Loving the City of Brotherly Love
Semester Abroad: Exchange at Penn
Hagje, one of the Exchange at Penn Correspondents, shares his experience here at Penn during the Spring 2026 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.
“Wait, I could go to the University of Pennsylvania for exchange?” That was the first thought I had when I saw Penn on a list of colleges I could go on exchange. Having lived in the US when I was young, I always dreamt of attending school in the US. Being a senior who had to graduate soon and needing to prepare for my future was important, but I was always the type to pursue my dreams. So, without second thought, I applied and was accepted to Exchange at Penn. The thought of going on exchange to the States itself was exhilarating, let alone that I was going to be studying at one of the best universities in the world.
When the day finally came for me to go, I actually had very ambivalent feelings, which is a little different from my initial thoughts. The thought of moving to a new country 11000 kilometers away from home(also a 14 hour time difference when I want to contact anyone back home), away from all my friends and family, and the environment that I was used to, was a bit scary. I was also kind of scared of all the classes I needed to take, the experience that I would have, and the interactions with new people that I’m not used to. Also, the flight was 18 hours AND I had a layover, which is just dreadful (never get on a flight like that!). Nevertheless, I boarded the plane and slowly drifted away from Seoul to Philadelphia.
Only having been to Philly when I was 11, I didn’t remember much about Philly except that it was the first capital of the US. Also, being brutally honest, all my friends told me Philly was going to be horrible and boring. However, when I first arrived in Philadelphia, I instantly fell in love. The mix of modern buildings along with the rich history was great, along with all the great food. I never knew that cheesesteaks were this good because I’ve only been to Charley’s and they were… Well, let’s just say they’re edible. The museums were also great, too. I never thought I’d be able to see the famous toilet by Duchamp here in the Museum of Art!
When I first walked onto Penn’s campus, even though it was a new environment, I felt like I could fit in right away. I instantly found similarities between Penn and my school, Yonsei University. Just like Locust Walk, my school back home has a central road on campus that extends from the front to the back, connecting all the buildings along with the whole school. Penn’s buildings were beautiful, having a mix of modern, stylish vibes with older buildings with class and history. Moving into the dorms and getting my PennCard made me feel like I’m finally at my new home.
Fast forward, now Philly and Penn feel like a home away from home. I casually walk down Locust Walk for classes and stop by Wawa for a quick snack or drink. I stop by the BioPond to sit down and relax a bit between classes. I’m now finally settled into the lab where I’m conducting research. I randomly go to Center City for good food, and the Palestra or Xfinity Center to support the Quakers or the 76ers. I made new friends and found new go-to restaurants when I don’t feel like going to Commons (Let’s go Hangry Joe’s and Asad’s!). Well, I’m still not used to Harnwell’s elevator issues, but still, I feel like that’s part of the experience.
Now, it feels like it will be awkward for me to return to Korea, as 2 months have already passed and only 2 months remain. Nevertheless, I’m living in the moment and love everything about Penn and Philly. I guess, as the meaning behind Philly’s name is the City of Brotherly Love, people do come to truly love this place.