Meet Sasha May
Studying Abroad in Korea and Honduras
I am a Business major, with a concentration in Management, and am pursuing a minor in Sustainability Studies. I spent about a year and a half at Mason Korea, four consecutive semesters and participated in a Mason-led Summer program in Honduras. I began my journey in Korea through the Global Gateway program as a Freshman Spring 2020, then remained abroad through the summer and fall semesters, went home for winter break, and returned for a final spring ‘21 semester.
My Time in South Korea
Can you believe my original plan was to only spend one semester abroad in South Korea? I chose to extend my stay one semester at a time because of my enjoyment of the bustling metropolitan lifestyle I lived, the cultural emersion, and the lifelong friendships I developed in Korea. During my time, I explored Incheon, Seoul, Daegu, Busan, and Jeju Island. Walking down the road over to Triple Street and Hyundai, Technopark station is right in reach. Parallel to the proximity of DC to Fairfax, it is easy to hop on the train to reach what is waiting to be explored in Seoul.
Sasha's Korea Spotlight by Global Education OfficeThis was my experience living on my own, as I have been a commuter student to Mason, as I am a NOVA local. I remain truly grateful to have had this experience, and for all the doors Global Gateway has opened for me. Global Gateway is a distinct program for college freshmen to study abroad within their second semester. Their first semester contains a one-credit preparational course, where your classmates are the cohort you will be going abroad with, a great chance to get to know everyone, or even coordinate flights together. GMUK specializes in offering Business, Conflict Resolution, Game Design, and Global Affairs concentrations, so there were plentiful course options for myself doing business.
I showed up my first semester knowing practically zero of the language but inevitably picked it up through immersion and an introductory Korean course. Both Songdo and Seoul are English-friendly cities, and it was manageable. Immersion is the best way of learning, expediting proficiency levels with limitless opportunities to practice. Although language proficiency is not required for GEO programs, unless specified, I would recommend taking an introductory language course during a semester exchange, as an incredibly fulfilling learning opportunity!
I also happen to be vegetarian, and understand the struggle and the initial concern over accommodations prior to beginning your time abroad. My key recommendation applicable globally, would be using the “Happy Cow” app, or their free website. It is essentially Yelp but for plant-based restaurant options. Regardless of dietary restriction, if possible, during a semester exchange cooking for yourself is an important skill to develop, otherwise dining out will likely become costly. A vegetarian stable food would be bibimbap, or even better dolsot bibimbap (served in a hot stone bowl that crisps the rice). Usually this does not contain meat, and it can be easily omitted, as well as the egg topping. My top vegan restaurant recommendations in Seoul: Chez Valarie, Maji, Plant Cafe & Kitchen, Maru JaYeonSik Kimbap.
Recommendations for Incheon
- Incheon China Town (Cafe Akira)
- Sinpo Market - and exploring the historic surrounding area, Wolmido.
Recommendations for Seoul
- Gwangjang Market, Ikseondong Neighborhood (청수당 Cheongsudang Cafe)
- Hanok Village, Insadong neighborhood (at Anguk Station)
- Mangwon neighborhood (the Mangwon Market and Surrounding Area)
- Cheonggyecheon stream, Dongmyo Flea Market
One of my favorite activities in Seoul was visiting Dongmyo Flea Market, going shopping for vintage clothing and antiques. If that’s your thing, I would recommend checking it out on a weekday, rather than the weekend when it gets too crowded. I befriended multiple shop owners here! But be sure to always, always, barter for prices with cash on hand. Take the train to Dongmyo station, and I recommend taking exit 6.
Going to Honduras
Last semester, Spring 2022, I took EVPP 490, equivalent to BIOL 417: Coral Reef Ecology, Health, and Conservation. There was both a lecture and a lab section, and within the lab course was an embedded GEO program, “Honduras - Coral Reef Ecology, Health, and Conservation: Embedded, Summer”. We traveled to Roatan, Honduras, an island off of the mainland, and stayed there for the duration of a week. I had the pleasure of staying at Anthony’s Key Resort, an incredible SCUBA diving-centric resort, where the Roatan Institute for Marine Science (RIMS) is based out of.
Sasha's Honduras Spotlight by Global Education OfficeStudents had the option of snorkeling, and SCUBA diving for those certified. As a side note, did you know Mason has a two-credit SCUBA diving course for earning an Open Water Diver SSI SCUBA certification? Best two credits of my life! Those enrolled in the SCUBA course completed their certifications upon the trip, and previously certified divers made progress towards AAUS Scientific Diver status.
Our trip itinerary included activities such as daily SCUBA diving within the preserved gorgeous Bay Islands National Marine Park. We learned coral, fish, and various invertebrate identification, and implemented our knowledge out on the field, in coral reefs we explored through SCUBA. We actively learned at the Roatan Institute for Marine Science, then practiced AGRRA (coral) and REEF (fish) protocols to monitor coral reef ecosystems. We discussed stony coral tissue loss disease, and Diadema (long-spined sea urchin) populations, two critical on-going issues within the Caribbean. Another highlight would be receiving a lecture and meeting the author of our textbook, Mickey Charteris! On this trip, I was very excited to have received lab experience assisting in preserving samples taken from the coral reef for a friend’s dissertation, examining the effect of biofilms on coral polyp settlement. My tip highlight was assisting in the maintenance of the RIMS coral nursery, regrowing staghorn and elkhorn corals for reef restoration.
Author Spotlight
| Major | Business Management |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Fairfax, Virginia |
| Study Abroad | Global Gateway Korea Mason Korea (3 semesters) Honduras |
| Highlight | Befriending numerous local business owners within both Songdo and Seoul, of which I am still friends with to this day |
| Challenge | After having been an off-campus commuter student at Mason, studying abroad provided me with the independence of living on my own for the very first time. Along with the abrupt immersion to life in South Korea, this prompted significant personal growth. |
| Favorite Food | Dolsot Bibimbap (Korea) Baleada (Honduras) |