By james art 
Since high school, I have dreamed of going abroad and exploring the world. I always knew I wanted to go to Korea, even though I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to step out of my comfort zone and take advantage of every opportunity abroad. After enrolling at the University of Nevada, Reno, I wanted to find a program that would allow me to connect with other foreigners as well as locals and immerse myself deeper into Korean culture. After going back and forth between programs, I applied to the University Study Abroad Consortium (USAC) Seoul, Korea program at Korea University (KU).
I was originally drawn to this program because of their KU Buddy Assistants or KUBA program. It works by pairing you with other students, so by the time classes start, you have a buddy on the inside to show you the ropes. Little did I know that this program would help me make the most of my time abroad.
As a first-generation student, my second hurdle was making friends abroad. I was worried about fitting in with the other exchange students as I was already considered part of the minority back home. Through KUBA, I had the opportunity to connect not only with other foreigners, but also with local Korean students.
One of the first events KUBA organized was a welcome party to get to know the other groups assigned to us. Fortunately, I was assigned to the best KUBA group, group 4. The leader was Sehun, an engineering student at KU. Our friends at KUBA were Vicky, an English major and Gaeum, a business major at KU. By the end of my program, they had become some of my biggest friends in Korea. At that party I also met someone who would become my best friend, Noemi, another student studying at USAC.
We went to other events throughout the semester. There was a field day where we played several sports games against other KUBA groups. At the end of our day our friends from KUBA brought out water guns which turned into a big water fight against the other groups. Afterwards we all went out to dinner.
Another event was an international student festival. Foreigners had the opportunity to represent their different countries and serve food to represent our culture. This has been my favorite event so far. I set a table for Mexico with my friend Noemi and we created a piñata. We won an award for best attraction!
With KUBA, we also had the opportunity to go to the top of the Lotte Tower and walk on the bridge of the tallest tower in Seoul. Watching the city lights illuminate the night in the clear summer air was a moment I will never forget. KUBA made this moment possible for me.
Throughout the semester, we had a tradition of going out to lunch or dinner once a week to continue building the bond between our group. Over time, I became closer to my friends. We ended up going to two amusement parks, several historical palaces where we dressed up in traditional hanbok, a KUBA Halloween party, an aquarium, and attended all the Korea University and Yonsei competitive games. Spoiler alert: KU took home the trophy.
Most of my memories of my time abroad were made possible by KUBA. I would not have had the same cultural experience without my friends at KU. Whether I needed help going to the bank, making a doctor’s appointment, or even just wanting to hang out or grab a bite to eat, KUBA was there for me throughout my trip in Seoul. They helped me not to feel like a minority abroad, but to feel as comfortable as I would back home.
At the end of my time abroad, we had a farewell party to say goodbye to our KUBA groups. It was one of the most difficult times for me as I had grown close to my friends and friends. We had dinner and drinks at the same restaurant where we had the welcome party, and that moment will be remembered forever. I had a journal for my entire group to sign and photo booths with our friends that I will cherish as a highlight of my time abroad.
My time in Seoul will forever have a special place in my heart and it wouldn’t be the same without Sehun, Gaeum, Vicky and the rest of KUBA.
Leslie Navarro Chavez is a fourth-year neuroscience student at the University of Nevada, Reno. She enjoys traveling and exploring nature through hiking and camping. Leslie hopes to eventually work as a criminal profiler after graduating and gaining experience as a mental health technician.