Partrick William 

    Sunway University  

Upon learning about the availability of this Hansung University Summer School Program from two years ago, I was always interested in joining the program. Knowing the fact that I could spend almost one month to live in South Korea; a first-world country where the way of living is totally different from the way of living in developing countries of Indonesia and Malaysia; a country where the nation history and cultures are highly regarded in the daily lives; has always make me to really wanted to join the program. However, there was initial disappointment that I had because I almost had not been able to join the program because of my visa issue. But with the help of Mr. David, as well as the support from my university, luckily my visa issue can be resolved and now here I am, enjoying myself as a part of the Hansung International Summer School 2018 program.

As a person, I do really enjoy travelling to places and learning its history, culture and tradition. When the program starting date drew closer, my excitement was already building up upon receiving the schedule for the whole program. Learning that I will be receiving classes on Korean language, arts and culture, history and politics, and having the thought of going into numerous field trips organized to various historical places, museums and the D.M.Z. area was really excites me. Just as what all my seniors and the lecturers in my university told me beforehand that this summer school program will be a very memorable experience, it turns out to be very true indeed! I will never be able to forget this whole experience.

From the very first day arriving in Seoul, when Mr David and the buddies bring me and few other students who arrive in Seoul earlier to have lunch in kimchi stew restaurant until now, there is not a day when I was not excited on getting on with the program. Field trip to Changdeokgung Palace and Gyeongbokdung Palace really amazed me on how the Korean people preserved the beauty of the palaces and all its surroundings. Trip to National Museum of Korea where I get to see the beautiful artefacts, ruins and arts painting from the old Korean dynasty and I was really amazed as well that there is a donation hall located inside the museum, where collectors donate their collection of artefacts for the public, and it really shows of how the Koreans respect their own country. Trip to D.M.Z., Odusan Unification Tower, and War Memorial of Korea make me realize how bad of the impact that a war could bring to a nation physically and emotionally, from cities that was destructed due to war, to people that have to lose their homeland, until the pain of losing family or friends that was fallen or missing on the battlefield. Although in Indonesia there is also war happened before within the country, and many people are also losing their lives and their home, but the war was to fight against colonialism, and people are fighting for the country freedom and independence. However, the Korean war is happening between countries that share the same land, between people that share and spoken the same language, and it is really felt surreal and saddening to know that this war could happen and even still ongoing until now. Through watching the NANTA shows and the folk performance and traditional martial arts in Namsan Park, really shows how Korean people really proud of their own culture. And many other trips to Gwanghaemun square, hanok village, Gyeongju, various temples, and all of it never stops me to awe on how the people in Korea really treasure their country historical values.

On top of all these amazing field trips, I also really appreciate to know all the people in the program. Able to know a lot of new friends from the other countries, people with different background and accustomed to follow different cultures from myself, has been really an eye-opening experience for me. Overall, this whole program has really give me a new and amazing experience, help me to understand the history of South Korea and giving me opportunity to have a really close look on the culture and tradition of people living in South Korea. All these experiences will definitely be very beneficial for me, and going on forward, I will never forget and will always treasure the memories that I had made throughout the program.