Journey to interning in Seoul
For many college students, studying abroad is a dream for many to embark on experiencing an academic culture and go on excursions. But for Wing, a 4th-year Computer Science major at UC Davis, the goal was to go abroad and get some real professional experience.
Growing up in San Francisco as a Chinese-American and inspired to study abroad by high school Korean classes, Wing always knew Korea was somewhere on his radar. But when it came time to browse the UC Davis program catalog, he decided to wonder about the advantages of professional experience abroad. “While being a student in a foreign university would’ve been cool, I felt like an internship would be more worth my money and time,” Wing explains. Having already cleared his GE(General Education) requirements, the choice became a strategic career move. “I wanted to gain real-world experience for my career”, Wing says.
Application & Placement Process
The road to Seoul took some time and patience. Working through a partner company in Seoul, Wing went through a three-month matching process. After interviewing with three different companies, he finally found his internship match which is a local startup. “The process wasn’t difficult, but it was a long one,” he recalls. “The time gap between the initial interview and my last was about two to three months, but looking back, I’m satisfied. It was a good match.”
No Culture Shock but a Support system shock
For many, traveling solo to a foreign country for the first time in seven years wasn’t necessarily a culture-shocking experience. Rather than feeling the overwhelmed due to the language barrier, Wing was very adventurous and made use of his time there “I felt very open about being away from home, exploring, and trying new things. I felt fine even with a language barrier because talking to the locals felt like opportunities for me to practice my Korean which was fun”, he reflects.
Inside the office, the culture was a blend of startup flexibility. While he did not see anything that came across as a culture-shock, he noticed the norm of Korean office workers putting in more hours than usual and the lunch time was an opportunity to know them at a more personal level. “Eating lunch with your coworkers was very common. I liked it because I got to know them better.”
While he knew about the startup office space culture being more relaxed, there were still certain aspects which left a strong impression. “I wasn’t just left to my own devices. I had all-hands meetings and weekly check-ins where I could talk about what I was struggling with. Sometimes we see people on social media talking about how they do ‘nothing’ during internships and are left alone, so I want to express and emphasize that I felt supported, had opportunities to do real work, and I could talk about what I’m working on or what I’m struggling with”.
When not at the office, Wing would check out cafes and go shopping after work and one of his favorite foods he recommends is bossam 보쌈 (a popular Korean dish featuring tender, boiled or roasted pork (often pork belly or shoulder) that is thinly sliced and served with various wraps and condiments like kimchi, ssamjang 쌈장 (spicy paste), garlic, and lettuce or cabbage leaves for wrapping). Besides the things he learned at work and enjoying the food, he shares a more personal perspective for people who may be interested in interning abroad.
He says, “When you’re in a new environment, you need to take initiative. Even if a role isn’t what you expected, build relationships with your coworkers. Seeing how you react in new environments and cultures is useful in learning more about yourself. I also reached out to old friends I hadn’t talked to in a long time and I feel like I made the most of my time there.”
As for what’s next? Graduation is coming. While he expects to plan and have a career long term in the U.S., the professional and time abroad in Korea stays with him. When asked if he would consider working and living abroad in Korea if given the opportunity, he says “I would definitely consider. I learned that I can handle living in Seoul because of the internship and the opportunities it gave me to learn and experience.
Conclusion
Wing’s journey from Davis to the heart of Seoul’s startup scene proves that interning abroad is exploring your independence and a catalyst for personal growth. Whether you’re navigating a language barrier or a new office culture, the most important “initiative” you can take is simply saying yes and doing the best you can to the experience.
Are you considering an internship abroad? Please let us know in the comments if you found Wing’s story inspiring or may resonate with your internship experience abroad.
If you are a fellow UC Davis student who is also studying Computer Science and is interested in interning abroad in Korea after hearing Wing’s experience, check out the link here for more info.
See you all in the next edition of Abroad Stories 101 next week!
Best,
Mason
East & Weast