Korea is a country of new opportunities!

        I, Agabek Aisulu, in the fall semester of 2022-2023 academic year, was on a 4-month study trip under the academic mobility program at Gangneung-Wonju University, which is located in the city of Gangneung, Republic of Korea. During my studies, I was lucky to listen to lectures by professional and qualified teachers of Gangneung-Wonju University and thus improved my knowledge, met foreign students, organized various meetings, spent interesting moments of my student life with foreign students.

       Of course, at first when I arrived in Korea, it was not easy. So many tall buildings, so many unusual and unfamiliar things, so many new people. Everything looked attractively beautiful and exciting, but a lot of things also seemed frightening, because there were so many things that were unknown to me.

       When we first arrived in Gangneung, we were greeted by our university faculty and international student staff, who helped us quickly adapt to overseas life in the first weeks, introduced us to university faculty, and shared valuable information. The teachers helped us quickly adapt to everything.

       Thanks to the great mutual understanding and warm approach of the teachers of the University of Kang Wonju to students, a good relationship has been established between students and teachers. Thus, our lessons were very interesting. Also, what I noticed while studying in Korea is that the teachers pay more attention to practice than theory. This method has helped to increase not only students' knowledge, but also the ability to perform in front of an audience and perform group work, building confidence in each student.

       In addition to studying, the university organized various interesting programs for foreign students. Such programs allowed us to take a moment to take a break from our studies, enjoy the picturesque places and relax. For example: the famous art museum in the city of Gangneung, a walk in nature with its beautiful mountains and trees, the Donghae Sea with its mesmerizing beauty, the zone on the border of South Korea and North Korea - DMZ. Also, as part of the Global 1:1 Buddy program, we organized meetings with our Korean friends several times a month, got acquainted with the life of Korean youth and developed our speaking skills.

       Summing up, we can say that in a short period of time we were able to experience new emotions, experience so many new experiences and, of course, gain new knowledge. I remember this study trip as a part of my life that will never disappear and will remain in my memory as a great life experience. I express my gratitude to the teaching staff of the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi, who opened up such unforgettable opportunities. And in the future I will try to justify the expectations of the department.