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Communications major Rebecca Hyre and Mechanical Engineering major Ethan Meyers recount their experience on an Ambassadors Abroad trip to South Korea in 2024.

Students experience a multitude of challenges when trying to travel, but like Ethan and I, many are motivated by curiosity. Remember: you only live once, and you are only young once. So before we both settled into our jobs, we sought to explore the globe starting with the Ambassadors Abroad in South Korea program. 

We both chose this program initially for its affordability and later loved the learning environment that it provided. We all have our own anxieties when traveling. We were particularly worried about illness, flights, the language barrier, and entering and exiting the country. This program definitely addressed all of these worries, by having us participate in a pre-departure cultural bootcamp and providing travel insurance. We felt fully supported even before we got on the flight.

As for South Korea, Ethan and I were both surprised by the currency exchange. Unlike other travel destinations, Korea is very “student travel friendly" because the won is valued less than a U.S. dollar. We experienced plenty of other culture shocks as this was my first time traveling outside of the United States and Ethan’s first time traveling to Asia. The people we met were extremely hospitable and fed us until we couldn’t eat anymore. Korean Fried Chicken is delicious! The people are also more modest than most Americans and the students we met were very open and honest with us about their varying experiences. 

We encourage you to take the leap of faith to travel now. In college, you have the time, ability and open-mindedness to do it. This is an amazing opportunity to make lifelong relationships that span the globe. Embrace a unique experience and apply to study abroad!

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