Why a Frenchwoman lives in S. Korea
What's a European doing halfway around the world in a country where the language, culture and food of the people there are so different from that in her home country? A French national, La Française (not her real name), decides to share with us how she ended up living in South Korea.
I am a 25-year-old Frenchwoman who really likes travelling and discovering new cultures. Currently living in Seoul, I am completing an internship in a foreign company, which I began in July 2016.
“Why did I choose to go to South Korea?” is an often-asked question among my family members, friends and everyone I encounter in Korea.
I am interested in Asian countries, traditions and cultures. Between Europe and Asia, everything is so different: customs, food and languages. I get to learn something new every day. I had the chance to do an internship in Hong Kong in 2011 and another in Singapore beginning of 2016. They were two amazing experiences.
Strangely, I got interested into Korean culture when I was an exchange student in a Swedish university in 2014. During a trip to Lapland, I met two Hong Kong girls and we spent some time together. One night, they were watching a Korean drama. I was very curious about the interests and hobbies of Asian girls from my age, so I started to watch Korean dramas as well. Before that, I had no ideas regarding South Korea. I got interested into Korean dramas; they were quite cheesy and funny, which were so different from what I used to watch. I also think that the Korean language is very musical and catchy.
“Why did I choose to go to South Korea?” is an often-asked question among my family members, friends and everyone I encounter in Korea.
I am interested in Asian countries, traditions and cultures. Between Europe and Asia, everything is so different: customs, food and languages. I get to learn something new every day. I had the chance to do an internship in Hong Kong in 2011 and another in Singapore beginning of 2016. They were two amazing experiences.
Strangely, I got interested into Korean culture when I was an exchange student in a Swedish university in 2014. During a trip to Lapland, I met two Hong Kong girls and we spent some time together. One night, they were watching a Korean drama. I was very curious about the interests and hobbies of Asian girls from my age, so I started to watch Korean dramas as well. Before that, I had no ideas regarding South Korea. I got interested into Korean dramas; they were quite cheesy and funny, which were so different from what I used to watch. I also think that the Korean language is very musical and catchy.
A year later, during summer in 2015, I decided to make a trip to South Korea. I chose to stay 3 weeks in a homestay with an adorable Korean family. Every morning, I went to school, trying to learn how to read Hangeul along with some basic words. I visited and discovered Seoul the rest of the time. I met international and Korean friends in school, with whom I had a taste of Korean culture: Karaoke, chicken & beer, Korean BBQ & soju.
It was a very interesting experience. I found Korean people behaving very nice towards foreigners and were very caring toward their friends and family. This trip only made me more curious about South Korea. I thought 3 weeks weren’t enough, so I decided to come back and to complete my final internship in Seoul.
It was a very interesting experience. I found Korean people behaving very nice towards foreigners and were very caring toward their friends and family. This trip only made me more curious about South Korea. I thought 3 weeks weren’t enough, so I decided to come back and to complete my final internship in Seoul.
