Life as an Exchange Student

   In November 2021, my close friend mentioned that he was preparing to become an exchange student in Norway. Upon hearing this, I began contemplating the idea of being an exchange student. After looking into the requirements, I found out that a GPA of 3.0 or above, standardized language test scores, and an interview were necessary. From that point on, I started preparing diligently. I prepared for the language test using the Institutional TOEFL, and due to the COVID-19 situation, I had to interview via Webex. The interview was mainly focused on questions like “Why did you apply to this school?” and “What do you hope to achieve at this school?” After the interview, I obtained eligibility to apply to the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain. 

   The process of preparing for the visa was quite intricate. There were many documents to prepare, and they needed to be notarized and apostilled, incurring a cost of about 70,000 won. Once all the documents were ready, I had to schedule a visa interview at the Spanish Embassy in Korea. Since the appointments were quickly booked solid, I had to book an appointment about a month in advance. Fortunately, I completed the interview and obtained my visa, marking the beginning of my exchange student life in Spain. 

   I arrived in Barcelona on August 25th, 2022, about three weeks before the start of the semester. I wanted to have some time to settle in before the semester began, as I knew I would need to make new friends and attend classes. Life in Barcelona was significantly different from Korea, with wonderful weather, delicious food, and a relaxed vibe. Especially when I laid my eyes on the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s cathedral that I had only heard about, I was speechless. Every alley was fascinating to explore, especially since it was my first time in Europe. 

   Once the semester began, I had the opportunity to meet friends from all over the world. Classes were conducted in English, providing not only a chance to improve my English-speaking skills but also to broaden my perspectives. K-POP’s global popularity made many people in Europe friendly towards Koreans, and I think I benefited from that. Unlike Korea, Europe has numerous public holidays, allowing me to travel extensively during the semester. One of the privileges of being an exchange student in Europe is the case of traveling to other countries, and Barcelon’s well-connected flights made it particularly convenient. During my exchange period, I traveled to 12 countries, including Spain, and looking back, I consider it unique experience only possible during the exchange student period. Memories of the exchange student experience constantly brings me a nostalgic feeling, even after returning to Korea, and having had this opportunity feels like a great luck.