I seriously cannot believe this is my last blog I will write in Korea before heading home. It feels like I just got to Seoul, and now I’m counting down the last few days before I leave on Thursday. This weekend was definitely one for the books and the perfect way to wrap up my time here.
On Saturday, my roommate and I went to Waterbomb Seoul, and I can confidently say it was one of the coolest events I’ve ever been to. Waterbomb is a huge summer music festival where people dress in colorful outfits, watch performances from famous K-pop artists, rappers, and DJs, and spend the entire day getting soaked. There are giant water cannons, water gun fights between the crowd, and even team competitions. We were on the Green Team, competing against the Yellow Team, and everyone got so into it. We were there from about 1:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m., and after standing for hours, we somehow made it all the way to the front of the stage. Being that close to the performers while getting sprayed with water every few minutes made for an unforgettable experience. It was loud, chaotic, and so much fun.
I also finally made it to N Seoul Tower, one of Seoul’s most famous landmarks. Sitting on top of Namsan Mountain, the tower gives an incredible view of the entire city. Looking out over Seoul really made me realize how much this city has come to feel like home over the past two months. Before heading back, my roommate and I made sure to enjoy some of our favorite Korean foods one last time. It’s honestly hard to believe I’ll be leaving so soon. I’m excited to see my family, but I’m definitely going to miss this place.
As I reflect on this week’s prompt about communication, I can honestly say this internship taught me that communication goes far beyond simply speaking the same language.
Before coming to Korea, I was used to a much more direct style of communication. In the United States, people often tell you exactly what they think, especially in professional settings. Feedback tends to be straightforward, and if something needs improvement, you’re usually told directly. During my internship, I quickly realized that communication in Korea often works differently.
People in Korea often communicate more indirectly and rely on context, tone, relationships, and nonverbal cues rather than saying everything outright. At first, this was one of the biggest adjustments I had to make.
One example was while creating LinkedIn posts for JHSUSTAIN. My supervisor was always encouraging and would tell me I was doing a great job. Naturally, I thought I was on the right track. Then, when I turned in my work, I would notice that parts of it had been edited before being posted. I remember asking for more specific feedback because I genuinely wanted to improve, but I was usually told that everything looked good. At first, I found this confusing because I wasn’t always sure what they actually wanted me to change.
Instead of getting frustrated, I started paying close attention to the edits they made after I submitted my work. I looked for patterns in the writing style, the wording they preferred, and how they presented information. Over time, I adjusted my own writing to better match the company’s voice. Looking back, I realized they were giving me feedback, just not in the way I was used to receiving it.
Another thing that really helped me was working side by side with my supervisor in the office. Earlier in my internship, I would often send questions through text messages after work or while working remotely. While texting was convenient, it didn’t always give me the full picture. Once we started working together more closely, I could ask questions in person, hear her tone of voice, and read her body language. Those small details made a huge difference. Conversations became much clearer, and I felt much more confident completing my assignments because I better understood what she was looking for.
My supervisor and I also developed a really close relationship throughout the summer. Since she isn’t much older than I am, we’ve shared dinners, walked home together after work, and even got facials together. Those experiences helped us become comfortable around each other, but there was always a professional mentor relationship that remained. I think because she wanted me to enjoy my internship and continue learning, she sometimes avoided being overly critical. Instead of giving harsh feedback, she encouraged me to figure things out while still supporting me along the way.
There were also times when I wanted to contribute more ideas or suggest different approaches, but I wasn’t always sure where the boundaries were. I didn’t want to overstep or seem disrespectful. As the internship went on, though, I became more comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, and understanding when it was appropriate to speak up. That confidence came from learning how my team communicated and adapting my own style to fit the environment.
This experience has completely changed the way I think about communication. I’ve learned that being a good communicator isn’t just about expressing your own ideas. It’s also about listening carefully, observing how others communicate, and adapting your approach depending on the people and culture around you. These are skills that I know will help me throughout my future career, especially since I hope to continue working in international environments.
As my time in Seoul comes to an end, I realize that some of my biggest lessons weren’t just about research, consulting, or sustainability. They were about people. Learning how to communicate across cultures has been one of the most valuable parts of this entire experience, and it’s something I’ll carry with me long after I leave Korea.
