KDI School welcomed a brand-new group of students for the spring semester of 2016. Following a warm welcoming speech by Dean Hong Tack Chun during the opening ceremony on January 27 (for full-time students), new students proceeded through orientation week to get acquainted with their new life on campus.

In particular, the Student Affairs Division organized a group tour through Sejong City for the first time to give international students a better idea of where they’re going to spend the coming year. The tour began at Milmaru Observatory featuring a presentation on the development of Sejong Multifunctional Administrative City. Upon spending time at the observatory, students continued on to visit the Presidential Archives, National Library of Korea Sejong, and Sejong Lake Park. New MDP student Msimelelo Ndlovu (South Africa) said, “The tour was very interesting, especially the Presidential Archives was great because of all the interactive features.” Based on such success of the city tour, KDI School plans to offer a similar program for new students admitted in the fall semester.

Meanwhile, 276 new students embarked on their quest for knowledge and experience at KDI School this spring. By program, 112 students were enrolled in the MPP program, 100 students in the MDP program, and 57 students in the MPM program. In addition, seven students were enrolled for Ph.D. programs (three DP students and four PP students). As with previous years, a large number of international students – a total of 109 students from 66 different countries around the world – commenced their studies at KDI School. In particular, KDI School welcomed students from Guyana and Mali for the first time ever.

Special interview with Lily Asiimwe from Uganda

For a lot of students, the challenges of studying in KDI School begin long before they set foot on campus in Sejong. The Globe interviewed Lily Asiimwe, a new student from Uganda to hear about her journey to Sejong City and KDI School.

Leaving home for a year, Lily faced the tough decision of ‘what to pack’. She said, “I packed my favorite Ugandan foods I wasn’t going to be seeing in a year, my favorite clothes and on top of that, added a whole lot of winter clothing.” Lily recounts, “By the time I was done, my bag was 16kg overweight.”

This did not seem to be a problem at the airport in Uganda. But disaster struck when Lily was about to board her connecting flight from Egypt.

“When was my turn to check-in, the check-in lady weighed our bags on the scale and said, “Maam, your baggage is 16kg overweight, could you please step aside?” Lily recollects.

Unable to sort out her baggage issue with the airline counter, she missed her flight and was left stranded at the airport.

Lily admits the thought of just returning home crossed her mind. But she remained calm, thought of what she set out to accomplished and called her compatriot Michael Mugisha, currently studying at KDI School for help. With some much needed assistance from Michael and her husband back home, she was able to get a ticket for a later flight and make it to Korea. Missing the opening ceremony, part of orientation and the course registration period, Lily arrived safe and sound in South Korea and KDI School on January 29, 2016.

“For future travelers abroad or anywhere else, I would say, no matter how long or far away from home you will be, make sure to pack only what you need, over-packing for a trip might cost you an entire air ticket.” she recommends.

Indeed, living in an alien environment can be a daunting experience. Preparing for it, and the actual journey to Korea can present a myriad of challenges. Whenever something unexpected comes up, however, remember to remain calm and ask for help! There will always be a solution to help you arrive in Korea in one piece.

By Chiindi Chiputa (2015 MDP, Zambia)