In this our thirteenth (13th) episode of Season 2, Seattle Colleges host Evan Franulovich interviews international student Wonjong 'Joe' Seo of South Korea about his experience here at Seattle Colleges and about life in the United States.
1:37 - Meet Joe!
Copyright © Seattle Colleges International Programs 2023. All rights reserved. For more information about being an international student at Seattle Colleges, please visit intl.seattlecolleges.edu
The theme music 'Bounce' is an audio file pursuant to the Pixabay License as defined in the Pixabay Terms of Service available at https://http://pixabay.com/service/terms/
Also, connect with us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok) at
SeattleCollegesIntl
In this our thirteenth (13th) episode of Season 2, Seattle Colleges host Evan Franulovich interviews international student Wonjong 'Joe' Seo of South Korea about his experience here at Seattle Colleges and about life in the United States.
1:37 - Meet Joe!
Copyright © Seattle Colleges International Programs 2023. All rights reserved. For more information about being an international student at Seattle Colleges, please visit intl.seattlecolleges.edu
The theme music 'Bounce' is an audio file pursuant to the Pixabay License as defined in the Pixabay Terms of Service available at https://http://pixabay.com/service/terms/
Also, connect with us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok) at
SeattleCollegesIntl
Welcome to Seattle Colleges International Programs and our show Conversations with! where we talk to people that help you understand how you too, can be an international student in the United States and why Seattle Colleges should be your first choice. We'll talk to students and staff and agents and government folks, all kinds of people, about what you can expect when you're getting ready to apply or travel here, what you'll experience while you're with us and how it can all lead to an amazing life. Don't forget to check out the Seattle Colleges International Programs website at intl.seattlecolleges.edu where you can find a treasure trove of information about the school, the programs here and, best of all, fill out and submit your application. Again, that's intl.seattlecolleges.edu. Hey, everybody, it's Evan Franulovich. Welcome to"Conversations with" we're here at Seattle Central, in the great city of Seattle, Washington. And today, my first guest from the Republic of Korea!
Joe:Hi everyone, my name is Wonjong Seo. I also go by Joe.
Evan Franulovich:Alright Joe, well tell us we... before we started recording, we had so many interesting things to talk about. So I asked him if he'd say something Korean at the end, and we can have a conversation about that. Why...What happened in your childhood? I think it's such an interesting story. You didn't actually stay in Korea, you took off... to tell everybody about that.
Joe:Yeah. So I was born in South Korea, but my parents immigrated to the island Saipan, so US territory, and for people that don't know it's island right next to Guam. Everyone's heard of Guam. Yeah, they emigrated when I was four, and I basically just grew up there my entire life.
Evan Franulovich:Should you speak Japanese as well?
Joe:Well, I learned it for like five or six years, I forgot every single...
Evan Franulovich:Saipan used to be part of Spain and then.. yeah, after the war...
Joe:There's definitely a lot of like, Japanese culture still there. It's within the community so.
Evan Franulovich:It's not a big island, right? It's pretty small.
Joe:No! it's really small. Like, if you look on the map, or like the globe, it's like you can't even see it. It should be a little dot but there's nothing there.
Evan Franulovich:Good swimming, diving...
Joe:Yeah. I mean, it's just a little version of Hawaii...
Evan Franulovich:Oh okay, great. So how hard is it to fly away from the island? Is there like, flights only once a week?
Joe:No, there's flights consistently. Yeah, going all around the place, Guam, Japan, Korea so...
Evan Franulovich:Are there a lot of Koreans on Saipan or just you're more an anomaly?
Joe:I'd say when I was younger, weren't that many, but growing up more people, more Korean started to be there so, a bit diversity.
Evan Franulovich:And the high school is based on the American system obviously.
Joe:Exactly. Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:You kids have sports like football team? and.. I can't imagine.
Joe:We had sports but obviously since it was an Island we didn't really have football teams. We did have more so like soccer, golf, and then because it was an island and there's a lot of water um... outrigger to canoeing.
Evan Franulovich:Oh yeah, for sure.
Joe:Yeah. I was on the team.
Evan Franulovich:Could you do that? That sounds pretty cool.
Joe:Yeah. We won both championships, both my years.
Evan Franulovich:Who do you compete against?
Joe:Well, there's like, three, so including my public school. There were two other public schools and a couple of other like private schools.
Evan Franulovich:Oh okay. There must be... what's the population on Saipan?
Joe:I can't get the exact number, but I think it's roughly around like 50,000 to maybe 60,000?
Evan Franulovich:Ok so there's enough for few schools.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:All right. And then you didn't...so you graduate from high school in Saipan and then you don't immediately come to the United States...
Joe:I don't. Soon as I graduated, well, I didn't
Evan Franulovich:So which brand were you in? because I'm a Korean citizen I have to serve but I didn't want to, I wanted to come here. But my mom, she was like: "No, you are going to finish your military service first and then you're going" so she basically just, you know, shipped me away.
Joe:I was in the just regular army.
Evan Franulovich:You were in the army, alright. And they have you just serving right upon the DMZ, or do they have it down somewhere else? Oh wow, so you were in the Seoul area? Yeah. I mean, it really depends on where you get stationed, but I went with my cousin so we were stationed in the exact same place and we were just like right by the border. So five minute drive from the DMZ. Huh...more north than Seoul. I don't know how far is actually from Seoul to the border.
Joe:It's surprisingly pretty far.
Evan Franulovich:Is it? Because on the map, it doesn't look that far.
Joe:It doesn't look that far yeah.
Evan Franulovich:It's really close. I was in Seoul a few years ago, which was great but I didn't... and I really wanted to go up to the DMZ, but I just ran out of time.
Joe:Yeah, no, it's great. I mean, they have a lot of tours there, on that area too. It's..you know, once in your lifetime.
Evan Franulovich:Right, yeah, It's interesting. So do you...do you get a lot of time off when you're in the military? You get a chance to go into town and have leave?
Joe:It's not...not really. Yeah, I don't know about now. But when I served, it was in 2017 to 2019. And when you first get in, they give you a certain amount of like, vacation days. So I have 21 I think vacation days.
Evan Franulovich:Oh, that's not too bad.
Joe:Throughout your whole career.
Evan Franulovich:Oh, the whole thing?
Joe:Whole career.
Evan Franulovich:Oh, that's something... So you can go out with a couple of your buddies and get some
Joe:Yeah...but then they get... there's opportunities like... for you to get more days, I guess, you know, if you excel in training, or we do these other stuff, they'll kind of give you some more. Yeah. And then every month, he can kind of leave for barbecue and then come back. the day, just like around the city near the base, but yeah come back in. Yeah, usually, you know, it'll involve a lot of drinking.
Evan Franulovich:So did your parents...did you get to fly back to Saipan during your break?
Joe:Yeah. Um, so I was like a special case. Usually they don't allow other people..but since my parents were still there in Saipan when I was in the military, they gave me extra vacation days to fly over.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah it takes time.
Joe:So usually, when I spent when I used like, let's say five or six vacation days, they give me five more extra just because of the flight going/back so.
Evan Franulovich:Did you have to go through Tokyo to get there?
Joe:No, from Korea, it was just a straight flight.
Evan Franulovich:Oh it was a straight flight?
Joe:But I didn't tell anyone. I always thought everyone that I had a layover.
Evan Franulovich:Well, that's great. That's really cool. And then after....so then your plan all along had been? you wanted to come to the States or just overseas somewhere?
Joe:So originally growing up my plan was to joining US Marines.
Evan Franulovich:Oh.
Joe:Yeah. But sadly, I wasn't able to.
Evan Franulovich:Just because of your citizenship?
Joe:Yeah. Um, I don't know if you notice, but I'm like, every...pretty much almost all the US high schools, that recruiters would come in, you know, do all the pull ups, pull up challenges and stuff like that, right? And I aced everything I was, I did the most pull ups on my school. And then also the Military Entrance Exam, the ASVAB. I pass it with flying colors. And so they're like:
Evan Franulovich:Yeah. we're taking you. But then right at the end, like right before I graduated high school, they're like, yeah, because of your citizenship we can't take you, sorry. But I thought they had some sort of a pathway to US citizenship by serving in the US military.
Joe:Yeah, so they had this program... was called the "Mavni program", and ended the year that I graduated yeah...
Evan Franulovich:That's too bad.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:Well, now that you...okay, so then um...you couldn't join the Marines so were thinking about coming to the States?
Joe:No, I wasn't. School, college and stuff wasn't in my...
Evan Franulovich:On your radar... On my radar at all, but after I gradu... after I finished the
Joe:So you took a trip to Seattle to see your brother just military. My brother was attending Seattle U at the time, and I had nothing to do, you know, I was just gonna go back home, just be with my parents, you know, figure out something. But then he really was like, why not just come to Seattle, you know, see if you like it or not, and he, he was only interested as a tourist, right? Checked it out and you thought "oh yeah, in Seattle Central. It's like, there's a great school, you know, nearby, check it out, you know, if you'd like it ... If not, you know, you can go back. And so, that kind of kick started my journey here. this looks good" Yeah, you know, I mean, I really liked the environment, you know, and then I had the chance to talk to a few professors. I just
randomly walked up, I was like:"Hey, are you professor?" And
they're like:"yeah" and there's...you know...
Evan Franulovich:They were friendly?
Joe:Yeah, they were really friendly and, you know, we had a great conversation, and I was like: You know what, and I am actually give this a shot.
Evan Franulovich:Alright, that's cool. But I'm curious about the visa process, then, because normally, you'd be in your country to do your interview at the embassy. So you'd come as a tourist you would have had to have left.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:So did you go back to Korea or did you go to Saipan?
Joe:So I went back to Saipan first, visit my parents. I told
them like:"hey, you know, I want to go to school" and then
they're like:"great!", you know, "we'll help you" and I was like "okay", and that's all. Then went back to Korea, you know fly..
Evan Franulovich:You did go back to Korea?
Joe:Yeah. Just for the interview, visa Interview.
Evan Franulovich:Sure, alright, good to know. How'd that go? How was the visa interview?
Joe:That was great. I mean, all it took me five minutes, and they stamped my passport.
Evan Franulovich:That was it?
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:That's so funny the different stories I hear.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:How long does it take for you to get an interview appointment?
Joe:A week.
Evan Franulovich:It was only a week it? What kind of questions did they ask you?
Joe:It was only a week. Yeah and then I pretty much went there like an hour before. There were still people waiting in line, but I was like, pretty much one of the first few people that went in, and then, yeah... You know, surprisingly, not much. I've heard all these like horror visa interview stories.
Evan Franulovich:Right!
Joe:And so I was a bit nervous, but then as soon as I went, I
Evan Franulovich:That's really amazing! was, you know, just typical conversation you know: "Good morning, how are you doing?" And they're like, they just gave me a look like, why is your English so good? And I was like,"Well..." and then I explained my situation and they were like"oh okay, stamped, go".
Joe:That easy?
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, that is pretty easy. Wow, okay, so you're on an F1 visa? And what are you studying?
Joe:I am currently in the nursing program at Seattle
Evan Franulovich:I thought maybe you were in the nursing Central. program. So this is really great, because I get a lot of requests for information about nursing from all over the world. My territories are Latin America, Africa and Middle East, so a lot of people down there interested. Is your...so I know that getting into the programs a little tricky...so tell people did you know you wanted to do nursing when you arrived?
Joe:Yeah, pretty much. My cousin...he's a RN, registered nurse, so I kind of look up to him a lot, and I saw like how well he's doing with his life, and I was like, well, if I can't join the military, that's what I want, so chose nursing.
Evan Franulovich:So when you choose nursing, there are two ways you can kind of do that, you can do the career path or you can do the 2+2 path. Which path have you chosen to do?
Joe:I think I chose the 2+2. Is that... was that the University Transfer?
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, that's the you know, University Transfer.
Joe:Yeah that's the program that they put me in this first.
Evan Franulovich:So what was your first quarter then? did you start in the fall?
Joe:No, I started in winter.
Evan Franulovich:You did start in winter?
Joe:Yeah, I started winter 2020. Pretty much right
Evan Franulovich:Lucky you.
Joe:Yeah. I didn't finish the quarter before Covid. before...you know Covid and stuff like that. Everything, all... all the prerequisites for the program I pretty much did online.
Evan Franulovich:Oh okay.
Joe:Yeah, which wasn't that bad, to be honest.
Evan Franulovich:But now your classes are more in person?
Joe:Yeah, yeah, so now that I'm actually in the program, I have to physically be in the classroom.
Evan Franulovich:Well, what I understand is that you have to kind of finish up your prerequisites before you can even apply.
Joe:Yeah, yeah, so I took a different approach. A lot of people....So there's a couple of prerequisites that you can just take and then apply. I just ended up finishing my Associates of Arts degree first, just in case effective plan, you know, just to have a degree. Sure, so then you can transfer to university too.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, like physiology... Yeah. So I finished all of that, and then I applied for the nursing program. Yeah. But the main prerequisites for nursing program, were just pretty much you know, all the biology classes...
Joe:Chemistry, math, English 101, you're gonna have to take English 102 as well, and then a certified nursing assistant class.
Evan Franulovich:Okay. So you did your prerequisites, you got your Associate's degree, and then did you just take a vacation quarter while you're waiting to hear whether you got accepted?
Joe:Yeah, so usually, you apply... there's two times to apply at Seattle Central other schools might be a little bit different, but...so I applied during March or April, and I graduated winter of this year. No uh...last year, winter last year.
Evan Franulovich:Winter last year.
Joe:Winter last year was my last quarter. That's when I graduated with my Associate's of Arts. And then I applied for the nursing program like March.
Evan Franulovich:Okay.
Joe:Yeah. And then you hear back around like July, or August.
Evan Franulovich:It takes a while.
Joe:It takes so long.
Evan Franulovich:So were you worried? because to maintain your F1 status you have to be full time.
Joe:So what I did was I switched my program into an "IP short-term certificate" just so that I can be a full time student.
Evan Franulovich:Very smart.
Joe:While I wait. So I took "IP short-term" for spring quarter, and then I took a vacation quarter that summer.
Evan Franulovich:So started the fall.
Joe:Exactly.
Evan Franulovich:Wow. If you're listening, that's a really smart way to do it. So if you're interested in nursing, yeah, there's a couple of different ways you can make it happen, but it's a little tricky because they only start the program in the fall and in the winter, right?
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:And your application can't be made until after you graduate, so...all right, interesting. And now that you're in how long is the program? it's two years right?
Joe:It's two years. No summer classes, which is great.
Evan Franulovich:So you're on vacation quarter now?
Joe:Yeah, you have no... if you're an international student,
Evan Franulovich:But normally, to get a vacation quarter, you you have no choice but to put on vacation quarter. But it's have to do... great, you know.
Joe:Three classes.
Evan Franulovich:Three quarters!
Joe:Three quarters, yeah three quarters, my bad. Which is perfect. The nursing program, it gives you fall, winter, spring and then vacation quarter.
Evan Franulovich:And then after you're done with your nursing program, you'll take the NCLEX...
Joe:Yes.
Evan Franulovich:...to get your RN. So, is your plan to stay in the state of Washington to nurse? to be a nurse?
Joe:at the moment yeah.
Evan Franulovich:They're not going to kick you out of the country or...
Joe:Hopefully not!
Evan Franulovich:I mean, if they did, let's just say they did, because one of my questions to the students I talk to is
like:"Well, what do you want to do with nursing if I'm planning on going back to your country?". If they did kick you out, could you take the education you got here and become a nurse in Korea?
Joe:See that... I'm not entirely sure. I've never really looked into it, because I just have no plans of going back into nursing there, but I think it's a different test. Yeah, I know, Canada and in the US, you can kind of...it's kind of intertwined.
Evan Franulovich:Right.
Joe:But different countries, they feel that they have a little bit of a different expectation. So you're gonna probably have to...
Evan Franulovich:You don't seem too worried about it, do you think... you just apply for a work permit after you graduate?
Joe:Oh, yeah. So there's a couple of different ways that I Or? was speaking with my advisor, before. One is kind of OPT.
Evan Franulovich:Sure, of course.
Joe:Most basic...
Evan Franulovich:You can do up to three years as a nurse right? You know science and...
Joe:Oh, well, nursing isn't considered in the science field.
Evan Franulovich:Is not considered it. Oh okay.
Joe:Nursing is like, totally separate, which doesn't makes sense to me, but you know it is what it is... It is what it is.... OPT and then there's...
Evan Franulovich:Hold on, hold on....alright, so we are resuming back where we were, we're talking about the nursing program. So hopefully, you'll be able to stay and work here. So he talked about a year of OPT, and then what?
Joe:So there's getting sponsored by a hospital.
Evan Franulovich:Oh, yeah.
Joe:I don't know what... from at least from what I've heard through my clinical instructors, Seattle is... they're a little hard in sponsors, they don't really do it as often. But if you get lucky, and if you do find a great hospital, you can get sponsored, work, and then apply for a green card, and the other is another working visa. One of the advisors mentioned it, I can't remember what it's exactly called, but it was something E, B three E, something like that. I know there's the other working residence visa is like the H1B or something of that sort, but um, yeah, so those two could be an alternative as well.
Evan Franulovich:All right. Yeah. You know, I, I worked at a hospital out in Eastern Oregon for a while and they were always short staffed. I mean, always, so you may find rural hospitals are in need more than urban hospitals.
Joe:Yeah, definitely. And also, but also the, like, the major hospitals here within the city, too. They're always understaffed. You know, they are. It's...the nursing, like,
Evan Franulovich:Really? shortage is so bad, like, I wish and there's a lot of students that apply for nursing. There's a lot of nursing students, but the amount of nursing students that actually make it through Right, right. are significantly less than the students that apply.
Joe:Because the program is just so hard, and they don't really give second chances. So once you're in the program, you have to dedicate your whole life of two years. Just study, you know...
Evan Franulovich:Are you finding it hard? Sounds like, Grey's Anatomy.
Joe:Yeah, it's it's been rough. It's been very rough. Yeah, you Yeah, it definitely. know, it's pretty much you just study, study, study, eat, sleep, you know, work, study, study, study.
Evan Franulovich:Just a dump of information, is that the problem?
Joe:Yeah, that is! You know, everything's just new, you know, and, like, you have so many classes, so I took like, five or six classes last quarter.
Evan Franulovich:You had to?
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:It's like full load.
Joe:They don't make you choose classes here. They choose it for you every quarter. It's specific classes, and you just pay for them and you just start but um, it's a lot of time, you know, and they tell you the first day, first week of classes, your first quarter, they'll... all the professors will be like:"For the next two years. Call your friends, family, partner, anyone, tell them two years you're not going to hang out with them. You're going to be busy, but after two years, you're going to be free".
Evan Franulovich:Wow.
Joe:So they give you that heads up and it's really true. I did not believe it at first but.
Evan Franulovich:Well, let's talk about getting into the program because it's even if you get a 4. as a undergrad.. you and your first two years,That's no guarantee you'll get into the program. Right?
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:It's a Lottery?
Joe:Yes. So grades matter. Definitely, it does. All the other stuff matter as well but you need to have a little bit of luck on your side.
Evan Franulovich:Right?
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:So did you apply to other nursing schools just in case you didn't get to enroll?
Joe:You know, this is gonna sound crazy, but I have only applied to two places.
Evan Franulovich:Oh Okay.
Joe:Bellevue and here.
Evan Franulovich:All right.
Joe:And it would.. for me it was just do or die.
Evan Franulovich:Wow.
Joe:You know.
Evan Franulovich:Did you get accepted in Bellevue as well?
Joe:No. Oh, well. Uh, not really. I wouldn't I wouldn't say no. One of the requirements I thought I met the requirements, but then after I submitted everything midway, they're like, yeah, it doesn't meet the requirements. I was like, well, Seattle, Central's the only one I got left.
Evan Franulovich:Right!
Joe:And, you know, I ended up being a bit lucky so.
Evan Franulovich:Right, good deal. Now your classes aren't actually here at the central building, right?
Joe:No, it's not
Evan Franulovich:Where do you go for classes?
Joe:So all the nursing students, they are technically...their I-20s are considered Central. But we all get split up into North, Central and South. North students they take classes at the physical campus in North.
Evan Franulovich:Oh they do?
Joe:And South is the same. They take their classes at South, the campus.
Evan Franulovich:Okay.
Joe:Central is the only one that takes it at the PAC med building. It's like on top of North Beacon Hill.
Evan Franulovich:Okay.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:How far is that for walking? oh, it's a way then.
Joe:So if you get off the station at International Yeah, it's like 15-20 minute walk from there, you
Evan Franulovich:Oh, so, got it. Okay. Go down International. know? District. Interesting because I... did you listen to the interview with Mone? She's from Japan. She's from Okinawa. No, she's, she's not from Okinawa. Maybe she is from...
Joe:I saw the title... nursing student.
Evan Franulovich:Right, right. And um... she is a South student. So she...you're saying she would do hers classes there?
Joe:Yeah, they have a... they have their own like classrooms and labs there. Central is the only campus that doesn't have it physically on the Broadway campus.
Evan Franulovich:Gotcha.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:All right. Cool. And so there you have it nursing. Is there a particular type of nursing you want to do or?
Joe:Yeah, I...I'm really great with kids. I love kids. I feel like I work better along with kids than adults. So pediatrics. Yeah. Definitely either.
Evan Franulovich:It's a baby delivery too, right?
Joe:So.. I don't want to go into that one. But more so like, NICU, neonatal ICU, PICU. Pediatric ICU, so something around ER, ICU but more so with pediatrics. Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:Very cool. Is... Are either of your parents, medical people?
Joe:No, not even close.
Evan Franulovich:What's your dad do?
Joe:My dad is an electrician. And my mom is a math tutor. So, nothing really, really
Evan Franulovich:Okay. related to the medical field. But they must be really cool. There has to be happy that you're doing...
Joe:Yeah, no, it's, it's, uh, they're really surprised that I even chose nursing because I had no interest in anything like related to medical or science. It was just always more like sports and military. And then I just told them: "I want to do nursing", and they're just like, their jaws dropped. And they're like, What?
Evan Franulovich:That's great. Have they come to visit? Have they been to Seattle?
Joe:They have, they haven't... my mom just recently... my mom recently visited me like two years ago. I don't know if that's considered considered recent. But my dad no, but they have been to Seattle multiple times. Because of my... well while my brother was living here, so...
Evan Franulovich:Sure. And do you share an apartment with your brother?
Joe:No, my brother is currently not here. He's coming back, though. So he graduated at Seattle U, got a job in San Francisco.
Evan Franulovich:Okay.
Joe:And then after a year later, he quit his job went back home, applied for law school, and he's coming back for law school next month.
Evan Franulovich:Where's he gonna go to law school?
Joe:UW.
Evan Franulovich:Oh, he's gonna UW, nice, good law school.
Joe:So
Evan Franulovich:Wow, that's really interesting. He went back to Saipan.
Joe:Yeah
Evan Franulovich:Okay, and then where you guys get a place? What are you doing for housing right now?
Joe:So I just got a place and moving on next week. I got a studio on Capitol Hill, my brother he's coming back here with his girlfriend and pretty much living across the street. Yeah, he's living in a different building.
Evan Franulovich:So you're moving into your apartment where have you been living?
Joe:I'm... I've been currently living right across UVillage.
Evan Franulovich:Oh Okay.
Joe:so right by the UW campus.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, it's a great part of the town.
Joe:it is but it's so far to get here. You know...
Evan Franulovich:It's just a subway stop!
Joe:Yeah, but from my apartment to the closest subway stop is 20 minute walk. So I walked 20 minutes, get on, get on the subway and then come to work or go to school.
Evan Franulovich:It's not too bad. I live in Edmonds, so my...
Joe:Oh my god, yeah
Evan Franulovich:quite a ways. Yeah, I usually either take the bus or ride my bike to North Gate and then catch it. About 45 minutes to an hour.
Joe:That is is really far.
Evan Franulovich:But it's great because if I'm on the subway, especially in the winter, when it's dark and cold, you know, I get to do writing on there and catch up on... I mean, I can do whatever I want on my computer or phone. Wow, okay, well, so you don't get a lot of extra time off. You're on a vacation quarter now. How are you? I know you're working. But are you going to do anything fun? You're going anywhere?
Joe:So as soon as vacation started for me, I went to visit my best friends in Texas. Yeah. And then after that, I've just been you know, working, you know, just, you know, trying to go on a lot of hikes outdoors as much as I can. Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:So when you went to Texas, would you think, what do you think of Texas?
Joe:It was so hot. I went.... So this is, this is the crazy funny part is my best friends there.... They called me and
they're like:"You should come to Texas at this certain date". And I was like, "oh okay, that's too specific. But okay". And so I booked the ticket for a week. I went...The first day I got there, they're like, "yeah, we're moving out today. We're moving out to a new place you're helping us". And I was like, really!? Jerks. And it was the week of like the heatwave. So as soon as I stepped out, I thought I was going to die....
Evan Franulovich:Which city were in?
Joe:Houston.
Evan Franulovich:Oh!
Joe:Yeah, I was like, I am never going there again.
Evan Franulovich:So not only is it hot, but then also the humidity on top of it.
Joe:Yeah is so bad.
Evan Franulovich:Because I'm thinking in Saipan must be a pretty warm place to live as well. You get the winds and it keeps it cool?
Joe:Yeah. It's, it's hot, but it wasn't like dry heat or like, like, as hot as Houston. If you just step under the shade, like you'll cool down pretty quickly, back home, so it was manageable. But Texas? Oh my god. It was not.
Evan Franulovich:Texas is pretty... I lived there for a while. It's pretty hot. Yeah. And what do you think about the the city, the people?
Joe:Everything else was great. It was just the weather.
Evan Franulovich:Weather. It's tough.
Joe:Yeah, the weather was really tough.
Evan Franulovich:Right? What do you think of the weather in Seattle, though? I mean, because this is very different than Saipan for sure.
Joe:It is. It was really hard to get used to especially even living in Korea during the military for two years. Like it's completely different.
Evan Franulovich:It's so cold!
Joe:Yeah, it's it's really cold in Korea. But it didn't rain as much I would say here. And the sun wouldn't usually set as early as here, you know, so my first few years living here, I had a hard time during winter. It was because you know how it is....rainy, it's just always dark, barely any sunlight. You know? And I'm just like...
Evan Franulovich:Well, the sun does... for our listeners, the sun does come out.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:It just doesn't stay up for as long as say if you were in Mexico or California, for sure.
Joe:For sure.
Evan Franulovich:We're a little bit further north. That's yeah.... But I was going to ask you about, people always are asking me about scholarships and money because they're always short, and they want to work on campus. You....You work for the International Programs.
Joe:I do.
Evan Franulovich:So how did you get that job? How'd you hear about it?
Joe:Yeah. So there's this weekly newsletter that used to go out?
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, it started again.
Joe:Yeah. So hopefully, that'll really kickstart and you know, every week, because that was it... there's a lot of information there, and I used to read that like every week when it came out. And I saw that the international programs was hiring at the time, so I decided to apply and, you know...here I am.
Evan Franulovich:How many hours do you work? you work full...?
Joe:So for summer, during vacation quarters, students, international students can work full time,and there's a lot of confusion on that. So...
Evan Franulovich:I'm sure there's...Why you don't explain the rule?
Joe:Yeah! So while you're not on vacation, it's only 20 hours a week.
Evan Franulovich:Okay.
Joe:Yeah, 20 hours a week, so have... a part time.
Evan Franulovich:Sure.
Joe:But when you're on vacation quarter, you're allowed to work full time, which is like 40 hours a week, you know, sometimes even more if they allow it. So that's what I'm kind of... I'm not kind of currently doing right now. Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:And your work the front desk, so you're giving information all day long.
Joe:Yep.
Evan Franulovich:Cool.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:What so the number one question you get from students is what?
Joe:I would say that two most questions that I've heard would
be:"I'm going on vacation. What do I do?" Number two is classes, you know, class registration, you know, just anything that has to do with classes. Yeah. "Is this the right class for my major?" You know...
Evan Franulovich:But you don't tell them right?
Joe:Yeah, I can't. The only thing that I will kind of explain will be nursing just because I yeah, I've, I kind of know the process of it. But all the other majors, I'm just, you know, I try my best to help, the best of my knowledge. But then usually, I would just recommend speaking with an advisor.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, the advisors are really their best source to go for that.
Joe:Yes. Yes.
Evan Franulovich:Cool. So people want to know how to go on vacation, you took a vacation to Texas...Can you explain the process? because we have current students that listen to this program as well. So what is the process?
Joe:Yeah so first of all, the minimum requirement is you need to take three quarters consecutively before you could even apply. The only exception is if it's your first summer in the US. First quarter for summer in the US.
Evan Franulovich:Wait a minute, so let's say it's my first quarter. I thought I could. Like if I just wanted to go up to Vancouver for the weekend.
Joe:Those you can. Secondly, you don't really need a vacation quarter for that.
Evan Franulovich:Right right. I just want to go travel.
Joe:And then you'll be back. As long as you're all your forms are up to date.
Evan Franulovich:Okay. So local travel or like, if I just take a flight down to Disneyland.
Joe:That is fine.
Evan Franulovich:That's okay, okay.
Joe:It's just more so international travel. Right? Where you're going back home, let's say to Japan, Korea, you know, wherever you're from.
Evan Franulovich:Oh I see, gotcha, gotcha.
Joe:Yeah. And if it's your first summer, you're allowed to take a vacation quarter, even if you haven't completed three quarters in a row. But yeah.
Evan Franulovich:I didn't know that.
Joe:Yeah, a lot, a lot of people don't know that. But, you know, it's great information, especially if it's your first year, you know, three quarters in a row, you have to say that you have to fill out a form on SCD global. It's a platform that students will have access to once they're accepted. Fill out form there, and then they just have to submit whether they purchase insurance or not is up to them, but they either request to purchase one or waive an insurance, and then they just have to submit their I-20 for travel signature from their advisor.
Evan Franulovich:Gotcha.
Joe:If they don't have one yet.
Evan Franulovich:And that's pretty easy, right. Wow, very cool. Oh, do you heard that? That means it's Trivia Time! Nice and I have a feeling there's gonna be easy for you, because you give out information all day, but I'll try to ask you some challenging questions. So you get five if you get them all right, you're on the wall of fame. And if not, then, you know, no big deal. We won't make fun of you around the office. All right. So very first question. So when you want to activate your CTC link account, what number do you need to do If I...Ouf being put on the spot is hard. Wow. that? So I want to activate my CTC link account. I need a number in order to do that. What is that number?
Joe:Would that not be your employer ID?
Evan Franulovich:That's it! nice job!
Joe:Because you receive it when you get accepted?
Evan Franulovich:Genius! Very nice. Okay, great. So in order to do the orientation class, what platform do they need to get on? To do the orientation class?
Joe:Orientation class?
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, to complete the orientation class. What platform? Should they log on to?
Joe:Canvas?
Evan Franulovich:Yes. That's really amazing, very good! All right. So if they have, if they've been accepted, their English scores are really high. They are allowed to do "what" in order to get their classes lined up? What can they do to start getting their classes lined up?
Joe:Oh, English scores are... can say that quest...repeat that question one more time.
Evan Franulovich:Sure. Yeah. So their English scores are really high, so they're going to be, they're going to be able to take their college classes right away. Before they even come to the United States. There's something they can do, in order to start signing up for...
Joe:Oh, the intent to enroll form.
Evan Franulovich:They can do an intent to roll on enroll form"boo". And then they... they do like a pre-registration.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:And if they need help with that, who should
Joe:They... if they can come into the International Programs they talk to? Office, we will be more than happy to help the front desk.
Evan Franulovich:But if they're still hanging out on the beach and Saipan.
Joe:Yeah, they can speak to... they can send emails I mean to anyone in the department and it'll kind of get forwarded to us.
Evan Franulovich:What is the email address?
Joe:Intlcentral@seattlecolleges.edu
Evan Franulovich:Right on! now if you're gonna go to North or South, it's the same email address you just substitute North our South for Central's. Great man, you're knocking them out of the park. Great. So after they register for classes and they get their schedule, what can they do in order to make sure that it's all paid for?
Joe:So you could go into CTC link and check your financial dues, see if it's been paid, or cashiers office and you can ask.
Evan Franulovich:Nice job. Last question: what was the last movie you saw?
Joe:Last movie I saw huh? So last movie I saw... I have seen this movie a couple times already, but the last one I saw was a Top Gun Maverick.
Evan Franulovich:Oh, yeah.
Joe:Yeah. My roommates were watching it for the first time. So I was just watching that with them as well.
Evan Franulovich:That's cool. And would you think?
Joe:I love Top Gun.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah. Did you see the original?
Joe:I did.
Evan Franulovich:Which one do you like better?
Joe:I love the original better.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, same, me too.
Joe:Maverick was great but it can't beat a classic.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, the the aircraft are a little updated in the second one. Yeah, the first one is really great.
Joe:Really great movie so.
Evan Franulovich:Cool. Did you...When you guys were in... when you were in the military did you guys watch a lot of those kinds of movies? like...like when I was in the military, you know, everybody was...well, they were usually watching things like Saving Private Ryan or you know, whatever. They were into that stuff.
Joe:I'd say we watched a couple but um, since he was Korea, and I'm not sure but if you know, Korean drama was popular. And so, if we had time to kill, you know, that's what we will be watching.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah. Fair enough. So yeah, Top Gun Maverick. That's cool. Well, usually, before we end this program, I give you an opportunity to give some advice to people that are from the region that you... you know... they might be thinking about coming to Seattle, Seattle Colleges or just coming to the United States in general, what kind of advice would you give them?
Joe:Yeah, you know, that's a really great question. I would say, just, Seattle has been one of the best cities that I've visited so far. Seattle Central too, compared to a lot of schools is really great. There's a lot of great professors, great staff, faculty members, that'll help your academic progress up.
Evan Franulovich:Cool.
Joe:Yeah, Seattle is the best just come to Seattle.
Evan Franulovich:You're gonna be studying anyway, so the rain doesn't matter. All right, great. Well, good advice. That's really good advice. Also, you know, new thing for season two, I give an opportunity to say something in your own language. So something you want to say to your friends back in Korea, if they're thinking about coming to school.
Joe:Yeah. So say it in Korean right?
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, that would be great.
Joe:Okay...clear it up...
Evan Franulovich:Your English is so good. You never know even speaks Korean.
Joe:So this is for anyone in Korea that wants to come right?
Evan Franulovich:Yeath that they are thinking about coming to school in maybe Seattle, Seattle Colleges or just the United States, whatever.
Joe:~Joe speaking Korean~
Evan Franulovich:Nice.... Yeah, that's really good. And one of the things I was going to ask you, because so many people use agents in Korea, did you use an agent? Or did you play on your own?
Joe:I did it on my own. I think it was just more so... because I have more experience with English, I guess. It was pretty easy for me to go through.
Evan Franulovich:For sure. Last question, before we go, because I am a Taekwondo instructor. I did it for a lot of years. I'm not tranning per.. right now. But I do, like I'm usually attending a lot of tournaments so I help run the tournaments.
Joe:Oh, nice.
Evan Franulovich:Did you do taekwondo in Korea?
Joe:I did.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, cool.
Joe:May I ask what...what belt?
Evan Franulovich:Well, I am a third degree black belt. But I'm... I've been eligible to test for
Joe:Wow. my fourth degree for...ever, and I just haven't done it because it's expensive, and it's like, there's no real benefit to me testing in it. It's a lot of work. And it's like huh... I really respect that though. I'm just a first degree. I had an opportunity...
Evan Franulovich:Just a first degree! That's awesome!
Joe:Well you know...I had an opportunity in the military to get my second degree.
Evan Franulovich:Right.
Joe:But, you know, I thought about it. I was like "huh.." do I really want to and so...
Evan Franulovich:To be one more form...
Joe:I know. But...
Evan Franulovich:Actually, a second degree form is pretty cool. I actually prefer it to Korea, it's pretty cool. So you know, you can always do it later.
Joe:We shall see...we shall see...Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah. So I kind of feel about it too. I mean, I could go test whenever I want, but you know, like, I haven't been training, so I'd have to really, you know, give it a good lead up to go train hard.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:Sounds like a lot of work.
Joe:It definitely is.
Evan Franulovich:That's cool. That's great. Do you do any other martial arts besides taekwondo?
Joe:Yeah. So I used to train mixed martial arts when I was younger.
Evan Franulovich:Nice!
Joe:kickboxing, and taekwondo. Out of everything. I would say
Evan Franulovich:Very cool.
Joe:Yeah. So I've done boxing, wrestling, muay tai, jujitsu... jujitsu has been my favorite.
Evan Franulovich:I love jujitsu.
Joe:I am planning to pick it back up here. There's a lot of great schools here, academies, you know so...
Evan Franulovich:Right. Once time freez up. Yeah, yeah, for sure. There's a... there's a jujitsu place just around the corner from where I live that I'm hoping to get in there soon. Just a couple... times a week would be really great.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:It's I always talked to people about martial arts and go "which one should I do?" And I go "it doesn't really matter which one you do. Just make sure you like your instructor". Because really, you should take more... I mean to be a good mixed martial arts. You need a ground game....
Joe:You need to stand up game.
Evan Franulovich:You need to stand up game, you know close in... a little bit of taekwondo is great if I'm standing a little ways away. But if I mean close, you know that boxing it's such powerful stuff and it's hard to beat jujitsu once you go to the ground.
Joe:I know. You know, that's my goal. Get get a black belt with jujitsu.
Evan Franulovich:Yeah, that takes a lot of time.
Joe:Yeah, I heard like 10 years. 10 years, a little under 10 years, but...
Evan Franulovich:And I believe it.
Joe:Yeah.
Evan Franulovich:Whenever I go train in jujitsu, which I do quite a bit. I feel like a moron because it's just, it.... These guys are so good.
Joe:I know...
Evan Franulovich:I gotta get in there. All right. Well, cool. Good to talk to Joe. Nice...thank for yout time, I appreciate it. I know you gotta go to work. Sorry to keep you....Oh you're almost...
Joe:It's okay.
Evan Franulovich:All right. Take care.
Joe:Thank you. Bye bye.
Evan Franulovich:Conversations with! is painstakingly crafted for you by the Seattle Colleges International Programs department and supported by the lovely folks here on our campus. This show is produced and edited by me Evan Franulovich. We welcome your emails and questions about coming to Seattle Colleges. Please reach out to us via our website or just give have us a rating and a review on Apple podcasts as this helps others discover the show. Also, don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok or YouTube at SeattleCollegesIntl, that's SeattleCollegesIntl. And be sure to check out all of the shows here on Conversations with! Thanks for listening and we'll see you next week.