Melia Henderson, '19, Harvard Summer School in Korea Program, Summer 2016

September 6, 2016
Melia Henderson, '19, Harvard Summer School in Korea Program, Summer 2016

Although, before my trip, I had never had the chance to take a Korean history class, South Korean history always interested me for its fast paced economic transition and stark contrast to North Korea. So I thought the EWHA-Harvard summer school program would provide me the perfect opportunity to not only learn Korean history, but also connect what I learned in the classroom to what I saw and experienced outside the classroom in Seoul and South Korea more generally. I could not have been more right. The program did all of this and so much more.

The joint sociology and documentary film making class allowed me the opportunity to more fully integrate and experience Korean culture. In sociology, I learned briefly about the history of the two Korea’s in order to gain a historical perspective. It still blows my mind that the division of Korea developed due to such an arbitrary act by the United States, not even Korea. With this knowledge, we were better able to learn about the current situation of South Korea. More specifically, we learned about some of the major social issues facing South Korea including suicide, and the denial of migrant rights. And we were able to see the issues and their consequences in front of us which was both surreal and devastating.

What made the program even more special was the documentary aspect of class. With the knowledge the sociology class gave me, along with the many trips and excursions, we were able to tackle a social issue through the lens of the camera. It was a powerful experience for I was able to learn so much by interviewing everyone from professors to street vendors to students. And documentary film making allows you to listen in a different way than writing a research paper for example. It helps you avoid manipulation and bias when presenting a story.

I also was able to more fully explore and appreciate South Korea due to my Korean language class where I was able to learn conversational skills to get around. The language was challenging, but extremely rewarding. Learning a language definitely stretched your mind and forced me to take risks and gain confidence.

Traveling to South Korea was by far the highlight of my time at Harvard. I already miss it and the program, I hope to return soon!