My time studying abroad has been an incredibly fun and rewarding experience. During my time here, I have had the opportunity to visit many cities and landmarks I was excited to see. One of the most impactful experiences I have had was participating in a DMZ Tour. This tour was part of a Yonsei extracurricular activity. We first visited the Korean War Memorial to learn more about the history of the Korean War. We explored both the North and South Korean war strategies and learned how other countries were involved. One particular monument stood out to me. It honored the U.S. citizens who lost their lives in the Korean War, listing each individual's full name and home state. This was both saddening and eye-opening. I am used to seeing death tolls expressed as statistics, but seeing the names and states made the loss feel much more personal and real. Afterward, we traveled to Paju, a city near the DMZ, where we enjoyed a traditional Korean lunch with a variety of banchan (Korean side dishes). We then visited several sites within the DMZ area, including the 3rd tunnel, which is one of the tunnels North Korea dug in an attempt to infiltrate South Korea. We also visited the Dora Observatory, where we were able to view parts of North Korea and its nearby cities.
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Having traveled to Korea before, I thought I had a good sense of what to expect, but studying abroad here has still been a deeply meaningful and eye-opening experience. As someone who is Chinese, I have found it interesting to navigate shared cultural values such as respect for elders and communal meals, while also noticing distinct difference that shape daily life in Korea. Although I have not experienced significant culture shock or had to reevaluate my core beliefs, I have had small moments of reflection about how my identity fits into the local context. These experiences have helped me feel more connected to Korean history and culture and reminded me of the importance of cultural nuance and empathy. My classes, Korean Global Music and Korean Food and Culture, have also enriched my understanding by exploring historical events that have shaped modern Korea and its traditions.
Megan Gong, Yonsei International Summer School