Elizabeth Ruvalcaba, a senior international business major, had the opportunity to study abroad at Yonsei University in South Korea in the fall of 2023. Thanks to a lot of encouragement and support from her family, friends, and EKU faculty, Ms. Ruvalcaba has grown during her stay in Korea. .
Many students compete for study abroad opportunities in hopes of learning more about their major through different types of learning experiences. Ruvalcaba is an honor roll student at EKU and uses that as a driving force in her determination to succeed.
“I have always wanted to visit different countries and learn about their culture and educational methods,” Ruvalcaba said. “So I thought, “This is a great opportunity to do this.'' Also, I'm an international business major, so that's what was expected of me, so I more or less had to do it. I liked that it didn't turn out to be that. “
Ruvalcaba said that when studying abroad in South Korea, not only the class structure itself is contrasting, but also the culture and environment are contrasting economically.
“Korean culture is very different than American culture. I always talk about transportation because it's so clean and easy to get to and it doesn't cost a lot. What I really liked there was , lo and behold, we had all the food and it didn’t cost that much,” she said.
One of Ruvalcaba's most important assets in South Korea was the safety measures in place and the fact that she never had to be alert to her surroundings.
“It was safe there, because there were a lot of surveillance cameras. So if I went into a restaurant or went somewhere by myself to get something to drink, I couldn't leave my belongings on the table. , no one touches it,” Ruvalcaba said.
The most difficult part for Ruvalcaba during his stay in South Korea was being alone in a completely different country without any family or friends nearby. This is common for students studying abroad, but it's something close to home for her.
“I don't know anyone else who goes there. It was a little tough, especially because my parents are immigrants. So I'm always there for them and say, 'Oh, I want you to translate for them.' I was used to that,” Ruvalcaba said. “So I felt like I needed my parents a little bit because they were always there for me. At the same time, I felt like I wanted someone to be there for me.”
One of the challenges Ruvalcaba faced was that schoolwork was tough and she needed to be more active in her studies.
“It was just a lot of group presentations and then tests. It felt more intense in a way, so it was just a little bit different. After classes and stuff like that, the students went to eat or something.” I always found myself going to something and then immediately going to the library,” Ruvalcaba said.
Asian countries are known for having more demanding academic and living standards, and that was one of the major differences Ruvalcaba experienced while studying abroad.
“One of the issues that comes up a lot in Seoul is that it's very difficult for teenagers to live in that culture, right? They're under pressure to be good.” said David Coleman, EKU's honors program executive director and history professor.
Coleman contributed significantly to Ruvalcaba's support process, taking into account Ruvalcaba's personality, intelligence, and future goals. He gave her a lot of encouragement and reassured her of how well she would do in Korea.
“Elizabeth is an EKU Honors alumnus, a great student, and has given us so much. She has traveled a lot. Even before she came to EKU, I knew she was kind of a Korea lover. I knew it was there,” Coleman said. “She's someone who's interested in Korean culture, Korean TV shows and Korean movies, so she knew she always wanted to go there.”
Coleman's advice for students looking to study abroad is to not only learn a very deep cultural experience, but also to recognize the potential for growth in the way you think and live as an adult.
“…it improves your life. It can open professional doors, it can open intellectual doors to new realities. Personally, when I look back on my life, in 1993 “I remember the '94 school year. I was a graduate student at the University of Illinois, and that year I received a Fulbright scholarship to study in Spain, and I actually lived there for a year,” Coleman said. Told. “It's kind of a defining period in my life in terms of going from who I was to becoming someone who's comfortable moving around in different circles, right?”
Students interested in study abroad opportunities can visit the EKU Study Abroad Office located in Room 225 of Crabbe Library.
