This summer I had the privilege of attending Seoul National University’s International Summer Program on a tuition waiver scholarship from the Harvard Korea Institute. As a long-time K-pop fanatic and Korean food enthusiast, I was more than eager for the opportunity to visit South Korea for the first time. With the generosity of the KI, this visit existed as a 5 week living and learning experience that I will carry with me for years to come.
At SNU, I had the opportunity to further my Korean language education through their foreign language classes and enroll in an economics class entitled “Introduction to Game Theory.” Both of these courses provided me with the opportunity to learn from and build friendships with students from all over the world. The global community in each classroom was truly instrumental in creating a unique, free-flowing atmosphere that engendered new and creative thought. While the Korean language class was a bit abstract due to the immense increase in student numbers this year, I found that after placing into level 4 out of 4 I was able to learn Korean through a more free-form structure. Thanks to the grammar and vocabulary I had built up by taking Elementary Korean at Harvard, I was able to fundamentally communicate with our professor and other classmates strictly in Korean, use the language to learn more about the history of South Korea, and even try playing some children’s games. From trying my hand at the “dalgona challenge” to learning about King Sejong’s family, class became an environment to try new things and practice speaking Korean comfortably.
Nevertheless, I felt that my most crucial lessons and cherished memories came from exploring Seoul and South Korea off-campus everyday. Despite the distance that separated SNU’s Gwanak campus from the popular hubs of Seoul, particularly Hongdae and Myeongdong, the hour-long subway trips became a fantastic way to familiarize myself with Seoul’s public transportation system and daily life in the city. Everyday, I tried my best to venture out and
explore somewhere new from taking dance workshops at 1Million Dance Studio in Seongsu, fulfilling an absolute dream of mine, to wandering through cafes and street food stalls in Myeongdong. I fell in love with the hidden gems and energy that Seoul provided. Particularly, watching street performers in Hongdae and strolling along the Han river became invaluable memories of my trip to South Korea. Furthermore, I found absolute joy and empathy in listening to stories and engaging in conversations with small business owners and taxi drivers in the city. While I was initially very cautious and self-conscious of my broken, accented Korean, nearly everyone I met was incredibly supportive and open to helping facilitate communication, whether that meant employing a mix of languages or the ever-dependable Papago app. Soon, I found myself embracing the awkward beginnings, looking forward to speaking with shop staff, asking questions, and involving myself in the language on a practical level I had not experienced before.
In essence, my 5 week journey in Seoul genuinely has become one of my most treasured memories as a source of inspiration, freedom, and creativity in my life. From the taxi driver’s restaurant recommendations to a busking K-pop group on the street, every small moment of my stay at SNU has contributed to a new piece of my worldview. Both in and out of the classroom, this summer trip helped me find a sense of exploration and fulfillment that would not have been possible otherwise. Thus, I would like to deeply thank all the donors and staff that made this trip possible for me. I hope to pay this generosity forward and continue to grow my understanding and experience with South Korea in the future.