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By Michael Sun, Sophomore, Dept. of Architectural Studies, University of Missouri-Columbia

 

Gwangju citizens are proud of their part in the protest of May 18^th that brought democracy to Korea. Though many people were killed and the memories of the protest are only remembered by the few who survived, the town is full of the signs of their bravery. The buildings, the mural, and the monument on Chonnam National University campus still serve as reminders of the event to all citizens of Gwangju.

This summer, I was lucky enough to have the chance to study abroad at Chonnam National University in Gwangju South Korea. The first time I visited the CNU campus, I was awed by the welcoming feeling I felt as I gazed at the numerous tress and a giant pond placed near the gate. Studying at Chonnam National University International Summer Session gave me an insight not only to the Korean culture but also to many more like Malaysian, Philippine, and Indonesian cultures. The program was like Bibimbab, a Korean traditional dish that has variety of colors and ingredients. It took the participants to many unique places and gave us all many great experiences. I think many of the CNU Summer participants blended in like Bibimbab. The great part of the study abroad course was the CNU ISS Culture Program that was held every Wednesday and Saturday. Through the program, I was able to go to places that I would have not have been able to otherwise. POSCO was the most memorable place of all.  Though there were numerous similarities between universities in the U.S. and Korea, I was not surprised to see several differences. For instance, there is no curfew in most of the dorms in the United States. However, CNU had a curfew! I stayed at the BTL dorm at CNU throughout the program. But the BTL was very convenient with easy access to various stores and transportation nearby. Public buses and taxis were very abundant and widely used. I was astonished to find Wi-Fi in the subways. Eventually, I bought a bus card. I think I had more fun swiping the card than using it for transportation purposes. BTL also had great facilities like workout room, laundry room, supermarket, café and et cetera. Although the dorm was more convenient than imaginable, there were some faults: the internet was very slow, and there was no Wi-Fi in the dorm. It was so slow that loading a video took longer than watching it. I guess my dorm internet signal was suggesting me to stop watching videos and spend more time absorbing Korean culture.

My fellow students and I often used taxis to go from one place to another. But the difficult part was that most Korean taxi drivers could not understand English. One time, my friends were on their way back from Chungjangno (a downtown that we often visited) and when they arrived, they were surprised to see that they were in front of Chosun University instead of CNU. Because of my friends’ American accent, the taxi driver thought they said Chosun, instead of Chonnam. When the driver learned of the situation, he was kind enough to bring them back to CNU with no extra fees. I was surprised by his action of kindness, despite the fact that the fault was at my friends. The experience helped me to understand that kindness and warm heart were embedded in Koreans’ culture.  

One of the most challenging parts of experiencing a new culture is the bravery to try new things; tasting Korean dishes was no exception. The most basic of Korean dishes is rice, and rice is the main source of Koreans’ daily energy. Because having a meal was so important in Korean culture, food is closely intertwined with many aspects of its culture, such as traditional stories. But no matter how important they were to Koreans, it was a challenge for me to have Korean food all the time, especially in the mornings, when the meals are served with rice and various side dishes. Not only was it too much for me to eat, (as I was accustomed to eating light, American style breakfast) Korea’s most common foods, such as kimchi and spicy chicken stew were overwhelmingly spicy for my appetite. Although the dishes were all unique and delicious, I think I had more water than actual food. There are also a lot of strange foods in Korea. I vividly remember my friends’ shocked faces and enthusiasm, and embarrassment as they tried to determine the ingredients of the food that lay in front of them. But I enjoyed experiencing these new tastes; some dishes that I ate in Korea were things that I had never imagined I would taste, like live octopus and larvae. I had once seen travelers eat them on the television, but it was my first time coming across such food myself. My Korean buddy bought cooked larvae, which were served in paper cups, for me and other foreigners to share. The brown larvae were crowded in a small cup, and the sight of the hopelessly dead insects made me upset. There was also an unexplainable smell that trickled my nostril. But I did not want to judge anything by its looks-or smell- so I decided to try one piece. With my first chew, unknown fluids squeezed across my mouth- it sure had a lot of protein. The taste, I am sorry to say, was revolting. Nobody could have been any happier than we were when we saw McDonald’s. Our food was quickly delivered and with a giant smile across our faces, we started eating; many of us ate as if we had starved for days. When we were finished, we all felt at home.

This summer has been truly unforgettable. I got the opportunity to meet so many great people and share a one of a kind experience with them. If I get the chance to go back once more, I would leave in a heartbeat.

 

*The author is a Korean-American student who participated in CNU's 2011 International Summer Session  from June 23^rd to July 18^th.