찼고, 대부분 사람들이 응원하는 팀의 유니폼을 입고 있어서 분위기가 정말 최고였습니다! 그리고 응원가를 함께 부르며 현장의 열기를 느낄 수 있어서 즐거웠습니다!

    마지막으로, 추석 연휴를 잊지 못할 시간이었습니다. 거의 일주일 동안 이어진 ‘황금연휴’ 덕분에 수업에서 잠시 벗어나 푹 쉴 수 있었습니다! 친구들을 만나 웃고, 여기저기 여행을 다니며, 서울 곳곳을 탐험했던 순간들이 신선한 충격이였습니다. 무엇보다도 제 룸메이트와 함께 떠난 전주 여행은 상상보다 특별했습니다. 한옥마을로 천천히 걸으면서 인상적인 옛날 건축물이 볼 수 있어서 저에게 기억에 남는 경험이었다고 생각합니다. 전주의 명물 비빔밥을 먹을 때는 ‘이게 바로 한국의 맛이구나’라는 생각이 들었습니다! 솔직히 말하면 비빔밥을 자주 먹어 본 건 아니지만, 이번 여행에 먹은 비빔밥은 지금까지 중 가장 맛있었습니다. 그리고 도로에는 한복을 입은 사람들로 가득해서 마치 과거로 시간 여행을 온 듯한 기분이었어요.

    ‘슬로시티’의 분위기는 전통과 현대 문화가 어우러져 마음을 편안하게 해 주는 곳인 것 같습니다. 전주는 제가 꼭 다시 가 보고 싶은 데예요.

    Another month has passed in the blink of an eye! Maybe because I’m having such a good time, it seems to be passing so quickly. Packed with both learning and experiences, I am determined not to miss a moment on delving into Korea.

    A unique experience was a trip I took to Gangwon province. Focused around wellness and traditional culture, it was an indescribably valuable trip. We stopped off at JeongGangWon, a traditional food experience site, where we made and tried traditional bibimbap and learned about the traditional pots where pastes are fermented and stored in.

    Afterwards we travelled to Samyang Roundhill, Asia’s largest ranch that is up in the mountains, learning about sustainable farming in Korea. Taking a day out from the hustle and bustle of city life and being able to enjoy feeling nature in the fields was very relaxing. Also, the opportunity to talk with farmers in Korean provided me with interesting and unexpected insights into their lives. Though my busy routine has begun again after returning to city life, I still remember that fresh air!

    But it doesn’t end here – after this, my friend and I visited the farming expo event! It was fascinating to learn more about the various products available, how the climate affects the crops, and to try a variety of unique food and drinks. My particular favourite was the Ginseng booth! As something we don’t have in England, I think the taste and the health benefits are both interesting.

    (us fishing for ginseng to win prizes – I did not sadly…)

    Another highlight of the past (very busy) week was the finals baseball match between Doosan and LG! The stadium was packed with countless people, most of them wearing the jersey of the team they support so the atmosphere was incredible! And being able to join in on the chants was great fun!

    (Bingsu 빙수 at the stadium! A must)

    Last (but not least), the chuseok holidays were an unforgettable time. A ‘golden holiday’ lasting almost a week, I was able to rest up with the break from classes! I met up with friends, travelled around and explored all sorts of places in Seoul – all together a refreshing change. And going to Jeonju with my roommate was an even more special experience than I thought it would be.

    Strolling through the Hanok villages and seeing the impressive architecture is an experience I think will stay with me for a while. When I ate the famous bibimbap, I really thought… wow, this is the taste of Korea! In all truth, I haven’t eaten that much bibimbap before, but this was most definitely the tastiest I’ve had. And walking the streets filled with people wearing Hanbok, it was almost like I’d travelled to the past.

    Mixing modernity with traditional culture in this ‘slow city’ vibe, it’s the sort of place that you can truly relax in. Jeonju is most certainly somewhere I want to return to again.

  • Chloe Salmon: Octubre en Sevilla – October 2025

    El primer mes del mi año de extranjero ha sido el mejor tiempo de mi vida! He conocido a personas increíbles, he comido la mejor comida, y he aprendido mucho mas de lo que pensé que aprendería en tan poco tiempo.

    Durante la semana de bienvenido, conocí a muchas personas de países diferentes, incluyendo irlandeses, españoles, italianos y otras personas inglesas. He descubierto la confianza para hacer amigas en español y no solo en inglés. Aunque hablo italiano, hablo en español con mis amigos italianos porque así todos practicamos en nuestro segundo idioma en lugar de que ellos hablan en sus lenguas maternas. Creo que he encontrado amigos para toda la vida en mi año de extranjero, y ya tenemos planes para vernos después de volver a nuestros países de origen.

    En mis clases, me tratan igual de los estudiantes españoles, lo que puede ser bastante difícil, pero estoy trabajando muy duro para entender todo. En una de mis asignaturas, hay mucha colaboración de grupo, y soy la única persona no española en mi grupo. Me resulta bastante complicado porque es una asignatura de estudiantes en sus últimos años y todos en mi grupo ya son amigos, pero son muy simpáticos y pienso que nos llevamos bien. El trabajo en grupo es un poco difícil porque cuando hablamos de las tareas en nuestro chat de WhatsApp usan jerga y lenguaje coloquial que nunca había estudiado antes. Ahora, lo entiendo más fácil, y a veces yo lo uso, aunque a veces aparece una nueva expresión y es difícil traducirla porque ni siquiera internet sabe la respuesta.

    Estoy disfrutando mucho de estar en una nueva parte del mundo. Hace unas semanas, viajé al Algarve en Portugal, y pasé un día a la playa con mis nuevas amigas. Fue increíble lo fácil que es a viajar a otros países en Europa central, y es algo que espero a hacer otra vez.

    Además, actualmente estoy aplicando por mi tarjeta TIE que demuestra que soy residente, y he tenido de asistir muchas citas en las que he tenido que hablar en español. Estaba muy nerviosa, pero salí de la cita con mucha más confianza porque entendí mucho más que yo pensé.

    En octubre, mis padres volaron a Sevilla para visitarme, y fue muy emocionante mostrarlos donde vivo y compartir mi nueva ciudad con ellos. Fue divertido verlos, aunque me sentí muy triste cuando se marcharon, vivir tan lejos de casa es muy difícil, pero sé que es una oportunidad que me convertirá a una persona mejor.

    Estoy muy emocionada por el próximo mes de mi año de extranjero, y espero a explorar más de Andalucía!

    The first full month of my year abroad has been the best time of my life! I have met the most amazing people, eaten the best food, and learnt so much more than I ever thought that I would in such a small amount of time.

    During welcome week, I met lots of people from many different countries, including Irish people, Spanish people, Italian people, and other English people. I have discovered the confidence to make friends in Spanish and not only English. Although I speak Italian, I speak in Spanish with my Italian friends as it means that we are all practicing in our second language, instead of them speaking in their mother tongue. I think I have found friends for life on my year abroad, and we already have plans to see each other after returning to our home countries.

    In my modules, I am treated the same as the Spanish students which can be quite difficult but I am working very hard in order to understand. In one of my modules, there is a lot of group work, and I am the only non-Spanish person in my group. I find this quite hard because it is a final year module, and my group are all friends, but they are very kind, and I think we get on well. The group work is quite difficult because when we discuss the tasks in our WhatsApp chat, they use slang and colloquial language which I have never studied before. Now I find it much easier, and sometimes I even use the slang that they speak with, but sometimes there will be a new example, and it is hard to translate it because the internet doesn’t know the answer.

    I am enjoying being in a new part of the world. A few weeks ago I travelled to the Algarve in Portugal, and spent the day at the beach with my new friends. It was so cool that you can drive to other countries so easily in mainland Europe, and something that I hope to do again.

    Furthermore, I am currently applying for my TIE card that shows that I am a resident, and I have had to go to many appointments where I have had to speak in Spanish. I was very nervous, but I left the appointment feeling very confident because I surprised myself with how well I understood what the people said.

    In October, my parents flew to Seville in order to visit me, and it was very exciting to show them where I now live, and share my new city with them. It was amazing to see them, although I was very sad when they left. Living so far away from home is hard, but I know that this opportunity will make me a better person.

    I am excited for the next month of my study abroad, and I hope to explore more of Andalusia!

     

     

  • Natalie Smith: October in Spain and Portugal – October 2025

    During the weekend, I took a day trip with an Erasmus tour group. I travelled to Valladolid where I visited a large shopping centre to buy a few final items for my flat before going to the nearby town Toro for a wine-tasting experience. At the vineyard, we were able to pick and try small wine grapes and then visit the museum to learn more about how Spanish wine is made. We then sampled different Spanish wines, each paired with cheese and jamón ibérico.

    The following weekend was a long one, as we had no classes on Friday or Monday. I decided to take advantage of this and travelled to Porto, Portugal which is one of the cities with a direct bus from Salamanca. Despite being in Portugal, I had the opportunity to use my Spanish such as taking a tour of the city in Spanish and noticed it was often the main language used with tourists, even more than English, due to its close proximity to Spain.

    On my first day in Porto, I took a surf lesson at the beach. It was challenging as the waves were quite big but luckily the water was still warm this time of year. By the end of the session I was able to stand up on my board for a moment which was an exciting experience. The next day, I visited several of Porto’s main attractions like the Clérigos Towers, Porto Cathedral and spent time wandering through its streets, especially enjoying the scenic riverside views in the Ribeira district.

    I also enjoyed sampling traditional Portuguese cuisine, such as the famous pastel de nata, a pastry filled with custard; francesinha, which is made from toasted bread filled with streak and pork then topped with cheese, a fried egg, and covered in a tomato sauce; and of course, piri piri chicken.

    I really enjoyed visiting a new country and learning about Portugal, trying new foods and activities, as well as discovering the history and relationship between Spain and Portugal which will help me in my classes.

    Durante el fin de semana, hice una excursión de un día con un grupo Eramus. Viajé a Valladolid, donde visité un gran centro comercial para comprar algunos artículos finales para mi piso antes de ir a el cercano pueblo de Toro para una experiencia de cata de vinos. En el viñedo, pudimos recoger y probar pequeñas uvas de vino y luego visitar el museo para aprender más sobre cómo se produce el vino español. Después probamos diferentes vinos españoles, cada uno acompañado de queso y jamón ibérico,

    El fin de semana siguiente fue largo, ya que no tuvimos clases ni el viernes ni el lunes. Decidí aprovechar esta oportunidad y viajé a Oporto, Portugal, que es una de las ciudades con un autobús directo desde Salamanca. A pesar de estar en Portugal, tuve la oportunidad de utilizar mi español, por ejemplo, hice una visita guiada por la ciudad en español, y noté que a menudo era el idioma principal utilizado con los turistas, incluso más que el inglés, debido a su cercanía con España

    El primer día en Oporto, tomé una clase de surf en la playa. Fue un reto, ya que las olas eran bastantes grandes, pero por suerte el agua todavía estaba cálida para esta época del año. Al final de la sesión, pude mantenerme de pie en la tabla de surf por un momento, lo que fue una experiencia emocionante. Al día siguiente, visité varios de los principales atractivos de Oporto, como la Torre de los Clérigos y la Catedral de Oporto, y pasé tiempo recorriendo sus calles, disfrutando especialmente de las vistas panorámicas del río en el distrito de la Ribeira.

    También disfruté probando la cocina tradicional portuguesa, como el famoso pastel de nata, un pastel relleno de crema; la francesinha, que se elabora con pan tostado relleno de carne de res y cerdo, cubierto con queso, un huevo frito y una salsa de tomate; y por supuesto, pollo piri piri.

    Disfruté mucho de visitar un nuevo país y aprender sobre Portugal, probar nuevos alimentos y actividades, así como descubrir la historia y la relación entre España y Portugal, lo cual me será útil en mis clases.

  • Hannah Smith: Mise à jour d’octobre (October 2025)

    Je rédige ce rapport mensuel après avoir passé près d’un mois en France ! Bien que chaque jour ait apporté des défis différents, je crois que j’ai progressé dans plusieurs domaines, notamment en ce qui concerne la confiance à l’oral et les interactions en français, l’adaptation aux différences culturelles ainsi que le début de m’intégrer dans la communauté locale.

    Au cours des mois de septembre et d’octobre, j’ai eu l’opportunité de voyager dans la région de la Haute-Savoie et au-delà, comme partie de mon travail. J’ai assisté à deux dégustations de vins à Morzine et à une autre en Suisse. Ces évènements, bien qu’ils m’aient poussée hors de ma zone de confort sur le plan professionnel, ont été opportunités d’apprentissage tellement enrichissantes. Lors de ces dégustations, je me suis concentrée sur la collecte de contenu numérique, notamment les vidéos et les photos destinés à être utilisés dans du matériel marketing pour les réseaux sociaux. C’est une compétence pratique que je considère comme hautement transférable dans de futurs postes.

    En créant du contenu marketing, j’ai pu mieux comprendre les nuances de la traduction entre le français et l’anglais, en particulier les défis liés à la traduction des phrases pour transmettre une signification équivalent d’une langue à l’autre. Bien que je continue à trouver les réunions commerciales du lundi matin difficiles, ma compréhension du français s’est notamment améliorée chaque semaine. Lors de la réunion la plus récente, j’ai même pu contribuer en présentant des supports marketing à l’équipe. La semaine dernière, l’entreprise a organisé une journée portes ouvertes dans l’entrepôt, où j’étais en poste à l’accueil. Cela a donc été une excellente occasion d’interagir directement avec les clients francophones, ce qui m’a aidée à gagner en confiance dans les conversations en français.

    En dehors du travail, j’ai continué à participer à des clubs sportifs locaux, incluant le badminton, l’athlétisme et la danse afin de rencontrer plus de gens dans la communauté. En général, ce dernier mois a marqué une période de réelle progression. Je me sens de plus en plus intégrée à la vie en France et je crois que mon fra

    nçais continue de s’améliorer.

    I am writing this monthly report after having spent nearly a month in France! Whilst each day has presented different challenges, I feel that within this month, I have progressed in multiple areas including confidence in speaking and interacting in French, adapting to cultural differences, and beginning to integrate into the local community.

    Throughout September and October, I have had the opportunity to travel within and outside the Haute-Savoie region, as part of my work. I attended two wine tastings in Morzine and one in Switzerland. These events, whilst pushing me outside of my comfort zone professionally, have been incredibly valuable learning opportunities. During the tastings, my focus has been on collecting digital content, both videos and photography for use in social media marketing material. This is a practical skill that I believe I will find highly

    Une randonnée en montagne!

    transferable in future jobs roles.

    In creating marketing material, I gained insights into the nuances of translation between French and English, particularly the challenges of translating phrases from one language to the other to convey a similar meaning. Although I continue to find the Monday morning sales meetings challenging, each week, my understanding of French has noticeable improved. In the latest meeting, I was able to contribute by presenting marketing materials to the team. Last week, the company hosted an open house warehouse sale, where I was stationed at the reception desk. This was therefore an excellent opportunity to interact directly with the French speaking clients, helping to build my confidence in conversational French.

    Outside of work, I have continued to participate in local sport clubs including badminton, athletics and dance in order to meet more people in the community. Overall, this past month has marked a period of real progression. I feel increasingly settled into life in France and I believe that my French is continuing to improve.

  • Case Study: Grace Dawson, Germany 2024 – 2025

    Hamburg has become more of a home to me than I could ever have imagined. Reflecting on the past year I have spent there highlights just how quickly the time has flown by since I arrived at Hamburg Airport, dragging a cumbersome bike box and far too many bags. I have immensely enjoyed the opportunity to study at the Universität Hamburg for the full year, supported by the John Speak Trust. The scholarship has enabled me to focus on studying and developing my academic abilities in a challenging environment, which has undoubtedly contributed to my dramatically improved German proficiency. Writing regular reports acted not only as a linguistic demonstration of my progress, but also as a diary and a way to keep track of the chaos that often ensued when I launched into each new month. Without these monthly check-ins and audio reports, it would have been more difficult to appreciate my progress and realise how comfortable I had become in my everyday German life. It is hard to understate how thankful I am for the Trust’s support.

    Student life in Germany differs in surprising ways to what I was used to, such as when people spent comparatively more time on campus socialising and eating in the Mensa (cafeteria) together than they would in the UK. Studying with native speakers forced me to step out of my comfort zone every lesson, putting myself out there when answering questions and concentrating not only on what I was saying, but how I was expressing it. Giving hour-long Referats (verbal presentations) on complex topics in front of a class was nerve-wracking, yet hugely rewarding when I delivered them confidently. I never thought I would learn so much about niche German linguistic phenomenons, like the Teutschübende Gesellschaft of 1715, which promoted and discussed the usage of German in everyday and literary language. In addition to normal uni classes, I took an academic writing seminar and a C1 language class, both of which stood me in good stead to write a 15-page Hausarbeit (essay) at the end of the second semester.

    Aside from the university, I joined the oldest rowing club in the world outside England, the Hamburger und Germania Ruder Club. Continuing with my rowing was important to me, as it acts as a good outlet from university and would give me shared interests with other Germans, something that I knew was vital to making friends. Attending the Club’s evening events and dinners offered opportunities to engage with important traditions specific to Hamburg and the Club, such as Labskaus (herring, mashed potatoes and beetroot, pickles and a fried egg), Grünkohlessen (cabbage and sausages), the Siegesfeier (awards evening/celebration of achievements), and the Kirschblütenfest Feuerwerk (cherry blossom firework display). Speaking German made it possible for me to talk to many people of varying ages, which definitely made the whole experience more enriching. Through rowing I got to go on trips across Germany and a two-week training camp in Italy with the Hamburg Performance Centre. It did feel rather absurd that I got to train with and compete against German U23 athletes, but this was as a result of organising and negotiating everything in German, which seemed to make people far more willing to accommodate me.

    Over the course of the year I have made lifelong friendships and experienced how kind Germans are. Visiting Lisa and her family in Prieweg was a great insight into German family life. Going to the Hamburger Dom (fairground) and the Schlepperballett (large ships manouevreing around each other, mimicking ballet) with my Austrian flatmate Leonie was also lots of fun. Although I didn’t venture too far afield with my culturally enriching activities, one of my favourite trips was to the Treppenviertel (stair quarter) in Blankenese, because it was so peaceful and the buildings were beautiful to look at. Taking my parents to the Loki Schmidt Botanical Garden in Klein Flottbek was also a highlight. Overall, I have learned so much about Hamburg’s harbour and maritime history through numerous tours, walks, boat trips and museum visits. This fascinating, often underrated city has so much to offer. Inspired by this year and buoyed by the progress I have made with my German, I would like to move to Hamburg after I graduate, which I view as a clear sign that this year abroad has been a success.

     

     

     

     

  • Hannah Smith: Ma première semaine en France, September 2025

    Le lac local

    Ce premier de mes reports mensuels est écrit à la fin de ma première semaine en France. Je suis installé pour six mois à Sallanches, une commune de la région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. C’est un lieu d’une beauté naturelle magnifique et, depuis les fenêtres de mon appartement en centre-ville, j’admire les vues panoramqiue sur le massif du Mont Blanc. Mon employeur est un grossiste et distributeur de vins, fournissant les célèbres stations de ski voisines de Chamonix et Megève ainsi que bien d’autres plus loin. L’anglais étant largement parlé dans ces stations, qui sont également fréquentées par de nombreux jeunes, il était tentant de trouver un logement dans ces endroits. Cependant, en choisissant de vivre à Sallanches, j’espère vivre une expérience plus immersive dans la vie et la culture françaises.

    Mon premier jour complet était un dimanche et j’ai été chaleureusement accueilli à l’église locale. Après, j’ai été invitée à partager un déjeuner, qui était délicieuse (et traditionnellement française avec le bœuf bourguignon). Cependant j’étais très fatiguée après avoir passé quatre heures intenses à écouter, comprendre et parler français!

    Lundi, ma première journée de travail a commencé avec une autre situation linguistiquement exigeante. Je me suis rendue directement à la réunion commerciale hebdomadaire de l’entreprise et j’ai été invité à me présenter à l’équipe commerciale et au directeur principal. Au fil de la semaine, je me suis retrouvé à tout faire : emballer les bouteilles à l’entrepôt, répondre au téléphone (en français, bien sûr), préparer des supports marketing et des échantillons pour une dégustation de vins, à laquelle j’ai ensuite assisté avec mon patron.

    De plus, le jeudi soir, j’ai assisté à une séance de badminton au centre sportif local, où j’ai rencontré un groupe très accueillant de personnes d’âges variés.

    Ce week-end, je me détends et j’écoute les actualités françaises à la télévision dans mon appartement. Cette semaine a été difficile m’a obligé à sortir de ma zone de confort et a mis mes compétences linguistiques, mais elle a été très positive. J’espère que d’ici mon prochain reportage, j’aurai noué davantage de liens et rencontré des personnes de mon âge avec qui je pourrai découvrir la vie sociale, la culture et cette belle région.

    A view of the Mont Blanc mountain range

    This first of my monthly reports is written at the end of my first week in France. I am making my home in Sallanches for six months, a community in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is a place of stunning natural beauty and from the windows of my town-centre apartment I look out on panoramic views across the mountain range of Mont Blanc. My employer is a wine wholesaler and distributor, serving the famous nearby ski resorts of Chamonix and Megève and many others further afield. With English being widely spoken in these resorts – which are also inhabited by many young people – it was tempting to find accommodation in such places, however, in choosing to live in Sallanches, my hope is a more immersive experience into true French living and culture.

    My first full day was a Sunday and I was warmly welcomed at the local church. Afterwards, I was invited to stay for a shared lunch, which was wonderful (and very traditionally French with its boeuf bourguignon) though I found myself feeling very tired having concentrated on listening, understanding, and speaking French for an intense four hours!

    Monday, my first day at work, began with another linguistically demanding situation. I went straight into the company weekly sales meeting and was invited to introduce myself to the sales team and the Senior Director. As the week progressed, I found myself doing everything from packing bottles in the warehouse and answering the telephone (in French of course), to preparing marketing material and samples for a wine tasting, which I then attended, along with my boss.

    Furthermore, on Thursday evening, I attended a badminton session at the local sports centre, where I met a very welcoming group of people of mixed ages.

    This weekend, I am enjoying relaxing and listening to French TV news in my apartment. It has been a challenging week that has forced me out of my comfort zone and tested my language skills, but it has been very positive. I hope that, by the time I write my next report, I will have made more connections, and hopefully met some people of similar age with whom I can explore the social life and culture and this beautiful region.

  • Caitlin Manchester: 한국 생활에 점점 익숙해지고 있다! Becoming more used to life in Korea! September 2025

    한국에서 보낸 첫 달은 즐거웠지만 조금은 힘들기도 했습니다. 산이면 산 궁이면 궁, 서울의 모두 다 쓰러질 정도로 매우 흥미로웁니다.

    어느 날에는 수업 끝난 후에 저랑 제 친구들이 같이 동대문 디자인 프라자를 구경하려고 했습니다. 동대문 프라자는 서울에 있는 엄청 유명한 관광거리입니다. <Everflow: 움직이는 장>이라는 라이트 쇼는 열리고 있었고 다양한 빛과 미디어 아트로 외벽에 펴쳐져서 아주 흥미로운 경험이었습니다. 이번 행사는 프랑스의 로랑 그라소에 비롯한 몇몇 나라에서 온 미술가 참여했습니다. 예술가 최세훈 씨도 OpenAI와 협업하며 미디어 아트를 만들기도 했는데, 보기에는 멋지면서도 어딘가 무서웠습니다!

    가장 기억의 남는 한 날은, 바로 신촌 글로벌 대학문화축제였습니다. 저는 충동적으로 가수라서 오디션을 했는데 예상 외로 마지막 라운드에 진행했습니다! 그 경험은 어찌나 소중한지 말로 표현할 수 없을 정도였습니다.

    멋진 사람들을 만났고, 심사위원들과 관객들 앞에서 무대에 올라 노래했습니다. 불편한 일에도 도전했는데, 이런 경험이 항상 좋은 일이라고 봅니다.

    또 다른 영감을 주는 경험은 미술관 방문이었습니다. 하루종일 비가 쏟아졌는데 미술관에 들어가자마자 한국 최고의 예술가들이 만든 작품을 눈에 들어왔습니다. 완전히 다른 세상 같았습니다! 저는 다양한 예술 작품에 깊은 인상을 받았고, 저를 초대해준 한국 친구들도 감동을 받았습니다.

    우리 방문하기 후에 친구들은 저에게 파전과 찌개같은 전통 음식을 소개해줬습니다. 엄청 맛있었고 한국인의 식습관에 대해 배우는 것도 너무 재밌었습니다!

    이런 재미있는 활동들 외에도, 저는 평일마다 한국어 수업에 다니고 있습니다. 우리 선생님들은 아주 활발하고 열정적인 사람이라서 한국어 배우는 것이 보통 때보다 더 즐겁습니다! 가장 좋은 점은 문화적인 부분도 함께 배운다는 것입니다. 제 생각에는 어떤 나라의 언어를 깊이 이해하려면 그 나라의 문화를 배우는 것이 꼭 필요합니다. 때로는 힘들지만, 우리가 다루는 다양한 주제와 많은 말하기 연습은 한국어를 배우는 데 정말 도움이 됩니다. 이주밖에 안 됐지만, 벌써 한국어 실력이 늘어난 느낌이 듭니다. 이 특별한 기회를 통해서 앞으로 몇 달 동안 제 실력이 얼마나 더 좋아질지 정말 기대됩니다!

    (서울대학교 축제의 마스코트 the mascot of SNUs festival)

    My first month here in Korea has been enjoyable and challenging. Seoul is a wonderful city; whether it’s the mountains or the palaces, everything about Seoul is overwhelmingly captivating.

    After classes one day, my friends and I decided to go visit the DDP plaza, a famous place to see in Seoul. A light show event called ‘Everglow: the moving scene’ was being held, and with a variety of lights and media art spreading out across its walls, it was a wonderful experience. This event featured artists from several countries, such as France’s Laurent Grasso. Artist Choi Sehun also collaborated with OpenAI to create media art, which whilst interesting was also somewhat frightening!

    One of the most memorable days, was the Sinchon Global University Culture Festival. On a whim, I auditioned as a singer, and got through to the final round. And it was such a valuable experience, that it’s hard to describe with words.

    I met wonderful people, and sang on stage in front of judges and the crowd. I challenged myself to do uncomfortable things, which I believe is always a good thing.

    Another inspiring day out was our trip to the art museum. Although it chucked it down with rain for the whole day, as soon as we stepped into the art museum we saw the finest works by Korean artists. It was like an entirely different world! I was deeply impressed by the variety of the artworks, and I think my Korean friends who invited me were impressed as well.

    After our visit, my friends introduced me to traditional food such as chive pancake and stew. It was not only delicious but learning about eating practices here was also very fun.

    On top of all this, I have been attending language classes on weekdays. Our teachers are lively and passionate, which makes learning Korean even more fun than usual. The best part is that we learn about cultural aspects as well, something I think is essential when learning about a country and trying to understand its language. Though tough at times, the range of subjects and the extensive speaking practice are truly helpful to learning Korean. I already feel like I’ve improved, and it’s only been two weeks! I can’t wait to see how my skills improve in the upcoming months, with this incredible opportunity.

    (우리 도서관 Our library!)

  • Caitlin Manchester: 한국에 도착했어요! 첫 주는 이렇게 보냈어요. I’ve arrived in Korea! – August 2025

    저는 8월27일에 한국에 도착했어요! 이 신기한 나라가 이제 내 새로운 집이 되었어요. 이런 새로운 시작은 나에게 큰 기회가 되고 다양한 경험이랑 도전을 엄청 기다리고 있어요!

    저는 오후 네시에 인천 공항에 도착해서 바로 버스를 타고 대학 캠퍼스에 갔어요. 서울대학교에 도착하자마자 제 방이 어디인지 물어봤어요. 방 열쇠를 받은 후에 새로운 방으로 이사했고 옷이랑 물건 다 정리했어요. 저는 꽤 깨끗한 사람이라서 방이랑 화장실 둘다 청소했어요.

    저는 쇼핑도 했어요! 왜냐하면 학기 시작 전에 한국어를 배우기 위해 몇몇 꼭 필요한 학습 용품 사야 했요. 저는 롯데마트에서 연습장, 교과서, 펜, 연필과 지우개 다 샀어요. 저는 근처에 서점에서 한국어 읽기 연습을 하려고 한국 책도 하나 샀어요!

    그리고 롯데마트에 간 김에 방 안에 필요한 물건들도 샀어요, 예를들어 침구랑 침대 시트, 담요, 헤어 드라이기 등. 저는 가게 사장님이랑 분명하게 이야기할 수 있으니까 너무 행복했어요! 저는 심지어 헤어드라이기 같은 제품에 대해서도 자세한 질문을 물어볼수 있어서 뿌듯했어요. 쇼핑 후에, 돈을 많이 써서 내 지갑이 가벼워진 것 같았어요! 이 날 말에 너무 피곤해서 바로 잠을 자고 싶어요!

    이 학기의 수업이 9월 1일에 시작해서 저는 좀 긴장되었지만 기대도 되었어요! 반 친구들을 만나는 것도 기대가 많이 되었어요. 그들이 친절하고 공부에 관심이 있으면 좋겠다고 생각했고, 또 좋은 사람들이었으면 좋겠다고 생각했어요. 지금은 이미 만나 보니까 다들 착한 사람들이라서 정말 기쁘고, 많은 대화를 나누었어요! 제가 영국 자파 케이크도 소개했는데, 친구들이 다 맛있게 먹었어요. 우리는 한국어 공부에 관심이 있어서 수업이 항상 재미있고 즐거워요. 그래서 앞으로의 1년이 좋을 것 같아요! 저는 같은 관심을 가진 사람들과 시간을 보낼 수 있어서 엄청 행복해요!

    위에 제 언어교육건물 앞에서 우리 학교 마스코트랑 같이 찍은 사진이에요!

    보통 저는 친구들과 같이 카페에 가서 커피를 마시고 복습을 해요. 한국에서도 이런 습관이 계속할 수 있으면 정말 좋을 것 같아요. 또 친구가 되는 좋은 방법 중 하나는 같이 시간을 보내는 것이라고 생각해요!

    저는 최근에 새로운 친구들이랑 같이 수프레 판케이크를 먹으러 성수동에 갔어요. 성수동에 간 김에 우리 서울숲도 구경했어요. 거기는 너무 예뻐요. 나무도 많고 호수도 있어요! 앉아서 얘기하기 좋은 장소예요. 근데 그 날 날씨가 너무 덥고 습기가 너무 많아서 공기가 조금 답답해요! 아무래도 우리 즐겁게 놀았어요. 성수동은 너무 예쁜 동네라서 거기에 가는 것 너무 좋아요.

    그 후에 우리 같이 홍대에 갔고 거기서 신기한 착시 미술관에 갔어요! 트릭아이 미술관에서 짝는 사진이 너무 잘 나왔어요. 다양한 포즈와 소품이 있으니까 즐거움이 끝없이 이어졌어요.

    다음 달은 외국인 등록증 신청, 신용 카드 신청, 수업 등으로 도전이 가득하겠지만, 잘 됐으면 좋겠어요. 특히 서울 더 깊이 구경하고 한국어로 말하는 기회가 있어서 기대되요!

    I arrived in Korea today! This interesting country has now become my new home. This new start is a huge opportunity for me, and I’m really looking forward together the variety of experiences and challenges!

    I arrived at Incheon Airport at four in the afternoon, and immediately boarded the bus to my university campus. As soon as I arrived at SNU, I asked about where my room was. Having received my roo key, I moved into my new room and organised all of my clothes and items. As I am quite a fastidious person, I cleaned both my room and the bathroom.

    I also went shopping! This is because I needed to buy various items necessary for learning Korean, before my term starts. At Lotte Mart, I bought exercise books, textbooks, pens, pencils and erasers. I also bought a Korean book in a nearby bookstore to practice reading! While I was at Lotte Mart, I also bought a few items necessary for my room, such as bedding and bedsheets, a blanket, a hairdryer etc. I was really happy, because I was able to talk clearly with the shop owners! I was even able to ask detailed questions about items such as the hairdryer, which made me quite proud. After going shopping, my wallet felt like it had gotten lighter because I had spent so much! At the end of this day, I was so tired that I wanted to go to bed immediately.

    This terms classes started on the first of September, and I was a bit nervous but also looking forward to it! I was excited to meet the people in my class too. I thought it would be great if they are friendly and interested in studying, and I also hoped that they are good people in general. Now, having met them, I’m really glad that they are nice people, and have shared many conversations with them! I introduced them to English Jaffa cakes too, which they all enjoyed eating. We all share an interest in learning Korean, and the classes are very interesting and fun, so I think the next year will be good. It’s nice to spend time with people who share the same interest!

    Above is the picture I took outside of our language learning faculty with our school mascot!

    In general, I usually go to coffee shops with friends to drink coffee and revise. If I can continue this in Korea, it would be really nice. I think one of the best ways to become friends is spending time together!

    Recently I went to Seongsu with new friends to get soufflé pancakes. Since we went to Seongsu we also explored Seoul Forest. It’s so pretty there! But weather was so hot and humid, that it made the air a bit suffocating. But we still had fun. Seongsu-dong is a beautiful district and I love going there! Afterwards we headed to Hongdae, where we visited an interesting optical illusion museum. The photos we took at Trickeye Museum came out so well. Because there is a variety of poses and props, the fun never ended!

    The next month is going to be full of challenges such as applying for my foreigner registration card, a bank card, and my classes, but I hope it all goes well. I’m especially excited to explore Seoul more deeply and excited to have these opportunities to speak Korean!

  • Chloe Salmon: Mi Primera Semana en Sevilla – Sevilla, España – September 2025

    Hola, me llamo Chloe, y desde hace seis días, volé a Sevilla, España. He encontrada la experiencia muy interesante, pero muy difícil. Es difícil ya que el acento en Sevilla es muy fuerte, y diferente a lo que he aprendido a la universidad en Inglaterra. Por ejemplo, en Andalucía (el región de Sevilla), en vez de decir ‘como estas’, la gente dice ‘come esta’ cuando habla sobre ‘tu’. Es lo mismo por muchas palabras, por ejemplo, es ‘gracia’ en vez de ‘gracias’. También, vivo con muchos españoles, y no hablan muchas ingles entonces, siempre necesito pensar sobre que quiero decir.

    Reading my book in el parque de Maria Luisa

    La cultura aquí es muy diferente, incluso las pequeñas cosas. Es normal por españoles a empezar sus noches mucho mas tarde que en Inglaterra. Normalmente comeré mi cena a las 18:00, y luego estoy libre a salir, pero en España, las personas no quieren salir hasta a las 23:00, y luego, a veces vuelven a las 7:00 que es muy diferente. A pesar de esto, he descubierto la bebida ‘tinto de verano’ que es vino rojo con frutas (mejor de Sangría), y es muy delicioso!!

    Otra cosa es que he usado gramática que nunca uso cuando practico mi español en Inglaterra. Por ejemplo, el imperativo es muy útil, pero lo olvidé, y necesité revisarlo.

    El tiempo aquí es loco, hace 35-38 grados centígrados todos los días. En la segunda día, era una emergencia. Mi amiga cortó su dedo con un cuchillo y tuvimos que ir a urgencias. Era difícil entender a los médicos y había mucha sangre. Necesitaba tres puntos de sutura – qué mal!

    He disfrutado la cultura y amabilidad de Sevilla. Ayer, fui a la plaza de España (puedo verlo desde mi ventana), y leí mi libro en el parque de María Luisa que fue muy bonita. No puedo crear que es gratis a visitar monumentos como estos. Durante la próxima mes, quiero visitar la real Alcázar, y también la catedral de Sevilla, pero actualmente todavía es bastante llena de turistas en Sevilla, pero con suerte, el octubre tendré menos personas!! Mañana, voy a empezar mis clases a la universidad, y tengo mucho miedo!

    Hi, my name is Chloe, and six days ago, I flew to Seville, Spain. I have found the experience very interesting, but very difficult. It is difficult since the accent in Seville is very strong, and different to what I have learned at University in England. For example, in Andalucia (Seville’s region) instead of saying ‘como estas’, people say ‘como esta’ when they speak about you. It is the same for many words, for example, it is ‘gracia’ instead of ‘gracias’. Also, I live with a lot of Spanish people and they don’t speak much English, so I always need to think about what I say.

    The culture here is very different, including little things. It is normal for Spanish people to start their nights much earlier than in England. Normally, I will eat my dinner at 6pm, and then I am free to go out, but in Spain, people don’t want to go out until 11pm, and then, sometimes, they return at 7am which is very different. Despite this, I have discovered the drink ‘tintp de verano’ which is red wine with fruit (better than sangria) and it is very delicious!!

    The view from my bedroom – la plaza de españa!

    Another thing is that I have used grammar that I never use when I practice my Spanish in England. For example, the imperative is very useful, but I forgot it and needed to revise it.

    The weather here is crazy, it is 35-38 degrees Celsius every day. On the second day there was an emergency. My friend cut her finger with a knife, and we needed to go to urgent care. It was difficult to understand the doctors and there was a lot of blood. She needed three stitches – how bad!

    I have enjoyed the culture and kindness of Seville. Yesterday, I went to the plaza de España (I can see it from my window), and I read my book in El parque de Maria Luisa which was very beautiful. I can’t believe that is is free to visit monuments like these. During the next month, I want to visit la real Alcazar, and also Seville’s cathedral, but currently it is still quite full of tourists in Seville, but with luck, October will have less people!! Tomorrow, I am going to start my classes at university, and I am very scared.

  • Natalie Smith: My First Two Weeks in Salamanca – September 2025

    After arriving in Salamanca on September 2nd, I had the opportunity to explore the city before my classes began in the Department of Filología, where I will take classes in linguistics and Spanish culture. I spent time walking around the city and admiring the historic streets and buildings. One of the highlights was visiting the University of Salamanca itself, founded in 1218, making it the oldest university in Spain and the 3rd oldest in the world. Whilst there, I went to search for the little frog on the university’s main building, which is said to bring good luck in your exam.


    I also went on a day trip to Segovia and Ávila with an Erasmus student tour group. In Segovia, I explored an 18th-century palace called the Palacio Real de La Granja de San Ildefonso, as well as Segovia Cathedral. In Ávila, I experienced la Fiesta Medieval, an annual festival full of medieval costumes, music, and street vendors selling food and traditional items, before enjoying a glass of Spanish wine.
    In Salamanca, it was the week of Feria y Fiestas, which are held to celebrate the city’s culture and traditions at the start of the academic year. This meant Salamanca had concerts in the Plaza Mayor every night including a performance of The Final Countdown by Europe as the closing event. In addition, there were cultural events such as traditional music performances, a display of giant ‘ghost balloons’ and fireworks to mark the beginning and the end of the festival.
    I attended welcome events for new students and even took part in a short interview which can be viewed on the University of Salamanca’s Instagram account, which was exciting to be part of. Overall, my first two weeks have been full of history, culture, and fun, and I am looking forward to starting my classes and learning more about Spanish language and culture.

    Después de llegar a Salamanca el 2 de septiembre, tuve la oportunidad de explorar la ciudad antes de que comenzaran mis clases en la Facultad de Filología, donde cursaré asignaturas de lingüística y cultura española. Pasé tiempo caminando por la ciudad y admirando las calles y edificios históricos. Uno de mis momentos favoritos fue visitar la Universidad de Salamanca, fundada en 1218 , lo que la convierte en la universidad más antigua de España, y la tercera más antigua del mundo. Mientras estaba allí, fui a buscar la famosa rana pequeña en el edificio principal de la universidad, que, según se dice, trae buena suerte en los exámenes.

    También fui de excursión de un día a Segovia y Ávila con un grupo de estudiantes Erasmus. En Segovia,exploré un palacio del siglo XVIII se llama Palacio Real de la Granja de San IIdefonso, así como la catedral de Segovia. En Ávila, experimenté la Fiesta Medieval, un festival anual lleno de trajes medievales, música y puestos callejeros que vendían comida y artículos tradicionales, antes de disfrutar una copa de vino español.

    En Salamanca, era la semana de Feria y Fiestas, que se celebran para conmemorar la cultura y las tradiciones de la ciudad al comienzo del año académico. Esto significaba que había conciertos en la Plaza Mayor cada noche, incluyendo una actuación de The Final Countdown de Europe como evento de clausura. Además, había actividades culturales como actuaciones de música tradicional, la exhibición de gigantescos ‘globos fantasmas’ y fuegos artificiales para marcar el inicio y el final del festival.

    Asistí a los eventos de bienvenida para los nuevos estudiantes e incluso participé en una breve entrevista, que puede verse en la cuenta de Instagram de la Universidad de Salamanca, lo que fue emocionante formar parte de esta experiencia. En general, mis dos primeras semanas han estado llenas de historia, cultura y diversión, y estoy deseando comenzar mis clases y aprender más sobre la lengua y la cultura española.