ELC BLOG

Jaesu is from Kyungbuk, South Korea and studied with ELC Santa Barbara for 7 months. When he wasn’t challenging friends to a game of Ping Pong, he was exploring California with family and friends. We will miss Jaesu’s bright smile and daily laughter. Read on to learn more about Jaesu!

Is this your first time in the US?

Yes, this is the first time I have been in the United States. I wanted to go when I was younger, but I never had the chance, so I am glad the opportunity came up.

What were you surprised to learn about the US or Santa Barbara? Did you experience culture shock?

I was surprised to learn that Santa Barbara is peaceful, and not as busy as I thought. I sometimes think that American people spend too much time on their lives (with hiking and surfing), since we are too busy with work in South Korea.

What do you miss about your country?

I miss the high-speed Internet. I miss the food, like Kimchi Korean BBQ and traditional Korean food, not like the fast food you have here.

What do you do for fun?

I play tennis with my American friends. Santa Barbara has many nice courts, so I love to play here. I also love playing ping-pong (I played competitively in High School), going to the zoo and the batting cages with my friends.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies are playing tennis and travelling. I have travelled to many national parks while I have been here in the US. I love going to my friend’s homes, and going to the Santa Barbara Pier.

Do you have any tips for people who want to learn English?

Spend as much time with American people as you can. Review is really important, so make sure you do it. It also helps to do your homework.

What is your favorite place in Santa Barbara?

I have many favorite places in Santa Barbara. I love the East Beach Pier, as well as the Goleta Pier. I enjoyed spending time at UCSB, especially at their tennis courts and in the library. I also enjoyed spending time in Summerland,

What are your favorite moments in and out of class at ELC?

I have met many good, nice students and teachers. Sometimes we travel to many national parks, such as Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Big Bend National Park. That has been really good for me.

What are your plans after ELC?

I will travel through California some more to San Diego, North Los Angeles, and San Francisco for 2 weeks. After that, I will come back to my country (South Korea). Then, I will change my visa to a tourism visa and come back to Santa Barbara to live with my wife, because my wife has to study here more than 1 year. While she studies, I will travel some more and enjoy myself.