by Yeonsoo Kim

Heading from New Zealand to Korea for an exchange program was a wild mix of feelings for me. There’s this awesome excitement about diving into a new culture, making friends from all over, and seeing how different school can be on the other side of the world. But also, it’s kinda scary leaving behind everything that’s super familiar back in New Zealand. It’s not just about moving places; it feels like I’m leaving a piece of me behind too.

Feeling homesick is one of the tough parts. It comes at you when you least expect it – a song, a smell, or even food can make you miss home and your family like crazy. What helped me was to sort of lean into it. I kept a diary of what I was up to and the cool new stuff I was trying. It didn’t make the homesickness vanish, but it helped me focus on the cool adventure I was on. Hanging out with other students who were feeling the same way and sharing bits about where we come from turned into this unexpected support group. We found a new kind of family together, linked by our shared adventure, not where we’re from. And getting into Korean culture, tasting the local food, and trying to pick up some of the language made things more fun and took my mind off missing home.

Jet lag, oh boy, that’s another story. The time difference between New Zealand and Korea threw me for a loop. The trick for me was not to force myself to adjust all at once. I tried shifting my sleep schedule a bit before I left, and once I got to Korea, I made sure to get lots of sunlight and tried not to nap when it wasn’t night yet. Drinking loads of water and staying active helped me shake off the jet lag faster than I thought I would.

Jumping into this exchange program, from New Zealand to Korea, has been like starting an epic journey. Sure, leaving home, dealing with missing it, and getting through jet lag were challenges, but they were all part of making this experience richer. For anyone thinking about going on an exchange, I’d say just go for it. It’s a mix of highs and lows, but totally worth it. The memories and lessons from Korea so far? Priceless.