Yeseul Kim, an international student from Yongin, South Korea, is studying early childhood education at Shippensburg University for the 2023-24 academic year. One of her professors recommended Shippensburg for its proximity to popular American destinations like New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

Kim has been interested in studying abroad since she was very young. 

“I’ve been meaning to go abroad and learn new culture, but the reason why I chose America is America is diverse,” Kim said.   

During her month here so far, Kim has had mostly positive experiences. “American people are really friendly to strangers,” Kim said. 

She was especially surprised that people hold doors open for one another so often because it is not as common in South Korea. 

The only negative experience Kim could recount was the amount of time it took to get a social security number. 

The thing she misses most about home is the food. Her favorite dish is Malatang, which is a spicy hot pot soup that can include vegetables, seafood and noodles. Kim especially misses her mother’s cooking. 

“I can make most Korean dishes in my kitchen, but the one thing I can’t do is my mom’s cooking,” Kim said.

A culture shock Kim experienced when she first arrived was tipping in restaurants. In South Korea, waitresses are paid a higher wage, so patrons do not have to tip. 

Kim was also shocked that Americans wear the same pair of shoes indoors and outdoors. “When we get into inside, we don’t wear shoes: we just take off our shoes and wear indoor shoes,” Kim said. She was especially surprised that some Americans even wear shoes into their bedrooms.

Kim and another exchange student from South Korea were kind enough to cook me a Korean meal and share some more aspects of their culture, like how to properly use chopsticks. 

Appreciating the diversity that is all around us is crucial because there is so much to learn and appreciate about people who come from different backgrounds than we do. The world is an enormous place, yet there is so much diversity, even within our own campus. 

I am excited to continue this column throughout the semester and interview more exchange students. Thank you to Yeseul Kim for sitting down and sharing your culture. 

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