South Korea: Mina Yildiz (An Impactful Moment)

What was your most challenging moment in the program?

One of the most challenging experiences I’ve had during this program so far was getting a severe form of the flu that lasted for over a week, shortly after moving into the dorms. This was particularly tough for me because I am immunosuppressed, so my symptoms were exacerbated. It was scary having to manage it on my own while still having many responsibilities to take care of before the school semester began. For instance, I had to switch my tourist visa from the summer to a D2 visa and apply for a Foreign Resident Card.

My visa process was a bit different from the average student. This is because I arrived in South Korea in mid-June on a KETA traveler visa for a summer program before my semester program started and I needed to apply for a change from the KETA visa to a D2 Visa, which had to be done at the specific immigration office associated with my university, Yonsei. This office is located at the southern immigration office in Seoul. It was crucial for me to submit my visa application within 90 days of arrival and, particularly before the first official day of classes. I ended up having my appointment about a week before classes started, and unexpectedly, I was instructed to complete my foreign resident card application at the same time. Although I wasn’t given a specific reason for this, they did emphasize that I needed to apply for this before the start of the school year as well. For any students who find themselves in a similar situation, I recommend keeping these points in mind!

Dealing with these tasks while being extremely sick from the flu was overwhelming. Taking the proper safety precautions of wearing my mask and using hand sanitizer regularly to safeguard others, I had to travel almost an hour to get to the immigration office and communicate in Korean with the workers there. After completing these tasks, I was too weak even to buy medicine. I had to rest a lot and wait until my fever subsided before having the energy to buy cold medicine. I was also too fatigued and out of it to go to the doctor, so it was quite an overwhelming and isolating experience so early into the program, especially when many students were forming friendships in the dorms during this time.

I dealt with this challenge by communicating with friends and family about my health, which made me feel supported, even from far away. I also tried my best to maintain a positive mindset, reminding myself that things would improve in a week or two and that this initial experience shouldn’t define the start of the program. My friend, who also came to South Korea for studies, was very kind and accompanied me to the immigration office to offer support and ensure that I was okay. This experience taught me the importance of having medicine readily available because when you need it the most is usually when you can’t easily get it. I also learned not to be afraid to ask for help when I need it.

Mina Yildiz

Hometown: Fitchburg, Wisconsin

Major: Asian Languages & Cultures, International Studies

Program: Yonsei University Exchange

My personal goal for this program is to maximize my use of the Korean language, learn from locals and peers, and actively seek out experiences that will deepen both my language skills and cultural understanding.

I selected this specific program after hearing numerous inspiring stories and firsthand experiences from past participants. I look forward to creating exciting new memories while immersing myself in the local culture of Seoul and exploring the city as much as possible!