By: JACK TUCKER

Jayda Morse, a junior Communication Studies major and Asian Studies minor, became one of over 800 Belmont students to study abroad this year as she traveled to Seoul, South Korea. This program partners with Sogang University, the only Jesuit higher education institution in Korea and one of the nation’s top universities.

A typical day for Jayda is a busy one. After attending classes in either Korea-U.S. Relations or Korean Food and Culture, she makes time to eat with friends in one of the on-campus cafeterias before a two-hour Intensive Korean Language class that meets every day of the school week. After class, an average night out includes a big dinner, street shopping, karaoke, playing at an arcade, or a visit to a local café. On the weekends, she tries to visit other areas in Seoul. When she gets her Alien Registration Card, she plans on traveling to Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Japan. She says that such a busy schedule took time to get used to, but she has learned to find time to rest and reflect in the midst of all the exciting things her program has to offer.

Despite the difficulty of being away from family and friends, her time at Sogang is the first time Jayda has experienced life in a dorm which she said has been one of her favorite parts of her time in Seoul. To travel to South Korea in the first place was a step outside of Jayda’s comfort zone. “For me,” she said, “traveling is a way to challenge myself and encounter new opportunities… it can contribute so much to acceptance and open-mindedness which, frankly, the world always needs more of.”

Jayda says that a visit to Korea several years ago prepared her for the initial culture shock, but she still discovers new parts of the culture every day. Compared to the individualism and low-power distance that are common in America, she noted the cultural importance of group harmony, the family unit, and respect for elders in Korea. Cultural differences have not been a barrier for her though, as she says that “my experience here has been that people are so warm, welcoming, and do their best to help you in any way they can.”

Overall, Jayda highly recommends that Belmont students take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad, particularly those who are studying Communication.

“While you’re studying abroad,” she says, “you learn to adapt to the communication style of an entirely different culture which is so beneficial for job opportunities and life in general. You also learn how to speak up and ask for help even when it feels uncomfortable, and for people like me who have trouble getting out of their comfort zone, this is an invaluable skill to have.”

For more information about Study Abroad programs, go here or visit the Office of Study Abroad in JAAC 1009.