“What a nice, functioning library!” I thought to myself while wandering around the halls of E9 for the very first time. Coming from a country where you even forget the existence of libraries, it was such a refreshing sight to see neatly organized up-to-date books complemented with an Instagram-able modern interior. No wonder it was packed even on a gloomy Wednesday afternoon. This was one of the first moments when it started to sink in that I am in a science and engineering-oriented university, and one of the many times I am reminded that I am now living in a foreign country.

We all experience culture shock at some point in our lives, and coming to KAIST as both a freshman and a foreigner doubles this. Although it is hard to formulate a single definition that would encapsulate this feeling, some indications of its occurrence are feeling lost, anxious, or rejected upon encountering a new and unfamiliar culture or way of living. This phenomenon is not stagnant but rather occurs and is experienced in progressive stages. My earlier fascination with KAIST’s main library is probably the best manifestation of the first stage — the “honeymoon phase” when you find everything and anything unfamiliar exciting and interesting. It was such a euphoric stage that even the smooth traffic flow on campus was enough to make me happy. 

Unfortunately, this happiness is short-lived as you transition to the next stage when the frustration and anxiety start to kick in. While encountering something new is amusing, realizing that you are unfamiliar with everything makes every moment nerve-wracking. As soon as you set foot in this country, the language barrier will be an immediate challenge. This quickly became really apparent to me when even the immigration officer at the airport solely relied on body language, speaking not a single word. Informing the taxi driver of my destination was an equally challenging feat. Stepping into my room for the first time was also a startling experience as the dorm supervisor nagged me for not removing my shoes before entering. The stress from these little encounters piles up over time, and so does your longingness for home.

Now is the time when I must confess that South Korea is not an unfamiliar place to me anymore — or at least not as strange as it felt three years ago when I first came here. What I realized through those years is that, if you endure long enough, the next phase will slowly but surely kick-off. This is the time when you start to unconsciously adjust your own way of life to accommodate your new environment. This can be as simple as being able to endure Samyang noodles or being able to confidently order food in Korean. At this point, I came to terms with the fact that although everything might be unfamiliar, it does not mean that I should be scared of it.

I must warn you that adjustment does not necessarily mean acceptance. Having completed my high school diploma here, one might think that I have totally adapted to the academic culture at KAIST or, more generally, in South Korea. This cannot get anywhere farther from reality. Even now, as I am writing this article, I continue to dread the exam I have to take in a couple of days. Having grown up in an education system that values projects and performance tasks more than exams, I still cannot bring myself to fully accept that exams are the most important thing in a student’s life here. 

The good thing is that you come to accept some things earlier than others. This is the final stage of the culture shock experience. The fact that I came to accept earliest is that it is challenging to penetrate the Korean social circle. The cultural norms and expectations for social interactions were different from what I was accustomed to in my home country. Among these, the drinking culture is the most intimidating for me. Despite these challenges, I found that persistence and a willingness to learn and adapt were key to forming connections with Koreans. In short, although hard, it is not impossible to form meaningful links with the natives. 

Culture shock is a challenging but rewarding experience. Being an international freshman at KAIST, I face plenty of cultural challenges every single day, but, at the same time, I have the valuable experience to learn and grow in such a unique and diverse environment. Surely, this is but one of the countless POVs one can experience at KAIST. It makes me wonder: how does it look from your point of view?