The sun shone down on the open field of vibrant green covering the main quad, filled with the songs of birds, the soft scuttles of squirrels, and the amiable chatting of students. Rays of sunshine, occasionally veiled by wispy clouds, accompanied a gentle breeze. All seemed perfect. When was the last time I had simply enjoyed the sun? Had I even tried something similar before? After a decade of studiously hitting the books, the prospect of simply laying down and relaxing in between classes was too alien to me. Yet here, on the other side of the globe from home, it was the norm. Along the peripherals of my vision, I could see the large field filled to the brim with students, either lazing in the sun or playing sports. In retrospect, that was the moment I truly apprehended the fact that I was indeed, not home.
  Aside from the loitering under the sun, to say my exchange semester abroad was a tumultuous and stimulating one would be an understatement. Wrenched away from the peaceful monotony of Pohang and thrust into a vibrant atmosphere of diversity, chaos, and surprising tranquility, drastic transformations to acclimate into my new environment was a necessity rather than a choice. For better or worse, it wrought a significant change into my internal constraints on what I was capable of and gave me a new outlook into how one may pursue life.
  While I had experienced living abroad as a youngster, the collegiate experience was a whole different beast. At first it was a bit overwhelming, with club activities, party invitations, academic talks, and more, all vying for a piece of my attention. Yet, as I got accustomed to the general flow of life there, I began to thoroughly enjoy my new lifestyle. No longer did I have to throw myself at my ever-increasing pile of homework, but instead got to appreciate a true balance between academic pursuit and social life.
  One of the most jarring differences from Korea was the overall social amiability that seemed engrained into the general psyche of the people. I had never been one of the outgoing types, so the first few weeks were a bit hard. There was a never-ending stream of people that seemed to strike up a conversation for the most menial and innocuous reasons, in the most random of places. On top of that, everyone seemed to be from someplace new, with diversity ranging from the tips of South America to the Northern-most parts of Scandinavia. However, once I got used to it, I realized what an incredibly welcoming and warm atmosphere such cordial personalities could create. It was a great challenge on my interpersonal skills that boosted my confidence and led me towards a more affable demeanor. 
  It is hard to convey an entire semester worth of experiences and thoughts in such a short passage, and while I intentionally occluded personal or spatial information, I hope my intents are delivered. My exchange semester was my favorite semester yet and allowed me to befriend so many new people. Our university provides one of the best systems in Korea for exchange semesters, be it scholarship opportunities or the selection of possible partner universities. Yet I have seen that most students forgo this opportunity, choosing to finish coursework or participate in research internships instead. While these are of crucial importance, I have truly come to believe that an exchange semester may be the life-changing experience that you will never regret. Why not give it a try?