Abigail Raimondi (Nazareth University)

With only a couple more days left in South Korea, it’s become a habit to look back and reflect on my time spent in this beautiful country. In a matter of a month, I have explored a part of my identity that has been the most important to me. I never would have imagined to be given the opportunity to visit my birth country, especially as a college student; it had always been a dream and nothing more. Yet here we are, a month later with newfound friends, a scrapbook of memories to look back on, and an open gate to even more opportunities than before.

  Before arriving in South Korea, I had many doubts towards myself, especially as a Korean adoptee. Will I feel connected with my birth country once I stop off the plane? Through my university, I picked the HISS program so I could finally explore a part of myself that I had only perceived through movies/shows, news, music, etc… As human beings, we all strive for some sort of acceptance from others, and for me, I wanted to be accepted by my birth country. Yes, the whole country. From the 아줌마 down the street, to even the cat that visited the CU by our dorms, I needed to feel accepted. It all sounds ridiculous now, but I was a bit hesitant to be perceived by people who actually grew up in a Korean household in Korea.

Korea has undeniably weaved its way to my heart; charming me into already planning future trips. There is a community of sorts among all Koreans which has only further influenced my want and need to come back. Originally, I had arrived in Korea with the mindset that everyone would only see me as a foreigner. And then, the moment that I arrived, every greeting, every conversation and interaction that I’ve had with Koreans has been in Korean. Not many people may understand, but that is a silent kind of acceptance that as a Korean adoptee, I soaked in fully.

The Hansung International Summer School program has provided its students with so much and beyond what I had imagined. I expected classes with lectures that could put me to sleep and the occasional field trip here and there. David Kim, the director of this program, has exceeded all previous assumptions. Each and every activity we did during this trip, was meticulously planned to create the best introduction about all of Korea. From a comedic cooking, music show to walking around the Changdeokgung palace grounds in traditional hanbok, the HISS program produced a diverse amount of activities. By the end of this trip, everyone will have been supplied with a vast amount of knowledge about Korea and its culture; all thanks to Director David Kim.

If you think about it, a month isn’t very long to get to know someone. 30 to 31 days is around 8.5% of an entire year; barely enough time to meet and befriend someone that you’d soon recall as a close friend. During the month abroad, I have met a numerous amount of people; many that I will never see or talk to again, but a few that I have become close friends with. From vast backgrounds and ethnicities, I was able to meet and connect with people in an instant. For an introvert, it’s a bit of a nightmare to be put in that kind of situation, but I’m thankful towards all the wonderful people I have met during this trip.

What I will always love about Korea is its ability to never be just one thing. For a weekend, my friends and I spent some time exploring Busan. While the weather was the usual monsoon weather (humid and rainy), visiting Busan is something that is a rite of passage. Compared to Seoul, Busan felt like a vacation. With its beaches and boardwalks full of bars and shops, Busan felt like a place to wind down and forget your worries. During that weekend, my friends and I visited the iconic Gamcheon Culture Village, Gwangalli Beach, and of course, Jimin’s father’s cafe, Magnate. The train to Busan was roughly three hours (and thankfully, excluding the zombies), which doesn’t seem like much distance, yet, with the beaches and even just the atmosphere, it was a great difference from the bustling life of Seoul.

To think that a year ago, this trip was simply a dream; something that I thought I’d be able to achieve once I’m out of university. For years, I envisioned what it’d be like to walk through the streets of Korea; all the sights, smells, tastes… but nothing-not even social media-could’ve prepared me for the incredible onslaught that Korea has to offer. With its intricate architecture, varied types of delicious foods, and yes of course, the fashion and music, Korea has created a community among all people, disregarding age, gender, interests, etc.

This trip has been a once in a lifetime experience. Never will I have the opportunity to be able to travel halfway across the world and explore a whole new world like I have in the HISS program. Throughout my time, I have tested my abilities to adapt and function in a country that is totally different from what I was brought up in; learning more things about myself and the country that I have longed to visit my entire life. Yes, I didn’t get to check off everything on my list; it’s Korea, there’s so much to do with so little time. But fortunately, I know this is just the first of many many times that I will be visiting a country that has influenced my life into something unimaginable.