Emilee Coleman, TEAN: Seoul Spring 2025
Through my study abroad program, TEAN (The Education Abroad Network), I am staying in one of the on-campus dorms at my host university. The dorm rooms here are suite style, so I share my room as well as a bathroom with two other people. One of my roommates is also from the states, and the other is from Germany, so I’ve had a very fun time getting to
know them and more about their hometowns. Some of the things I love about this dorm is that every floor has multiple kitchenettes with refrigerators, stoves, a sink, and tables to eat at once you’re done cooking your meal. There’s a kitchenette right outside my room, so I don’t have to travel far to get and store my food! Everyone in my dorm has also been very kind. From the people on my floor to the security guards in our lobby, I’ve made many new friends while living in the dorms! I also love how wide our rooms are as me and my roommate have enough room to have our own space even though we share a room together. We have floor to ceiling wardrobes and desks which gives us enough storage space as well. While I really enjoy this new home, there are a couple of challenges I face while living here. One is that the dorm is atop a large hill that takes about 5 to 10 minutes to climb. If you potentially have low stamina, are not used to walking up hills, or have any physical disabilities that hinder your ability to walk up inclines, it can be difficult to live in the dorm. Since I go to school in Pittsburgh, which is known for its tall and strenuous hills, I was able to get used to this hill quite fast; but I know others who had continuous difficulties with it throughout the semester. One other challenge I have had while living in this dorm is the laundry room. Depending on when you go, it can get quite full as there’s only about 6 washers and dryers, and 300 students. So, doing laundry can be quite troublesome, but I have found ways to overcome this problem, such as doing laundry doing the weekdays! This has been my dorm life experience in my host country!
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