Q1. What motivated you to choose Korea as your exchange student country?
I started to be interested in Asian culture around 2009. I was especially interested in Japanese manga. After that, when I walked the street, a Chinese song came out as background music, which is my style. I searched more about Asian culture, and my knowledge grew like a snowball rolling down a snow-covered hill. When I was 18, I felt closer to Asian culture than my own, so I wanted to go to an Asian country. Music is important in my life, and I know the Korean music industry is one of the best. I want to learn more about the Korean music industry. That is why I planned to go to Korea. I hope to work in the Korean music industry after obtaining a master’s degree in Poland.
Q2. What did you want to do when you came to Korea? (ex. Food, place, festival)
I had no specific dreams. I did not plan what to do in Korea. At first, I did not know what I would do in Korea, but I got in touch with a friend and started thinking about what I wanted to do in Korea.
Q3. Is there any reason you chose your major?
My major is Photojournalism. When I was young, I wanted to be a judo Olympic Champion or a police officer. However, my first dream could not come true due to an injury. Since then, I have been interested in writing and photography. One of my teachers told me I could attend the Olympics as a photographer, not a judoka. If I had the chance, I would love to attend the Olympics as a photographer.
Q4. Have you ever experienced a cultural difference in Korea?
Everything is different. In Korea, there are directions for walking on the street. For example, people walk on the right side, but there is no direction in Poland. The language culture is also different. In Korea, the expressions used for the elderly differ, but our country does not have them. Also, the education system is different. There is high pressure in South Korea’s education system. Korean students face social pressure to go to university after graduating high school. There is no such pressure in Poland, and most students explore their options before deciding what they want to do after high school.
