Study Abroad: UH Hilo linguistics major discovers her “found family” in Seoul, South Korea
A connoisseur of multiple languages, Imehana Villas-Boas jumped at the chance to study abroad at Hankuk University’s Foreign Studies in Seoul, South Korea.
By Lauren Aoki/UH Hilo Stories.
A linguistics major at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo with a talent for foreign languages jumped at the chance for a study abroad experience.
From Haʻikū, Maui, UH Hilo senior Imehana Villas-Boas graduated from King Kekaulike High School in 2015. She then attended UH Maui College where she completed her associates degree. She transferred to UH Hilo in spring 2024 to continue her higher education journey.
Now in her senior year, Villas-Boas is nearing completion of her bachelor of arts in linguistics with a minor in Japanese studies. Because of her desire to travel, she was disappointed when she didn’t have the chance while at UHMC, so she jumped at the opportunity to do so at UH Hilo.
“I really wanted to travel and specifically study abroad during college,” she says. “I wasn’t able to when I graduated with my AA, and UH (Hilo) had more opportunities, so I jumped on the chance as soon as I could!”
Hawaiʻi to Seoul
A connoisseur of multiple languages, Villas-Boas decided to study abroad at Hankuk University’s Foreign Studies in Seoul, South Korea.
Despite pursuing a separate Japanese minor, she went out of her way to learn some Korean language beforehand. She studied on her own the summer before leaving and then took a non-credited Survival Korean class when she reached Hankuk. Combined, she was able to navigate through simple everyday situations.
While in Seoul, Villas-Boas explored and experienced many new things, from the city to the changing seasons. She tried new foods and enjoyed the benefits of the city.
“Having such a walkable city at my disposal with reliable and readily available public transportation was something that I can’t emphasize enough,” she says. “It was the best.”
Villas-Boas also made many new friends who aided her along the way. They not only offered her support, but opened her to new people of different backgrounds, countries, and ages. They meant so much to her she still refers to them as her “found family” today.
“That found family gave me so much perspective as they were from all over the world, varying ages, and we all came from different backgrounds. Sharing the experience with them made us really close,” she says. “Without those girls, my experience would have been completely different.”
Ups and downs
Like every student who studies abroad, Villas-Boas had her struggles. She studied under a University of California, Berkeley, alum whose rigorous class proved to be a challenge. Villas-Boas grappled with insecurity and the fear of falling behind.
“It was an area of linguistics I had not studied during my time at UH Hilo, so I felt out of touch and completely inferior to my peers in class,” she admits.
But she persevered and succeeded. She’s proud of the work she put in and isn’t deterred by future challenge. In fact, after graduation, she hopes to return to South Korea and attend a language school to learn more.
Returning home
For Villas-Boas, returning to Hawaiʻi was both exciting and sad. She happily reunited with her family, but missed the hustle and bustle of Seoul city and all the things to do.
“I was happy to be home and to see my family, to squeeze the people I missed with a renewed understanding of how important they are to me. But it was difficult, not having quite the same freedom I felt in Korea, was bittersweet,” she says.
Still, she’s grateful she didn’t extend her stay in Korea because it means she can graduate this spring at home with family attending her commencement. That means so much more to her than study abroad, “knowing my family will absolutely be able to be here with me for such a big step,” she says.
Imehana Villas-Boas will graduate in May 2026, with her bachelor of arts in linguistics and minor in Japanese studies, surrounded by family.
Story by Lauren Aoki, an English major with a minor in anthropology at UH Hilo. She is literary editor at the university’s student publications Kanilehua and Hohonu.
