Halmoni's

Instantly I felt a connection with the old grandmothers of Korea that I didn't even know. These women are probably some of the strongest survivors Ive physically met in my entire life. Back when Japan was taking up Korea, these women took some of th harder hits. They were known as "comfort women," in other words military sex slaves. After the war ended, some of these women came out and declared their right of an apology. That's all they ask of the Japanese government. After all that they've been through they women don't hope to get money or goods from Japan, but just a declaration that they were at fault. Having been a woman, I felt very connected with the halmoni's story. After seeig the protest, I could see that to his day people will not let that tragic moment in history go. And I thank them for that. So many people are left forgotten or unheard of. I believe that the Japanese government refuses to say that they were at fault because then they would look bad and create a reputation for their country. However, I do believe lying makes them look worse. Therefore, Japan probably wants to only pay back by material reparations without actually saying they were wrong. That's all that the halmoni's are asking for. In my opinion, they believe that having their voice heard by the Japanese embassy will not only help their case, but also all the victims women around the world. As a victim myself, I will forever stand by their side.

Empathy

In Seoul, I think that meeting new people in general is quite difficult. People here rarely make casual conversation or talk directly to strangers that they don't know. Therefore, as a foreigner from the states, I found many weird expressions when I approached strangers in hopes of meeting new people. However, at the University of Michigan, I think it is definitely more inviting. There are many programs that the university offers to help international students adjust to the culture and student environment on campus. Also, in America, we tend to be more direct and open, so I don't think that meeting new people will pose a probably at all. The problem that I think foreign students may have is that they will become overwhelmed with amount of people coming up to them on a regular basis. I think in general the Ann Arbor area seems to be a fairly friendly place and would provide a great atmosphere for international students to meet new people.

When studying at Seoul National University, I think the atmosphere is different. Students are more prone to staying with their own groups and sticking to what they are more familiar with. As an international student here, I did find the Student Ambassadors group to be quite friendly and helpful in providing information and friendship for our stay here. However, I understand that everything is different case by case, so I am not judging the rest of the Korean students. I understand that the cultural difference does not mean that they hate me, but rather that I should acknowledge the difference and adapt accordingly.

Buddy Topics

During our travel times from destination to destination, we are sometimes assigned "buddy topics" where we share our thoughts on a certain issue. One of the buddy topics asked us to talk about what we think our privileges and challenges are. I think as an American, I am already privileged. I think I definitely have the upper hand when it comes to global connections. In addition, being a student at the University of Michigan, which values diversity and international interactions, I think I am more socially aware of others around me. I think this is extremely important because this is an important skill to have when working with others in the professional setting. Also, just having an accredited university name on my resume may also give me a couple bonus points over others.

When I have to think about my challenges that I have to face, there are plenty. In a male dominant society, being a woman can be difficult. I may have to work harder and show more effort in order to achieve some of the same rankings or status as my male friends/colleagues. In addition to slight male dominance, the majority of the population in America is white. Therefore, I definitely think that sometimes it is difficult to compete as an Asian American. I'm not saying that there is a huge disparity as other races or ethnicities, but I am still reminded from time to time that I don't fall under the same umbrella as others. With these identity challenges, I don't think there's much I can do to change them. However, I've just learn to be patient and to use my privileges for my benefit. Even if I have to work harder and show a little more dedication, I still do my best to prove myself. In my perspective, nothing comes easy in this world. Therefore, sitting around pouting about something you can't change will get you nowhere.

English Language Education in Korea

Korean society has put much emphasis on educating students on the English language. I believe that this is because in Korea, business is one of the more prosperous career fields and English seems to have become a universal language of communication. Therefore with English, Koreans are able to communicate with other professionals on a global scale. The Korean government continues to hire more native English speakers to teach in Korea. I believe the reason behind this is because this gives students a more immersive and collaborative learning experience. We also learned that many parents send their children to private after school programs called hagwons, where they can study a specific subject. In a lot cases, students are able to study more English in addition to their regular course load. In addition, students are able to attend public after school programs. Our class was able to visit a rural elementary school that consisted of 36 students through grades 1-6. Hearing the experience of the  native English speaking teacher's perspective was very enlightening because he definitely made the time spent here more relatable. I definitely think that people in America overlook the importance of knowing a language like English. Since we use it everyday and it may be our first language, other places around the world are trying to catch up to our capability. When doing anything on a global or international scale, the English language is quite useful and understood by most. Once again, having the opportunity to explore the English Language Teaching Institutes, I definitely need to reflect on my personal beliefs of the English Language. :)

National Museum of Art

Yesterday our class took the opportunity to explore the National Art Museum of South Korea. I found the exhibition to be rather large and full of beautiful pieces. I personally love art myself and definitely enjoyed seeing the pieces related to Buddhism, since my family is Buddhist. The museum contained art pieces from different time periods of Korea and seemed to be remarkable historical artifacts. I believe anyone visiting the museum will also appreciate learning about the history of Korea along side with the beautiful art pieces that were created. Art is a form of culture all on its own. Every individual piece holds its own story and defines a specific period in time. In all, I really appreciated having the opportunity to explore the exhibition. I also got to purchase awesome gifts for people back home!

In addition to speaking with Crystal Phillips, today we had a presentation by one of the directors of the United Service Organization. He basically discussed the main goal or mission of USO, which is to "lift the spirits of AMerica's troops and their families." Apparently there are over a hundred USO centers located around the world. The main point that I got from Tony Davis' presentation was that the USO serves as a "home away from home" for American soldiers. They provide a variety of goods and services that will help soldiers adjust to their new surroundings. Something that caught my attention was that the USO also organizes entertainment performances for the troops as well. An example that Tony mentioned was the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders would come and visit the troops. I found that very cool that they also organize fun events like that. I think that all the support that the USO has provided for the troops will continue to move towards successfully making soldiers better adapt to their new settings.

Apart from the benefits that the USO provides for the troops, there is still tension that exists. One of the challenges that was mentioned that prevents positive relations between US military and Korean communities is that they are foreigners. It was mentioned that the older generations may understand and appreciate the US involvement in defending Korea, but the younger university students tend to have a more negative view. I think that if we are able to educate the younger generations of the significant aid that the US has actively provided to the South Korean society, the negative reputations of American soldiers will decline.

Crystal Phillips

Today we had the honor of meeting a UMich alumni, Crystal Phillips. I really enjoyed her perspective and anecdote of her personal experiences with the academic world. Hearing her discuss her life struggles and successes really made me want to reflect on what I really want to do with my life. But enough about me, let's talk more about Crystal. She currently works for Yonsei University as a visiting professor, but primarily at the Institute for Poverty Alleviation and International Development. The mission of IPAID is "to alleviate global poverty and promote sustainable internal development, particularly in developing and less developed countries." IPAID also collaborates with six colleges at Yonsei University Wonju campus, which offers many opportunities to undergraduates and graduates to study and conduct research on poverty. When it comes to the issue of poverty, I think that it's a great thing that people are trying to assistance one another internationally. It is evident that poverty still exists everywhere, just more in some regions than others. However, I would only find it hypocritical for governments to aid in foreign poverty alleviation if they provided no care for their own. More so, in the future when those countries become developed, they may return the favor. Unfortunately I wasn't able to volunteer with PLUR which consisted of contributing time to feeding the homeless. However, I think it would have just gave me a clearer perspective that poverty still exists; even in a highly progressing country like South Korea.