Jessica Nunn

From Script to Seoul: A Drama and Film Student’s Dream Summer

Hear from Drama and Film Student, Jessica Nunn about studying in South Korea over the summer.

A summer to remember

Hello! My name is Jessica and I’m a second-year student at the University of Kent studying film and drama. Last year, I took part in a summer program in South Korea, where I was able to study film whilst also having the opportunity to explore the city of Seoul, and it was an experience I will never forget.

I first heard about the study abroad summer program as an ambassador for the university, and it was something that I was interested in, and I knew would be an unmissable opportunity. The process of applying for a summer placement was straightforward and the instructions were clearly stated on the study abroad moodle page. For me, choosing where to go on my summer placement was easy; I’ve always been a fan of the culture in South Korea, but being able to experience it whilst also being able to study in Dongguk University was like a dream come true. During my time in Seoul, I was lucky enough to be able to stay in a dorm room within the University, which had a fair price, meaning I had more money to explore Seoul and make the most of my time in South Korea.

Studying in South Korea made me realise how much the rules differ from here in the UK. For example, they are stricter with the importance of attending class and showing up on time; that’s not to say it isn’t like this in the UK, but the consequences are more significant if you fail to comply with the rules. Students in South Korea grow up with super strict rules within school, so it’s no wonder they take their education seriously, but the amount of respect they have for their tutors and fellow students was admirable.

Outside of my time spent studying, I was able to explore the city of Seoul and also take part in activities planned by Dongguk University; some of these included, going on the Han river cruise where we were able to see the firework display over the city; watching a baseball game which had an atmosphere that lived up to its expectations, but don’t forget the famous Korean fried chicken and beer which was a must have whilst watching the game. And finally, a temple stay which included learning about Buddhism (the most popular religion in South Korea), making traditional Mala beads (which are used for praying), and also having the opportunity to drink tea with the monks as they told us about their lives and what their role as a monk requires.  

Other than the activities/events which were organised by Dongguk University, I had the freedom to explore the city independently and with my friends. Something that we decided to do was to take a trip to the Starfield library which is a shopping center that doubles as a library; the books were spread over two stories and it was an eye-catching, beautiful experience. The next location we decided to explore was the vibrant atmosphere of Hongdae; we spent an entire day walking around the streets of Hongdae and also got to experience the shopping center which has six different floors and every shop you may need.

I wouldn’t be able to pick a favourite part of this whole trip as I would be talking about it for years, but what I would say is being able to make friends from all over the world and learn about such a deep rooted culture has been an eye opening experience and I look forward to coming back to Seoul again in the future.

I would highly recommend studying abroad to anyone who is itching for an adventure or is interested in learning about another culture, but ultimately to those who want to make memories that will last a lifetime. My experience has been something that not only will I look back on in years to come, but something that I have learnt from and has allowed me to grow as a person. The one piece of advice I would give to anyone thinking about studying abroad would be to just go for it, I promise you will not regret it!