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
