My name is Nelli and I am a student of International Relations in Russia, Vladivostok city. Thanks to the cooperation between my university, which is Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service and Silla University, I had an opportunity to come to Korea for the exchange program for fall semester 2016. I had a great experience during my stay at Silla University. It was truly unforgettable to make friends with people from different parts of the world and being able to communicate with them. I got a good chance to practice both English and Korean languages and got familiar with the Korean culture.
When I came to Korea, the first thing that impressed me the most was the campus of Silla University, which considers one of the most ecological campuses not only in Busan, but in whole of Korea. Silla campus is located in the mountains, and thanks to this fact, you may enjoy fresh air, amazing nature and a wonderful view of the city. The campus has everything what you need. There are some stores, cafes, a bank, and library. Our dormitory rooms were cozy and well-equipped, too.
Learning Korean Language was also quite an interesting experience for me. We had lessons from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. on weekdays. We were fully immersed in Korean language from the beginning, as our teachers basically used only Korean. It was a challenge for me to understand some grammar and words, but at the same time, learning within a foreign environment surrounded by native speakers gives you exceptional opportunity to interact in Korean in everyday contexts.
Other than Korean Language Classes, as an exchange student, once a week I had an additional lesson of "International Relations of East Asia" taught in English. My classmates were wonderful students from China, Laos, USA, Japan and Vietnam. We had a lot of fun together both in and out of classroom, going for movies and to the theatre, trying on Korean traditional costume Hanbok and having a tea-party.
Busan is a beautiful city which has many interesting and exciting places to visit, with Haeundae, Gwangalli beaches, and Nampodong being my favorite. While I was living in Korea I could also visit Seoul and Gyeongju city, which is located near Busan.
Living in Korea and studying at Silla University, meeting friends from so many different countries, improving my Korean language skills, was so far one of the most meaningful experiences in my life, which I am going to cherish forever.