MINERVA VOICES

Lina's Letter from Seoul

See Seoul through Lina Elatik's perspective

December 6, 2023

Hello from Seoul,

I am writing this as I look down on the dynamic and bustling streets of Seoul, where the energy is as vibrant as the neon lights that adorn every corner! Adapting to the fast-paced life of Seoul has been like a rollercoaster ride. From navigating through the busy streets of Myeong-dong to deciphering the menu at local restaurants (thank goodness for pictures!), every day is a new mission filled with excitement and, occasionally, lost-in-translation moments. But do not worry, we have all chosen Google Translate as our best friend throughout this ride. 

More importantly, let's talk food! The Korean culinary scene is an absolute delight. From slurping down steaming bowls of spicy kimchi jjigae to trying to gracefully devour a loaded bowl of bibimbap without splattering the gochugang all over ourselves (a work in progress, honestly), each meal feels like a thrilling journey. And did I mention the delightful array of street food? I might have become a regular at the neighboring Tteokbokki cart.

But Seoul’s adventures aren't just about food and language; there is also the hip and happening cafe culture. Seoul boasts an array of charming cafes, each with its own unique personality and mouthwatering treats. Whether it's sipping on a creamy matcha latte or indulging in a delicious bingsu, these cozy cafes have become our go-to hideouts for peaceful study sessions and much-needed coffee breaks.

I cannot forget our very first exciting adventure in Seoul during Elevation. Picture this: dancing to the beats of BTS and Blackpink (two of the most famous K-pop bands) in the heart of Seoul's iconic landmarks like the lively streets of Hongdae and the majestic Namsan Tower. Keep in mind, half of us have never heard these songs before so it was a challenge learning choreography in the subways. We definitely looked interesting, but all of us were determined to win the Elevation Day Competition! Who wouldn’t fight for some free Lotte World Tickets? Rest assured, our newfound K-pop dance moves will definitely earn us a spot in the next K-pop sensation!

With each passing day, Seoul continues to surprise us, offering new adventures and delightful discoveries at every turn. Most importantly, I am glad that I am experiencing these adventures with my chosen family, the Class of 2026.

Warmly,

Lina

Class of 2026

If you want to embark on an immersive academic journey around the world surrounded by a creative, bold, and impactful community, start your Minerva application today.

Quick Facts

Name
Country
Class
Major

Social Sciences & Business

Business

Natural Sciences

Social Sciences

Cognitive Science and Economics & Political Science

Social Sciences & Business

Business & Computational Sciences

Business and Social Sciences

Social Sciences and Business

Computational Sciences & Social Sciences

Computer Science & Arts and Humanities

Business and Computational Sciences

Business and Social Sciences

Natural Sciences

Arts and Humanities

Business, Social Sciences

Business & Arts and Humanities

Computational Sciences

Natural Sciences, Computer Science

Computational Sciences

Arts & Humanities

Computational Sciences, Social Sciences

Computational Sciences

Computational Sciences

Natural Sciences, Social Sciences

Social Sciences, Natural Sciences

Data Science, Statistics

Computational Sciences

Business

Computational Sciences, Data Science

Social Sciences

Natural Sciences

Business, Natural Sciences

Business, Social Sciences

Computational Sciences

Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Computational Sciences, Natural Sciences

Natural Sciences

Computational Sciences, Social Sciences

Business, Social Sciences

Computational Sciences

Natural Sciences, Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences

Arts & Humanities, Social Science

Social Sciences, Business

Arts & Humanities

Computational Sciences, Social Science

Natural Sciences, Computer Science

Computational Science, Statistic Natural Sciences

Business & Social Sciences

Computational Science, Social Sciences

Social Sciences and Business

Business

Arts and Humanities

Computational Sciences

Social Sciences

Social Sciences and Computational Sciences

Social Sciences & Computational Sciences

Social Sciences & Arts and Humanities

Computational Science

Minor

Sustainability

Computational Sciences

Computational Sciences

Computational Science & Business

Economics

Social Sciences

Concentration

Economics and Society & Strategic Finance

Enterprise Management

Economics and Society

Cells and Organisms & Brain, Cognition, and Behavior

Applied Problem Solving & Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence

Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence & Cognition, Brain, and Behavior

Designing Societies & New Ventures

Strategic Finance & Data Science and Statistics

Brand Management and Designing Societies

Data Science & Economics

Machine Learning

Cells, Organisms, Data Science, Statistics

Arts & Literature and Historical Forces

Artificial Intelligence & Computer Science

Cells and Organisms, Mind and Emotion

Economics, Physics

Managing Operational Complexity and Strategic Finance

Global Development Studies and Brain, Cognition, and Behavior

Scalable Growth, Designing Societies

Business

Drug Discovery Research, Designing and Implementing Policies

Historical Forces, Cognition, Brain, and Behavior

Artificial Intelligence, Psychology

Designing Solutions, Data Science and Statistics

Data Science and Statistic, Theoretical Foundations of Natural Science

Strategic Finance, Politics, Government, and Society

Data Analysis, Cognition

Brand Management

Data Science and Statistics & Economics

Cognitive Science & Economics

Data Science and Statistics and Contemporary Knowledge Discovery

Internship
Higia Technologies
Project Development and Marketing Analyst Intern at VIVITA, a Mistletoe company
Business Development Intern, DoSomething.org
Business Analyst, Clean Energy Associates (CEA)

Conversation

Hello from Seoul,

I am writing this as I look down on the dynamic and bustling streets of Seoul, where the energy is as vibrant as the neon lights that adorn every corner! Adapting to the fast-paced life of Seoul has been like a rollercoaster ride. From navigating through the busy streets of Myeong-dong to deciphering the menu at local restaurants (thank goodness for pictures!), every day is a new mission filled with excitement and, occasionally, lost-in-translation moments. But do not worry, we have all chosen Google Translate as our best friend throughout this ride. 

More importantly, let's talk food! The Korean culinary scene is an absolute delight. From slurping down steaming bowls of spicy kimchi jjigae to trying to gracefully devour a loaded bowl of bibimbap without splattering the gochugang all over ourselves (a work in progress, honestly), each meal feels like a thrilling journey. And did I mention the delightful array of street food? I might have become a regular at the neighboring Tteokbokki cart.

But Seoul’s adventures aren't just about food and language; there is also the hip and happening cafe culture. Seoul boasts an array of charming cafes, each with its own unique personality and mouthwatering treats. Whether it's sipping on a creamy matcha latte or indulging in a delicious bingsu, these cozy cafes have become our go-to hideouts for peaceful study sessions and much-needed coffee breaks.

I cannot forget our very first exciting adventure in Seoul during Elevation. Picture this: dancing to the beats of BTS and Blackpink (two of the most famous K-pop bands) in the heart of Seoul's iconic landmarks like the lively streets of Hongdae and the majestic Namsan Tower. Keep in mind, half of us have never heard these songs before so it was a challenge learning choreography in the subways. We definitely looked interesting, but all of us were determined to win the Elevation Day Competition! Who wouldn’t fight for some free Lotte World Tickets? Rest assured, our newfound K-pop dance moves will definitely earn us a spot in the next K-pop sensation!

With each passing day, Seoul continues to surprise us, offering new adventures and delightful discoveries at every turn. Most importantly, I am glad that I am experiencing these adventures with my chosen family, the Class of 2026.

Warmly,

Lina

Class of 2026

If you want to embark on an immersive academic journey around the world surrounded by a creative, bold, and impactful community, start your Minerva application today.