Dear Family and Friends,
Our time on Global has finally come to a close. We arrived in our final group destination about three weeks ago on January 2. After a short drive from the Inchon Airport just outside the Korean capital city of Seoul, we checked into our rooms at the International House at Yonsei University. The first few days were spent changing our Chinese money to Korean Won, grocery shopping, and trying to figure out what to do first in a city that is as dynamic as it is varied in things to see and do. The university itself is situated right next to the heart of Sinchon, an area packed with countless restaurants, coffee shops, and places to sing Karaoke. In addition to the plethora of trendy places to get American, Japanese, or Korean BBQ, Sinchon streets are crowded with street vendors selling vegetables, kimchi, and other delectable treats. In addition to taking in as much of our new surroundings as possible, we were also students again, enrolled in a class about Korean Society at the University and continued our course on “Jesus in Cross Cultural Perspectives.” Needless to say, our spare time was pretty chaotic...but amazing nonetheless.
As Korea is a nation processing of a history that dates back many hundreds of years, our introduction to this rich and dynamic culture included excursions taking us outside the urban atmosphere of Seoul. Such ventures brought us to areas integrally involved in shaping both the ancient and modern history of Korea including the Demilitarized Zone and the city of Geong-ju. Our visit to the Demilitarized Zone, (DMZ), was unlike most of the places of mass visitor draw that we had visited. The DMZ was and continues to be a place of great political, cultural, and militaristic tension as the current recognized border between North and South Korea. Our visit included a stop at the Dora Observatory were we got our first deep view into North Korean territory, a walk in the “3 rd Tunnel, and the Joint Security Area, (JSA). Our tour around the JSA included the Odusan Unification Observatory and Panmunjeom in which we found ourselves closely facing the North Korean territory flanked by both North and South Korean soldiers. Upon entering the place where the original Korean War armistice treaty was signed, our guide announced that the "those of you to my left are on North Korea soil." During the last stop at the Odusan Unification Observatory we stood surrounded by three sides of North Korean territory. Thus, because of our time on Global Semester, we all spent at least one minute in or surrounded by North Korean soil.
Our last multi-day excursion took us south rather than North of Seoul to the ancient city of Geong-ju. At one point the center of the Silla Dynasty, Geong-ju and the surrounding areas are a treasure trove of pre-modern Korean history and culture. In addition to visits to traditional Korean rural villages and museums, we toured two of the largest Buddhist temples/grottos in Korea-one of which was named by UNESCO as a national heritage treasure. Situated on a mountain, the temple entrance is characterized by a series of steps and lanterns designed to commemorate various devotee wishes. After visiting the temples, we toured the first Hyundai plant in the world. Later, we visited with a famous local potter and got a lesson in "throwing" clay--we even get to keep our mugs/pots/bowls! After a trip to Everland--the largest amusement park in South Korea--it was time to return to Yonsei and Seoul.
Our final time in Seoul was bittersweet in the desire to experience Korea and the call of home. Nevertheless, between preparing for final tests/papers for our classes and pursuing individual interests in Seoul the time virtually flew by. Before we knew it, the time for packing and saying good-bye rolled around for the last time. The Yonsei University faculty and students gave us a wonderful sendoff to either Hawaii or home in the United States.
As we look back on this trip, we see with greater clarity and scope, the richness and transformative character of our experiences on Global Semester. We bring with us memories of unforgettable places, distinct tastes, and amazing individuals. It is because of such things that we return to you compelled, galvanized, and inspired by this dynamic world. Perhaps we have a few more answers and infinitely more questions but we certainly come back to the United States of America more cognizant of our individual and collective blessings that allowed us the emotional, intellectual, and material resources to this wonderful experience. It is perhaps this multi-faceted awareness that allows for the recognition of one's responsibility to interact with and, in her or his small way, improve upon the world she inherited.