After more than a year in the planning and many fundraising activities, six staff and students travelled to Seoul for a visit to our sister school, Ogeum High School during the break between terms. This was a return visit to the school after Ogeum High School staff and students visited Aranui High School last year.
This was a unique opportunity to participate in activities within the school and to be hosted by a Korean student and their family. The group visited some historical places, which included a trip to Panmunjom in the DMZ where North and South Korea are separated, Gyeongbokgung – a palace built by the founder of the Joseon Dynasty in 1395, a visit to the War Memorial of Korea and a visit to one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world – Lotte World. Additionally, as Christchurch is the sister city of Songpa district of Seoul, the group also visited a new monument that was gifted to Songpa earlier this year.
All who visited were amazed at the size and population of Seoul (10 million people), the historical significance of the city and country, but most of all the hospitality and warmth of the staff and students of Ogeum High School and the Songpa City Council who all made it a once in a lifetime opportunity and made everyone felt very welcome.
