PALs 2019-2020 Q&A with Megan Everts, CAS '21

Megan Everts, a senior studying international relations and East Asian area studies, has participated in semesters abroad at Yonsei University in South Korea and Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies in Japan, internships in France and South Korea, and a summer abroad in France. During the 2020-2021 academic year, Megan is serving as a Penn Abroad Leader, which is Penn Abroad’s student advisory board focused on special projects and supporting fellow students interested in global experiences. We sat down with Megan to discuss how she decided to spend a semester abroad in both South Korea and Japan, some of her most memorable experiences and mishaps, and where she would love to travel to next. 

So, tell me a little about why you wanted to go abroad and what made you choose these destinations? 
As an international relations major, studying abroad was always something important for me because it was a way for me to really dive deeply into the history and culture of another country, and it provided me with the opportunity to learn from a non-American perspective. Originally, my goal was to study abroad for a year in Japan, as I started studying Japanese at Penn and loved learning about the language and culture. Additionally, East Asia is the region I focus on within international relations, so it made sense for me to study in an East Asian country. However, my plans evolved after I became friends with an exchange student from South Korea who was studying at Penn for a year. Through my friendship with her, I learned more about the history and culture of South Korea, and she convinced me to split my time abroad between South Korea and Japan. So, I studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea for one semester followed by one semester in Kyoto, Japan. This arrangement was perfect, as I was able to continue my friendship with the exchange student I met at Penn by studying at her university in Seoul, and in Kyoto, I was able to improve my Japanese language abilities that I had already started to develop at Penn. 

What was your most memorable experience while abroad? Describe your favorite day. 
This was definitely not my favorite day but by far one of the most memorable ones. When I first arrived in South Korea, I took a taxi to the school dormitory. However, due to a miscommunication between myself and the taxi driver, I ended up being dropped off at a completely different part of the campus. I had never actually looked at a map of the campus before arriving, so I had no clue where I was or where I needed to go. Eventually, I found the direction I needed to head in, and I had to roll my suitcases up a large hill. I was visibly struggling, and this older Korean woman approached me. She tried to talk to me but I could not understand a word she said. I showed her where I was supposed to be going, and then she suddenly grabbed one of my suitcases and led me there. I really appreciated her help and wished I knew the language well enough to properly thank her. But, I think I was still able to convey my gratitude to her. 

Did you travel around your host country? And beyond? Tell us a little about how you enjoyed the places you visited.
I focused on traveling within my host countries rather than traveling outside of them. When I was in South Korea, I spent the majority of my time exploring Seoul because it was such a huge city filled with various exciting areas. Every weekend there was something new to explore such as music festivals, light shows, or food markets. I also made sure to get outside of the city and experience nature. I took a few weekend trips to nearby places such as Nami Island and Suwon Fortress. Then, after I finished my semester, I spent time exploring other regions of South Korea such as Busan and Jeju Island. 

In Japan, I ended up taking more smaller trips than I did when I was in South Korea. The location of Kyoto was great as it was central to various other interesting cities, so I was able to visit areas such as Nara and Osaka multiple times. The program I studied with also took us on a trip to Hiroshima, which was a very emotional and impactful experience. Before I had to leave the country due to COVID, I also made it out to Tokyo for a week, where I was able to reconnect with the big city vibe that I experienced in Seoul. 

Any unique place that stuck out to you? 
Nara in Japan was an especially fascinating place to visit, as there are many deer that roam around without restrictions. You can buy special food to feed them, and they may even bow to you in order to get the food. There were also interesting festivals held in Nara. I went to one called Wakakusa Yamayaki, where there was a parade that culminated in a mountain being set on fire followed by a fireworks show.  

Any new food experiences – or mishaps? 
In South Korea, there were a lot of different foods that were very spicy. I was not very used to eating spicier foods, so I had to build up my tolerance by slowly trying more spicy foods. Ultimately, I am glad that I can now eat some spicier foods, as I have realized how good their flavor is. 

What surprised you the most on your trip? 
I was surprised by how efficient the public transportation systems were in both South Korea and Japan. It was so easy to navigate around cities using buses and subways, despite not being able to fluently speak the native languages. I felt very safe and comfortable traveling alone, even late at night. 

What would you say is the most valuable lesson you took from your trip?  
I realized the importance of packing light when traveling. Especially when packing for an entire year abroad, I was so focused on ensuring that I had clothes for all the different seasons that I did not take into account the amount of space I would need for new items I purchased and wanted to bring back home.  

If you could change one thing about the trip, what would you change?  
I wish I realized sooner that it was perfectly okay for me to go out and do activities on my own rather than waiting for people to do things with me. I feel like sometimes I limited myself by waiting on other people when I could have just gone exploring on my own. Thankfully, the longer I was abroad, the more confident I became in myself. 

Rapid-fire Questions 

Most touristy thing you did? 
Wore a hanbok and took pictures at Gyeongbok Palace 

Favorite food place? 
An all-you-can-eat Korean barbeque place called Chakhan Dwaeji 

3 words to describe your trip 
Fulfilling, adventure, and growth 

Where to next? 
Honestly, I want to go back to South Korea!