Assalamualaikum,
I've had a junior in INTEC ask me what life was like in Korea. To be really honest, one blogpost cannot even summarize the multitude of experiences that I have been privileged to gain. Even so, I will try to encompass the general aspects of life in South Korea, mostly as a Muslim Malaysian student.
Student life
There are a number of differences when it comes to being a student during your year in the language institute, and when you are a university student. I can honestly say that the year in the language institute is probably the best. One of the reasons is responsibility is almost zero. All you had to do was attend class diligently, finish homework, attend PPMK's activities and have fun. The first year in Korea is always about knowing and immersing yourself in the Korean culture. You learn intensive Korean for a year, and if you love learning language like me, it would be a challenging yet invigorating experience, but if not, it's going to suck.
You get to go to tons of different places from around Korea, all expenses paid (except for souvenirs). The best part of it is you get to go with all your class mates and batch mates. The thing about being in the language institute is that you do the same thing every day. Every single day. Korean classes start from 9 until 1, and then an hour break before continuing with learning physics, chemistry and maths until 4/5 in the afternoon. You go back, eat, do homework, then sleep.
But don't be deceived. It may sound like a hectic life, but university life is more hectic. You have to fight for a spot to register a class every semester, making sure that the courses don't overlap and that you have sufficient time to pray. Assignments are ridiculously hard and plenty. You start having more responsibilities and even though you do get time between each class, it would always be to eat, nap or pray.
In university, if you end up like me, then you'll want to be almost shameless in making friends. Koreans won't go to you, you have to approach them even if it's their country, even if you're scared and shy. You want to score well? Make Korean friends. If you happen to be the only foreigner in the class and you're scared to talk to Koreans, then you'll start feeling lonely and depressed and just miserable. So being friends with Koreans is important.
Food.
Halal food is hard to find. It can be found in relative abundance in Itaewon, but even that, not so many. It is a relief that Koreans like to eat seafood and there are plenty of seafood in Korea so edible food isn't that hard to find. We eat seafood if we eat outside, and we buy our halal supplies in Itaewon, stock up for a 2 weeks or a month and we're thankful for that. Usually when people go out of their own country, they'll probably lose weight because food is hard to find. Not for me. So that's enough indication that we have plenty of food here.
Koreans and pork and alcohol are infused together. As in, if you want to be really close to a Korean, you'll have to spend time with them drinking alcohol. I have worked around that, and my Korean friends and I are very close just because I am open to share my culture with them. They are intrigued and they love Malaysian food (well, at least the ones that I have cooked for), so it's always a bonus if you can show your culture to them.
Praying.
Praying in Korea is hard. We have no musolla, there is only one mosque in Seoul, and that is in Itaewon. My classes are either back to back, or spaced out an hour from each other. Since my house is a 20 minute walk from the engineering building, there is no chance for me to go back home, pray and come back again for another class. Usually muslim students pray anywhere that is clean with little to zero traffic. We pray under stairs, in emergency stair cases, fitting rooms, you name it, we've done it (except bathrooms of course that's a given.)
There are moments that are especially hard when Koreans see you praying, and they call the police, or telling you to stop because they think you're a terrorist doing some sort of terrorist-y stuff. (I don't know if anyone else has experienced this but this is a personal experience so).
Being a muslimah.
Being a muslimah among non-muslims who don't really have knowledge about Islam is challenging yet humbling. You will be bombarded by questions ranging from "why are you wearing that isn't it hot?" to "Are you bald?" (Yes, I have gotten an are you bald question.) It is a trying time when summer comes around and you are in your hijab and long pants and long sleeve loose shirts and they keep telling you to take it off because it's hot.
It is also challenging when guys are very friendly with you and telling them that you can't touch them becomes a burden and you'll feel like you're going to insult them. Not really. Although Koreans have little knowledge about Islam (my friends think Islam came from India), they are very respectful IF you tell them. Tell them why you have to wear a hijab and tell them why you worship Allah, and tell them why you can't drink alcohol or eat pork. They'll understand, and sometimes go out of their way to make sure you're comfortable (and sometimes remind you when you need to pray).
Sure they'll be rare events where an old lady pulls your hijab because she doesn't like it, or a friend who incessantly invites you to go clubbing, but that's the beauty of living abroad. You have to protect Islam, it's your duty to preserve it, and that's why it's humbling. No one else around you is there to protect Islam, it's only you, and that gives a great sense of responsibility that one must keep.
Lifestyle.
Being late is disgusting. You will lose respect from your peers if you're late. If you're late even one minute, sometimes your presence doesn't even count in your final marks. You are absolutely not allowed to throw trash anywhere you like. Public transport here is amazing and so is the internet speed. If I say so myself, the best thing about Korea is the public transport and internet speed. You walk faster and walk more, and it's the best thing ever because in Malaysia, walking for 20 minutes is like a punishment but here, I walk to school and it takes 20 minutes, if I walk fast.
This is a very short version of life in Korea in general. I am too sleepy to go on, but maybe I'll follow up.
Assalamualaikum.