Kayla Johns- Blog Abroad
Blog #1
I’ve spent a long time dreaming about traveling, and as I got older, I found myself venturing into the music, the language, and the culture of South Korea. It was an amazing experience that helped me grow as a person. It was so inspiring from learning so much about a place so far away. It sparked the desire in me to try new things like dancing, singing, and picking up a language so different from English. Of course, it wasn’t always easy. My family would make side remarks as they didn’t like that. I was more interested in a country so far away. Once I told them I wanted to visit Korea or maybe even live there they were worried. They would say things like, “ It’s such a far away country, you’ll never be able to go there and afford it”, or “ It’s too far away and bad things can happen to you and I won’t be there to help”. Then as I got older, I mentioned it again saying that I wanted to go to college there. Again, they discouraged me, saying I wouldn’t get a job or be able to afford it. So I ended up going to UNM because my family liked that it was close and I could get a good amount of scholarships there. I am very thankful to be a UNM Lobo and even more thankful for the opportunities they have given me while in school. Because of choosing to be a Lobo and pursue my academic endeavors at UNM, I’ve been able to hold onto my dream of studying/ living abroad in Korea. I landed last Friday! And it has been amazing–the food, the culture, and the people. It just seems to get better since arriving, although there have been some challenges. The locals have been helpful even when they can’t speak English. Getting to Korea was the hardest part but once I arrived, the opportunities just kept coming. I have learned so much and gained so much knowledge before my classes have started. I am so excited to experience and share more with you all (soon)! Landed in Korea
September 2025
Kayla Johns Plane Vid
Blog #2
This week marks Week 3 of my classes, and so far, they’ve been great! Some teachers are harder to understand than others, and a few are blunt sometimes to the point where it hurts my feelings. But what’s helped me is learning to recognize those differences, not taking things too personally, and instead figuring out how to work around them. This is similar to going to get food but not knowing how to order, and not being able to ask because you don’t speak enough of the language. That happened to me today, and it really hit me. This is the reality of what being an international student feels like. But something that did make me feel like I’m back at my home university was seeing the red bull truck! Being an international student means being brave. You do a lot of things alone. You step outside your comfort zone constantly and have to figure things out for yourself. That might sound miserable to some, but honestly, it is exactly the opposite in my experience. I’ve already felt that since being here I have developed a level of independence that takes some people years or even decades to build. I’ve gained experiences, confidence, and self-motivation that I know I’ll carry with me for a lifetime. Every day, I feel more and more grateful for this experience that I am having. This week on campus is Festival Week, and it’s been fun. Each day brings something new. I’m especially excited about the upcoming concert. One of my favorite idols, Ha Hyun Sang, is performing here on campus and for free! My favorite song by him is "Burning Sunset", and I really hope he sings it. His music has helped me through a lot, so getting to see him live feels surreal. So far, I’ve watched several amazing dance and singing performances by Chung-Ang University students. It’s been exciting to see different music and dance styles that are so unique to this country. There were also delicious food trucks lining the campus and I enjoyed seeing the many different options. Studying abroad has already given me so many unforgettable experiences. Good or challenging, like when my phone decided to stop working and I had to figure out how to get my screen replaced and where, the range of experiences are worthwhile. I’m really looking forward to all the future opportunities this journey will bring.Week 3: Realizations, Challenges, and Festival Fun
September 2025
Blog #3
Fall is almost over! The fall semester concert was great, and I even got to hear my favorite song! It’s really cool that famous artists come to perform for the students for free. The Spring semester will have an even bigger artist. During the Chuseok holiday, I rented a hanbok and visited Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was fascinating to walk around in traditional clothing and take in the history of the place. I also studied for midterms, which were mostly multiple-choice. Classes here are really different from America; I actually really like it. They teach a lot about the world in every class, while in America, you only get that in certain classes. Even in college, they aren't as informative as they are here. There aren’t many assignments; some classes don’t have any at all, just a final. Diving into South Korean culture has made me realize that we’re not all that different. It is such an obvious thing, but in reality, it is not. The basic questions I would be asked by people back home show how little people know. Between the language, culture, and food, my favorite part has definitely been the people. I’ve met foreigners from all over the world and so many kind people. I get to meet a lot of students now that I’m part of the Global Student Internship (GSI). I talk to all students who come in to practice their English, work on assignments, or just hang out. It’s a blast! It’s been such a great way to make friends and learn about different countries’ norms and daily life. Fall is almost over, and Christmas is right around the corner! Fall here is beautiful; the trees are colorful everywhere you go. Even though Christmas isn’t as big here as in the States, you can still feel the holiday spirit in certain places like Myeongdong, which is my favorite spot so far! If you come to Korea, I definitely recommend exploring beyond the touristy areas, too, there’s so much more to see. I’ll be visiting Busan next week, so I’ll post an update about that trip soon! I hope it snows soon so I can go snowboarding! Right now, I’m swamped with group projects. Korea loves group work and presentations. I have three group projects, but it feels like six! I thought it would help me make friends, but nope, not really. I also got sick this week, which wasn’t fun. I should’ve packed cough drops and Vicks, but thankfully, my roommate’s family visited and brought some! My roommate and I both go to UNM, and we’ve been trying different Mexican taco spots looking for that home taste. So far, we’ve found two pretty good ones. We even found a Cinnabon as well! It is on the Han River, and the view was beautiful. Studying abroad here has been such an adventure. There are challenges, but every day feels like something new to learn or experience. Busan trip blog soon!Fall is almost over!
November 2025
Blog #4
In November, I took my first trip to Busan, and it became an amazing experience of my study abroad journey. I went by KTX, which was my first time traveling across Korea by myself, and I remember being so tired since I slept 3 hours, and it was 5 am in the morning. When I finally arrived and met up with my friends from campus, all the tiredness disappeared and the excitement set in. There were six of us on the trip, all from America except one from Canada. All studying abroad at Chung Ang University, but from different parts of the United States. We met each other gradually throughout the semester through other foreign students, and Busan gave us the chance to become closer. We rented an Airbnb with a huge ocean view that looked amazing. Right next to it was a tiny handmade jewelry shop owned by a kind woman who made beautiful jewelry. My friend and I pick out pieces and even gave us extra items for free. I bought one for myself and others for my family back home so they could have something meaningful from Busan. I also took a perfume-making class during the trip which was a really cool experience. I learned how perfumes are paired and created. But I accidentally left the perfume behind when we checked out. I assumed I would never see it again, but the Airbnb hosts held onto it and even mailed it to my dorm in Seoul. That small act of kindness is something I’ll never forget. The only bad moment was the steep small stairs inside the Airbnb. I slipped and hurt myself pretty good. But even that turned into a funny memory because I was telling my friend that I fell and to be careful then she fell as well. So we were in pain together. That same day I went to a dermatologist and then ended the night with a Thai massage. Which surprisingly helped me feel better both physically and emotionally. During the five days we were there, we spent time at Haeundae Beach and Songdo Beach, visited cafés that faced the ocean, ate seafood that was caught that day, and even rode the Sky Capsule along the coastline. We also got to see the fireworks that went off the time we were there. We also explored Gamcheon Culture Village, which felt like walking inside an art piece with colorful buildings, murals, and hidden pathways. One of the most interesting parts of the trip was hearing the Busan dialect. People speak Korean differently there than in Seoul, and even though I’m still learning the language, it was exciting to hear the difference and try to recognize phrases. We ate some food to fill cravings and home sickness. Mexican food restaurants in Busan helped ease my homesickness, and trying different styles of raw and cooked seafood pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way. My friends and I laughed a lot throughout the trip, especially during our late-night competitions of Just Dance and Uno. Those silly moments helped us bond the most. We even visited Spa Land. I was with two of the girls and we tried the Korean bathhouse experience. And enjoyed the saunas and ate good food. Even though we were supposed to be on vacation, I still had project work due, so I joined my group meetings on Google Meet from Busan. Balancing school and travel wasn’t easy, but it reminded me that studying abroad is about learning how to manage both responsibility and adventure. By the end of the trip, I felt more confident in my ability to balance not just academically, but socially and emotionally. I came to Korea alone, but moments like this trip showed me that I am not alone here. When I stood on the beach during our last night, watching the waves hit the shore, I didn’t want to leave. Busan gave me memories, friendships, cultural experiences, and a sense of growth that I know will stay with me forever. I would absolutely go back again not just to see more of the city but to visit the jewelry shop and the owner. Best trip ever!My Busan Trip
Busan Beach Video
Blog #5
Chung-Ang University held a Global Fair, which is an event that shows different countries from the States like Pakistan to Germany. Students got to volunteer or, in my case, work. People worked with others from their home countries to show things about their cultures through food, games, or cultural customs. For the US booth, we did cornhole and beer pong (with no alcohol of course). Our prizes were American flags and American candy. It was fun watching people who had never played these games before try them, and then getting to experience their activities. It made me realize how something that feels normal or casual in one l state can be so special or completely new to someone from a different country. Some of my favorite booths I got to engage with were Vietnam, Austria, Mexico, and France. The Vietnamese booth had Hanoi egg coffee, and it was amazing. They even taught us how to make it and told us the history behind it, and how it came to be, and why it's a staple to drink in Vietnam. The Austria booth had a cool game where you blow a cardboard ski guy down a track, and depending on what line you pass, you win different prizes. It was random but really fun and everyone got super competitive. Mexico was so much fun with Mexican candies, Mexican games, and music that instantly made me want to dance. The French booth had different cheeses with bread, and it felt really classy and different compared to the others. Overall, it was really fun to see everyone represented and excited to share their countries. It teaches things that aren’t taught in class and helps people learn more about other cultures in a positive and non-biased way. You don’t have to travel to another country to learn about it. Sometimes the world comes together in one place exactly like it did at the Global Fair. The best way to learn about a country’s way of living is to know the people. The friends I have made here want to come visit me back home, and some of my Korean friends are even thinking about studying abroad at UNM! It’s so cool realizing how things that feel normal to me are so foreign to someone else, and vice versa. It makes you see your own culture differently and appreciate others more. Recently, the first snow in Korea has fallen, and it added to that sense of community. It was amazing to see friends and strangers come together to play in the snow. For some students it was their first time ever seeing snow. They immediately called their families to show them, and everyone was laughing and so happy. Others learned how to make a snowman for the first time. My best friend and I made the best snowman! Everyone liked it and people were even taking pictures with it. Then the international students are together to make the biggest snowman. Being here has shown me how easy it is for people from different backgrounds to become close when they share curiosity and respect for each other. From the Global Fair to the first snowfall, I’m seeing friendships form that I know will last beyond study abroad. I’m really grateful to be part of a community where everyone is proud of where they come from, but also excited to learn about others. International Community
November 2025
Blog #6
My last full day in Korea was exactly how I wanted to cap off the entire experience. Earlier that day, I spent time with my best friend from Germany before she left that night. We saw the ocean, went Christmas shopping, had lunch at her favorite restaurant, Mom’s Touch, and talked about everything we had experienced while abroad. I also got my piercings that day, which felt like a small but meaningful way to remember Korea when I returned home. Saying goodbye was difficult, but it was comforting to know that we had shared such an important chapter of our lives. That evening, I went glamping for a friend’s birthday celebration, which turned out to be one of my favorite experiences of the trip. I had never done anything like glamping before, and it felt so special. Even though it was freezing outside, the tents were warm and cozy because the beds were heated. We ordered food, made s’mores over the fire, and watched The Polar Express. Because we were all from different parts of the world, including Korea, the UK, and the U.S., we ended up discussing our Christmas traditions back home. We also met some cool cats, and one even snuck in and slept on a pillow next to us. It was one of those moments that felt magical and truly captured what it means to study abroad. Returning to Albuquerque feels surreal. Being back on campus feels like home, but I also feel like a different person walking through it. Korea taught me how to step outside my comfort zone, appreciate community, and be more open to new experiences. This was not just a trip; it was a life-changing experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Coming home does not feel like an ending, but rather the beginning of using everything I learned abroad in my daily life.My Last Day in Korea & Coming Home
January 2026
