♦ Written by Cheyial Esau
In Fall of 2021, BESTies Alyssa Mencel, Ila Ferris, and Mark Ushiroda studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark while Dylan Yamamoto studied in London, England! Here’s what our BESTies who studied in Europe had to share!
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Why did you decide to study in London?
Dylan: London is a place with a lot of rich history and culture. It was a place so different from Hawaii. Also it was easy to visit to a lot of other countries and places which allowed me to learn and see so much in my time there.
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What was your favorite part of studying abroad?
Alyssa: One of my favorite parts about studying abroad was the self growth. Putting yourself in a completely different environment, really pushes you out of your comfort zone and allows you to learn so much more about yourself. Alongside that I was able to meet such amazing people and lifelong friends. In Europe especially you are able to travel so easily and see beautiful places.
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How was Copenhagen similar and/or different from Hawaii?
Mark: Something unique about Denmark is that it’s a very sustainable country, hardly anyone drives a car and instead everyone cycles around. So to commute around Copenhagen, we cycled or took the metro which was a great way to save money and see the city! It was also a nice break from driving everyday in Hawaii.
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What advice would you give BESTies or anyone interested in studying abroad?
Ila: Keep an open mind throughout your entire experience! There will be moments where things don't go to plan or expectations, but it is important to keep moving forward and embrace uncomfortable moments while exploring your new home. Getting into a routine helped me have a new life and settle in Denmark while traveling as much as I could.
In Fall of 2021 BESTie Giovani Martin studied abroad in Hong Kong, China while JJ Bernardo, Justina Bui, Kelli Chinen, Alissa Higaki, and Michelle Yim studied in Seoul, South Korea! Here’s what they had to say about their experience!
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Why did you decided to study in Hong Kong?
Gio: I wanted to study abroad in Hong Kong because of its strong financial center, real estate market, and to explore the Chinese culture.
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What was your favorite part of studying abroad?
Alissa: My favorite part of studying abroad was overall being in a new country and being able to explore as much as I could. Wanting to come to Korea for a long time, it was extremely fun to finally be able to go to places that I’ve always wanted to visit and try lots of cheap good food. I also really enjoyed going on mini trips to visit areas outside of Seoul like Busan and Jeju Island.
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How was Korea similar and/or different from Hawaii?
Michelle: How affordable it is to eat out! Finding a good meal for less than $10 USD is really easy, especially around the universities. Thankfully, there were a lot of convenience stores and street food stalls that allowed me to try a little bit of everything!
Justina: I saw the fall leaves slowly transform into the winter weather, where I experienced snow for the first time. The temperature dropped from 70 to 15 degrees was amazing to encounter.
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What advice would you give BESTies or anyone interested in studying abroad?
Kelli: If you’re interested, go for it! I know it may be difficult with covid but I would just take any opportunity available. I went to a different country than I originally planned to, however, I had a wonderful time, especially getting to experience it with my BESTies! Stay safe and be aware of the ever changing society but remember when are you ever going to have the chance to experience a country fully five months!
JJ: Get comfortable with being challenged and not being in your comfort zone! There will be many embarrassing and sticky moments while living abroad, but it's in these experiences where we grow into stronger, better, and more resilient individuals.