We left New Zealand for South Korea on 11th April 2009. I traveled with 6 of my college friends and our teacher, Mr Gillon.
The trip was amazing – I have so many great memories. I spent 8 days in the Songpa-Gu district in Seoul on the School Study Exchange Programme and then I stayed for an extra week with my Korean friend Helen's family who live in Sokcho, a north eastern city near the North Korean border. Helen is an international student at my school in Christchurch.
The best thing about traveling to South Korea was that I felt like I experienced a real part of Asia. I have already visited Singapore and Bali but I think that South Korea allowed me to witness an Asian culture that wasn't overly affected by tourism or the Western world.
We were paired up with a Korean buddy from Ogum High School for our 8 day exchange which was great. My buddy, Saebon, is the same age as me and we got to know each other really well. Communicating with Saebon wasn't too hard as she could speak English fairly well.
I learnt to speak some basic Korean while I was away. I can now use simple greetings such as hello (Anyonghaseyo) and thank you (Kamsahamnida), and I can tell people that I am from New Zealand and that I am a vegetarian. I found that I conversed in English for most of my time in South Korea because the Korean people enjoy the opportunity to practice their English with you.
I lived with Saebon and her family in their apartment unit during my stay in Seoul. Saebon lives on the seventh floor of a 15 storey block in the Songpa-Gu district. Saebon's home seemed really small to me but most Korean people live in apartments just like this. Apartment blocks are everywhere!
An interesting part of my time in Seoul was going to classes at Ogum High School with Saebon. I was really amazed at how studious the Korean students are. They work really hard to achieve high grades because there is an enormous pressure for them to get into the good universities. Saebon had exams coming up in two weeks time so she and her classmates stayed up really late to study and only got about 3 or 4 hours sleep each night.
We had a really busy schedule while we were in Songpa-Ku. We went to a theme park called Lotte World with our buddies which was a lot of fun. We visited the Songpa-Gu council buildings where we met the Deputy Major and we took a tour of the Changdeokgung Palace which exposed us to a little history about Seoul and Korea. We also visited a Korean folk village which gave us an insight into the traditional Korean way of life. At the folk village we saw drummers and dancers performing in colourful, silky costumes with intricate headpieces.
Going into the city of Seoul was really exciting. It is so alive. It is a such a big city with people everywhere. Even at night it is busy – it just never seems to stop. The lights, the technology, and the buzz were incredible. Christchurch seemed so small and quiet when I got home.
Being a vegetarian I struggled a little bit to find food that I could eat while I was away. The Korean Barbecue (gogi gui) is popular amongst Korean residents as well as tourists but I couldn't eat the meat. I spent a lot of time eating kimchi, a famous Korean dish of pickled cabbage. I also enjoyed eating the icecream in Korea which is presented in tiny balls that look like plastic.
I found using a Korean toilet difficult for the first few times. The seat is on the ground and you usually have to take your own toilet paper with you. There are lots of buttons to press and water squirts from various places. I would have benefited from a lesson in using the bathroom!
Once the 8 day exchange ended I traveled with Helen to Sokcho to see her family. Helen's family live in a sleepy fishing village which was so peaceful and quiet after the hustle and bustle of Seoul. I had a really relaxing week here. We visited the border between North and South Korea. I looked at North Korea through a telescope and saw North Korean guards in a convoy and a North Korean fishing boat. One night we sang karaoke at a local karaoke club which was lots of fun. Visiting Sokcho allowed me to see a different part of South Korea which was enriching. I am very grateful for the opportunity to meet Helen's family and share their home and lifestyle for a week.
Now that I am back in New Zealand I look back on my trip fondly. The Korean people were so welcoming and friendly and I learnt so much about how they live. The trip has helped me in my role as an International Ambassador at Middleton Grange School. I have a greater sensitivity towards the international students at my school and recognize both the similarities and differences between our cultures. I keep in touch with Saebon and I hope to see her again in July when she visits Christchurch on her school's sister city exchange.