Hello friends and family!
As many of you know, I will spending the Summer in South Korea.
As an Asian American, I have always been fascinated with South Korea as one the historical and cultural bridges of Asia. From its cultural ties to China, to decades of Japanese colonial rule, to its emergence as a pop culture icon, South Korea’s unique identity and culture has never seemed so familiar yet so unknown. It also just so happens that its relationship with North Korea has become the center of world attention in the past few months. Though it has been a dream of mine to come here for quite a while, thanks to DukeEngage, I finally have the opportunity to immerse myself in this country and culture.
I will be spending 8 weeks in South Korea, which will be divided into roughly equal parts teaching at a multicultural elementary school for children of economic migrants and another multicultural school for older students. We will primarily be teaching English, but hopefully we also leave these students with some unforgettable memories and experiences. Having never been to South Korea, I’m both excited and uncertain of what to expect. Between my two weeks of Korean 101 and vocabulary I picked up from watching various Korean dramas, I have about zero confidence in my fluency in Korean. I guess I know what I’m doing on the 14 hour flight.
I invite you all to follow me on this journey of discovery and one that I’m certain will include a whole lot of challenges. Maybe you and I will both learn a thing or two along the way.
Until next week!