Study Abroad Smarter

Z

Zoe Peltzer

from Belgium

🇨🇦Victoria

“It was absolutely amazing!! Canadians are the nicest people on earth! They’re so welcoming! Victoria and Vancouver Island in general are such a great place to live! It’s super safe!! It’s incredibly diverse—there are mountains, the ocean, forests, and big cities. There are plenty of hikes to do right near Victoria: hills, lakes, forests, and along the coast. You can also spend the afternoon on a small beach or by the lake. It’s the part of Canada with the most temperate climate, so you can enjoy all of this from early spring through October. You can easily take lots of short trips, even just for a weekend—like going surfing in Tofino, hiking in the north of the island, taking the ferry to spend the weekend in Vancouver, and so on. If you have a little more time, you can also visit the magnificent national parks of Alberta and British Columbia with their crystal-clear lakes and Rocky Mountains. The city of Victoria is so cool—it’s a waterfront city with great museums, bars, restaurants, and more. Maybe not the best city for partying?”

D

Dan

from United Kingdom

🇰🇷Seoul

“My favourite city in the world. Seoul is big enough that there is always something new to see, but small and connected enough that you can leave after the year feeling like you've genuinely explored it. The public transport is so well developed and maintained that you can generally get from one side of the city to the other within an hour, for only a few thousand won (£1–3). Rent can be expensive if you choose to get your own place, especially in more central areas. I wasn't able to get a dorm room and ended up in a goshitel (small studio room, private bathroom, shared kitchen) in Sinchon (Yonsei campus) for 500k won a month. This was expensive for the size, but the central location made up for it. Goshiwons (shared bathroom) are a cheaper option if you're on a tighter budget. However, because everyday living is affordable, it's possible to spend a bit more on rent and still have flexibility. One of the best parts of Seoul is how much you can experience beyond the obvious tourist spots. Nature is highly accessible, with mountains, parks and forests dotted along subway lines. The city blends modern architecture and technology with tradition through its palaces and other heritage sites. Eating out is very affordable (often cheaper than cooking) and there is a big drinking culture, which can be fun but may not be for everyone. I would recommend exploring as much traditional food and culture as possible: trying fresh seafood in coastal areas like Ganghwa Island or Sokcho, doing a hanok stay, learning Korean history at the DMZ, visiting a jjimjilbang (traditional bathhouse).”

C

Capucine

from Belgium

🇨🇱Valparaíso

“I really loved it! I arrived alone, but some people who already knew the city told me everything I needed to know. Valparaíso is not the safest city, but you get used to it quite quickly. You should not take your phone out in the street, wear expensive jewellery, and if you are alone at night, take an Uber because it is very cheap here. I could barely speak Spanish when I arrived, but after two months I became much more confident because all of my classes were in Spanish. Most students here speak Spanish when they are not from the same country, which I really liked because now I feel much more fluent and I have local friends. I live in a huge casa with 23 people, which is so cool because there is always someone around to do activities or trips with. It is located in Cerro Alegre, which is the nicest area in my opinion. Chile is amazing to travel around — in the north and south you can discover so many different landscapes. There is also the sea next to the city, with nice beaches not too far away. If you like art and culture, there are theatres, museums, movies, and music in the street. You will be very happy here!”