Corresponding to the increasing number of international students admitted to KAIST each year, the Office of Advising and Support for International Students (OASIS) launched the KAIST Buddy Program that was newly created this fall. It aims to help freshmen international students adjust to the Korean culture and campus life more easily by associating with Korean friends. For Korean students, this program offers a unique opportunity to experience multiple cultures and to get along with many international students coming from various backgrounds. As the KAIST Buddy Program is designed to have a one-to-one relationship, around 50 Korean students were selected to become KAIST buddies for this semester, and The KAIST Herald met one pair to hear more about this newly launched program.

Could you both introduce yourselves briefly?
[Nguyen] Hello, my name is Oanh Thi Kieu Nguyen from Vietnam. I am a freshman and I plan to major in the Department of Biological Sciences.
[Hwang] Hello, I am Hyunji Hwang, a senior majoring in the Department of Biological Sciences. This is my first time participating in the KAIST Buddy Program.

What prompted you both to apply for KAIST Buddy Program?
[Hwang] I have previously participated in programs organized by the International Student Organization. Through these programs, I helped foreign exchange students living on campus. So when I heard about this program, I wanted to join because it would provide me with a chance to not only help international students not only as a group, but do so individually.
[Nguyen] As OASIS arranged KAIST buddies for freshmen international students, it was a pleasant surprise when Hyunji contacted me via email. Before coming to KAIST, I was overwhelmed with a lot of preparation, and had a fear of leaving to an unfamiliar place. However, as soon as I received an email from Hyunji, I felt welcomed at the thought of having a first Korean friend. It was such a nice feeling.

Can you explain more about activities or events of the program?
[Hwang] OASIS prepared a lot of daily events that both buddies can enjoy. For example, they recommended us to visit restaurants, library, or buy souvenirs together. However, most of the activities planned are located inside the campus or within Daejeon. So, instead of visiting places on campus that Oanh is already familiar with, we applied for a trip to Gongju and will have a homestay experience there. Most importantly, I try to keep in touch with her all the time via email.
[Nguyen] As my buddy, Hyunji takes care of me very well. We always communicate through emails. Once, I was so busy that I was not able to respond to her promptly, which made her so worried. She is like my sister. Also, since we try to spend time together and have fun beyond KAIST, I feel like she is indeed a close friend of mine.

Since it is a new program, do you have any suggestions for further improvements?
[Hwang] First of all, communication between buddies should be improved. For example, international students are provided with enough information of their Korean buddies, while that is not the case vice versa. Also, it would be nice if OASIS could offer more help for international students with practical matters. Including Oanh, many international students are having trouble signing up for cellphones in Korea. If OASIS can come up with useful manuals for them to easily follow, the Buddy Program will become much more organized than it is now.
Moreover, when we first met for the city tour, most program leaders were international students who were also not familiar with the city. So many problems arose, such as finding locations and moving to different places. It seemed like OASIS depends too much on the international students that currently attend KAIST. If more Korean students who know the city better had joined the city tour, the program would have been much smoother. In addition, if a tour bus could be provided for such occasions, it will be very convenient.
Lastly, if OASIS can provide a list of recommended places beyond campus for international students to visit, it would help them a lot. Since most places that are suggested by OASIS are located inside the campus, there is a lack of information regarding Daejeon or other cities in Korea.

Do you have any last comments for students who are interested in this program?
[Hwang] I highly recommend many KAIST students to join this program. Unlike other universities in Korea, international students in KAIST come from diverse countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, China and etc. Thus, it is a good chance to meet various students and learn about their unique cultures. Also, Oanh became a good friend of mine, whom I could not have met if it was not for this program.
[Nguyen] It is really a good program that helps international students integrate easily into the Korean culture. I think the Buddy Program is what makes KAIST special and different from other universities. I hope this program will develop, improve, and eventually leave a much bigger impact on international students in the future. 

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