1. Hello, first of all, please introduce yourself and the university you are dispatched to.

Hello! I am Baek Gyu-je, class of 21, Department of Global Management.

I went to the Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA, for a total of two semesters, from the second semester of the 24th school year to the first semester of the 25th school year.

2. What made you participate in the exchange student program?

I experienced a two-week summer school at KU Leuven in Belgium in 2023. In this program, I was able to study my major from a more diverse perspective, and I met many foreign friends who were really grateful and warm, so I applied for the exchange student program because I wanted to experience abroad for a longer period of time.

3. Did you prepare anything for the exchange student program? How was the preparation process?

First of all, the most important thing is the visa. Based on the I-20 issued by the University of Houston, you can get an F1 visa!

When you have a visa interview, there are so many people who make appointments almost every day, so I recommend going early. Also, along with the documents that were provided on the internet, you should bring your transcripts just in case. (You don’t have to bring them all, just the essential documents, but I brought everything I could just in case.)

4. What is basic life like in the US?

Unlike states with good weather like California and other latitudes, Texas is really hot. Even on Christmas, I wore short sleeves, and in January and February, it snowed and was really cold, but from March onwards, the lowest temperature is 20~22 degrees Celsius, and the highest temperature is 28~33 degrees Celsius. It rains occasionally and is humid, but the wind blows moderately, so it is a little different from the sweltering heat of Korea.

In terms of cost of living, it is really cheap because it is Texas. Korean food is the most expensive. In terms of public transportation, you can get a student card and use it cheaply, but unlike public transportation in Korea, it is not safe, so in my case, my international student friends and local friends kindly gave me a ride. In the case of exchange students, they are assigned to dorms on campus, so there is not much reason to drive except for going to appointments or parties, going to restaurants outside (Korean restaurants, etc.), and going to the mart!

I was also very satisfied with the accommodations. The school has Cougar Village, Moody Tower, Cougar Place, Quad, and Loft. Most of you will be assigned to Cougar Place or Quad, and there are 2 to 4 roommates, but the rooms are apartment-style, so you only share the kitchen, living room, bathroom, and shower with your roommate, and you are given a separate room, so it was really comfortable. In the case of Cougar Village and Moody Tower, it is like a Korean dormitory, where 2 people live together in 1 room!

Also, for the University of Houston, you can watch the home games of the school team for free in the fall semester (football) and in the spring semester (basketball), so I highly recommend watching them!! (They have good records in the college league, and in the case of basketball, they unfortunately came in second place in the US national tournament this year.)

5. What are the differences between the educational cultures of the US and Korea?

What I really liked was that there was no sense of a wall between the students and professors. I think this was a unique advantage of the Hospitality Department (when I talked to other international students, it seemed that the Hospitality Department had a stronger relationship with professors and students!). The professors really paid more attention to each student, gave them advice, and kept in touch with them. Also, after returning to Korea, a professor from the University of Houston visited Korea and thankfully contacted me, which gave me even more good memories.

6. Please share your feelings and concerns as a student participating in the exchange program.

In my case, I adapted quickly, so I didn't feel any negative emotions. The saddest thing for me was being away from my family, but I was able to keep in touch often, so it was okay. Since K-culture is very permeated, I don't think you have to worry. Many clubs also incorporate K-culture and food into their activities!

7. Please tell us about your experience as a senior who was actually dispatched.

Like most people who go abroad, I was worried about whether I would be able to adapt well. In particular, I thought Texas was synonymous with conservative regions in the United States, so I was worried about whether I, a foreigner, would be able to fit in well.

After living there, I realized that I really didn't have to worry about these things. All my local friends were kind to me, and they were not just kind to strangers, but kind to me as close friends and schoolmates. In fact, I received a lot of help from my local friends, and on Thanksgiving Day, which is a representative American holiday, I had a delicious meal at my local friend's house, and my friend's parents welcomed me like a son.

Also, just like in Korea, my friends studied hard, but they also had a lot of free time and had really cool hobbies. This is why I fell in love with the United States, and as I thought back on the things I had missed in Korea because I only focused on the real world, I reorganized my plans for my future career so that I wouldn't regret it.

8. What is the most memorable thing about the exchange program?

I met so many great people and brought back precious memories.

You may be worried about homesickness for Korea, but there are many Koreans in Houston, and especially in the ‘Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership’ hotel management department at the University of Houston, there are many Korean professors. Also, there is the Korean Student Association (KSA) at the University of Houston, which consists of Korean students and Korean-American friends. Through KSA, you can network with Koreans in various professions who have settled in Houston!

The most important thing is that there is a Sungkyunkwan University alumni association in Houston. They have activities for about 30~40 minutes, and once a month, they have a schedule where they greet their seniors, buy them delicious food, and share good stories. When I was far away in the US, I really missed my family, but when I spent time with my seniors, it was like spending holidays with relatives, and I had nothing but affection and thankful memories. If you ever come to Houston, please contact me (lugia100@g.skku.edu) and I will connect you with Houston alumni!

9. What are your future plans? What are your future career paths and goals?

I have had many unexpected opportunities in Houston, and I have met many friends and adults who I can learn from. That is why I have decided to turn my attention to the US, and I plan to return to Houston in the fall semester of 26. I am considering majoring in Accounting, Hospitality Events, and the Music Industry, so I want to study and gain more experience in these areas and settle down in the US.

10. Lastly, if you have any stories to share with business school students who are considering participating in the exchange student program, please let me know.

As I mentioned earlier, I simply studied for a certificate in Korea and planned a career related to the certificate. However, after taking classes at the University of Houston in the second semester of 2024 and talking with professors, I immediately felt that there was so much to learn and a mindset in the United States, so I called my parents and told them that I wanted to extend my exchange program less than two weeks after starting the exchange program, and I was able to continue my exchange program in the United States in the first semester of 2025.

Life doesn’t always go as planned, and there are always other wonderful paths, so I recommend that you don’t get too caught up in one direction and try out different experiences. Being an exchange student is a particularly special experience, so I recommend that you don’t hesitate and give it a try!