Office of Study Abroad

Profile: Matthew Norris '26

Major/minor: International and Global Studies and Politics majors, Legal Studies minor

Study abroad program: Yonsei University (CIEE), Spring 2025

Reason you chose this program:  I knew since my teen years I wanted to at least visit Korea. From the music I've become a fan of IVE, Le Sserafim, New Jeans, and more, I wanted to be in the environment that creates such amazing and unique concepts. South Korea is more than just the music and concepts it creates--it has a deeply traditional atmosphere that is noticeable wherever you go, whether through historic sites or cultural dishes. I wanted to go somewhere in Asia because I knew I'd be surrounded by an environment with different cultural values than mine. I would be exposed to a language I barely knew and an environment that consisted of people who didn't look like me.

Favorite classes: I really enjoyed my International Politics of the Korean Peninsula class. It was with all international students, and the professor has a really in-depth international perspective on Korean politics and American politics. We spoke a lot about the impacts of Japan and the U.S. on Korea's upbringing and during the split of North/South. We focused specifically on North and South Korean nationalism, which is an area of personal interest of mine. I found it interesting to view U.S. politics for the first time from a non-U.S. perspective and hear about how the current political state of the U.S. was affecting world relations. We spent classes debating and talking as a class during most, and had numerous presentations instead of papers, which I enjoyed.

How did you incorporate your Brandeis areas of study into your study abroad experience? The Spring of 2025 was a stressful time for South Korea politically, with the impeachment of the former President and lots of protests happening each day. However, it became easier to connect my majors to this experience as I've been studying these forms of political events since the start of my college experience. It was fascinating to witness these events unfold and how politically motivated South Korea is and responds to events like this, compared to how people respond to similar events in the U.S. Although I am not allowed to be involved politically in Korea, I mostly on accident stumbled across these protests and observed from afar without getting involved. It even inspired my thesis for my senior year!

Housing situation: I lived in the Select-Plus off-campus housing, which meant I had my own single on a floor of some others in the program. We had a shared kitchen on our floor that was shared with the building. It was a hostel-style accommodation, and there were long-stays and also short-stays. I got to meet a lot of international students in this building as they came and went. There were also about 30 people in the program who were in the building, and I was able to form my friend group from this. There was a laundromat in the building, a small gym, a cafe, a rooftop, and a socializing area. The housing situation was honestly one of the highlights of the program, and I could not recommend it more--it was very independent and in the middle of the city, which forced me to become even more involved in Seoul.

What were some parts of your identity that you thought about while considering study abroad? I am the first in my family to go to college, but also the first to go to Asia. No one in my immediate family has ever been to that side of the world--that is a weight on my shoulders that I could not fathom before going and even during the entire experience. I constantly thought about how lucky I am to even be walking the streets of Seoul and how everyone in my life, whether my friends, family, mentors, or teachers, impacted me and brought me to that moment. I never left the country before going to Korea and knew that it would be an overwhelming experience, but it was one that I am ever so grateful I took. I realized I will never be this young and free of responsibilities (besides school of course!) like I was when studying abroad. It was a time of hard work, dedication to myself, and prioritizing what makes me truly happy. I spent time abroad thinking about my LGBTQ identity as well and how different that is viewed in Korea compared to the U.S. I never felt unsafe for my identity, but definitely stared at more often and had to navigate what it meant to me to be queer abroad. I questioned a lot of aspects of myself, including what makes me happy and how I want to be perceived in my time alone. This is something I definitely consciously chose to do, as I spend a lot of my life in big, fast-paced cities like New York City and now Seoul. It is important to find that time inside to slow down and realize the grand scheme of it all and your future goals.

What was your greatest challenge? I found it significantly challenging to manage my time while I was abroad. I am the type of person where I wish there were 26 hours in a day--or more. I hate the idea of sleep (although its a great feeling) and wasting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially while I was in Korea. I had to quickly learn how to prioritize what exactly I wanted to get out of my experience. Was it the food? Traveling around Korea? Visiting other countries in Asia? The kpop? The cultural artifacts and historical spots? The local friends? It was all so overwhelming for my small mind and sometimes I just sat in my room upset as it all overwhelmed my brain. It was much harder thinking that it was the opposite side of the Earth for my close family and friends back home. However, I didn't let this ruin my experience, because that would be a much worse feeling for me. To overcome this, I got close with the people around me, planned vacations with them, spoke about our families and different college experiences, and even met locals who were so kind to show me around to their favorite restaurants. Prioritizing friendships abroad was not something I regret at all--I have made a significant amount of memories with these friends I can never forget and I am all too excited for the next time our calendars align and we get to go back to Korea.

Favorite memory: I will never forget the trip my friends and I took to Jeju Island to have a bit of a beach getaway. We went to multiple beaches, saw a waterfall, went to a couple local bars, and even hiked Hallasan, the tallest mountain in South Korea. One of my friends and I had a goal of hiking a mountain, and decided to go big or go home! The 9 hour (4 hours up, 5 down) hike was a life-changing experience and one that I think about so often. In a time of relaxation, of course I would choose the experience that is the most go-getter. I truly miss each moment in Jeju, maybe not coming down from Hallasan, but definitely the food, the laughter, my toes in the sand, and the friends I'll never be able to forget.

Did you apply for any scholarships? If so, which ones and how did they impact your time abroad? My program provided a scholarship that helped me cover the Select Plus housing. I was able to live in my own room off campus and be fully immersed in the city, which is exactly what I wanted!

What do you know now that you didn't know before? I know how to navigate a country that isn't my own--transportation, accommodations, finding local food, planning an itinerary for myself, and more. I became comfortable traveling around Korea and branching out to new places because I knew what apps locals used to get around, I was able to figure out the subway system, and I knew which food places to avoid. I never left the US before studying abroad, and didn't really make many travel itineraries, which was intimidating me before going because I thought I would not be proactive about traveling and doing what I wanted to do because I'd be too overwhelmed with school. With time and help of my local friends I met in my classes, I was able to figure out my favorite spots in Seoul and eventually branch out to other places in Korea like Chucheon, Incheon, Gyeongju, Busan, and Jeju!

Fact about Korea that you think people would be surprised to learn: MBTI personalities are a big deal--you might even be asked for yours at work! MBTI personality types help Koreans navigate social settings to figure out social compatibility at school, work, school clubs, and cafes! So make sure you know yours before arriving or going to a networking event.