1. Please introduce yourself (background, interests, your MBTI, and so on)

Hey there! My name is Jacy, I am a third-semester International Relations major, and I come from Brazil’s capital city: Brasília (no, neither São Paulo nor Rio is our capital anymore haha). Back home I got my bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Universidade Católica de Brasilia, and before moving to Seoul to start my master's degree I spent a year in Suncheon, a city located in Jeollanam-do, studying Korean. Most people don’t know much about Suncheon and even have some misconceptions about it, but trust me, Suncheon is a city full of good surprises, and amazing food, and it is home to my favorite coffee shop: Sweet Bitter Café. 

I recently found out that my MBTI has changed, I used to be an INFP, but I became an INFJ after coming to Korea! As an introvert, reading, café hopping, and going on solo dates around Seoul are some of the activities that I enjoy doing the most.

2. Can you tell us the reason why you chose to study at Sogang GSIS?

Like many people, my interest in South Korea started through K-pop. It all started with Girls’ Generation and over time evolved to an interest in Korean contemporary history. So, when I was an undergrad student, I focused my attention on studying the dilemma of integrating North Korean defectors into South Korean society. This particular interest led me to pursue the opportunity to study in South Korea. 

Now, I guess I had very practical reasons for coming to Sogang GSIS. I wanted to attend a university in Seoul (as it would be more convenient for a foreigner living in Korea for the first time), in a lively neighborhood, and where I could find professors with the same research interests as me. Sogang GSIS ticked all those boxes. 

3. How do you usually spend your spare time in Korea?

My top three favorite things to do whenever I have free time are going to coffee shops, visiting museums and palaces, and thrifting (ask me about my favorite places in any of those categories and I can go on and on about it). 

4. Can you recommend your favorite place/spot in Seoul?

Yeonnam-dong is definitely my favorite neighborhood in Seoul. You can find many coffee shops, restaurants, and cute stationery stores there – plus, it is located in a very flat area, so you don’t have to worry about going up and down the hills. I would also recommend Euljiro – a.k.a. 힙지로 –, as it has some pretty good places to eat and hang out with friends (the ramen at Konbu and the coffee at Colectivo are on my list of favorites). 

5. Any recommendations or know-how on life in Korea?

My biggest advice is: Find your “third space.” Somewhere that is not the university or the place you live at. Your third space can be related to anything, sports, common interests, hobbies, or even a religious group. My third space, for example, is the church I attend. Having a third space has allowed me to meet people from many different backgrounds, and share with them new experiences in Korea, such as going to the opera, watching an orchestra, and going to jazz jams (okay, I might have a soft spot for music-related events). I heard from a friend that there are apps where people can find others who share the same hobbies as you. From one of those, she found a jazz group to belong to! I think this is great for people like us who don’t have a community in Korea yet.

Also, take full advantage of the “Culture Day” in Korea. On every last Wednesday of each month, entrance to many cultural activities is free. This is a great opportunity to visit palaces, museums, and performance halls!

6. Can you share your most memorable experience at Sogang GSIS with us?

Professor Kim Jinwoo’s War Game! I had never participated in an activity as challenging but as rewarding as this one. The semester-long build-up for this war game transformed my attitude as a student beyond academic knowledge. 

Another memorable experience was the picnic arranged by the Student Council! It was really fun to get to know my classmates outside the university setting and enjoy other countries’ snacks while having some good conversations. 

7. Do you have any advice for the prospective students at Sogang GSIS?

Take every challenge as an opportunity to grow. What at first seemed like impossible tasks to me ended up being valuable lessons and made me confident in my ability to overcome them. Don’t be afraid to fail and pick yourself back up together, and seek help whenever needed. Life requires grit and the will to fight for what is important to you.

I would also like to encourage you to take every opportunity you have to explore places outside of Seoul. You don’t have to travel far, even day trips to the cities around Seoul are so worth it and can help you relieve the stress of your study routine. I also find that visiting these places and visiting other museums outside of Seoul helps me understand Korean history better, which is super helpful in some classes. 

8. Do you have anything to say to Sogang GSIS?

I would like to thank the professors for creating a learning environment that is as light and open to different opinions as possible. We all come from very different backgrounds, but I feel safe debating ideas in our classes. And if I may suggest something, how about having some courses on Latin America and Africa at Sogang GSIS?

And for my fellow GSIS students, don’t be so hard on yourselves. We are all on our individual journeys, and nobody has it all figured out. There is still so much more to come!