TESTIMONIALS

2022 EISC Testimonial Amelia Michelle Sojung Moon Good afternoon everyone.My name is Amelia Moon and I am studying Biology at the University of California Los Angeles. It’s already been one month since we started classes. We’ve done so many things this pastmonth, from classes to field trips to dinners with our PEACE Buddies.Actually, I did a two week internship at a company through the EWHA program. So, I guess that makes it a month and a half for me. Let me talk briefly about my internship. MYSC is a company that specializes in providing social innovation and impact investmentconsultations for startups. I know, it’s hard to understand. To put simply, they are a consulting firm and investment bank rolled into one.I had the honor of working for and attending the AVPN Global Conference, which was the official side event for the G20 summit that will be held later this year. It was wonderful to see the collaboration between industry leaders to address climate change and social issues around the world.My first day, I was guided to a desk covered with welcoming post-it notes from various employees. I even received a post-it note from the CEO! It was such a welcoming and cute surprise. I forgot to take a picture of it, so I hope this stock image will do for your imagination. Every day, we went out for lunch somewhere new. My favorite lunch was the 급식-style lunch, where you get to scoop your own food, the way it is portrayed in high school k-dramas. The portions here in Korea are so small compared to the portions in the US, especially Texas, where I am from. Of course I had to get seconds! If you’re concerned about finding an internship, I would definitely give the internships that EWHA is providing a try! It was also my first experience and I was super worried, but they wereso welcoming and I would definitely do it again if asked. I definitely would recommend to all of you to give it a try if you come back.Here at EWHA, I only took one course here, financial management. We know how important money is in life. This course taught me how to invest in the stock market and the basic principles of finance. So, if you really want to make the big bucks, take this next time. :)Lastly, EWHA has introduced me to so many amazing friends whom I have had the opportunity to go on field trips with. As a student preparing for med school, the EWHA program was an eye-opening experience. The internship showed me not only company life but also opportunities to impact the world, far beyond the local scale of communities. Having the privilege to immerse myself in Korean culture and food has deepened my appreciation of my Korean roots. It really puts into perspective the difference and similarities thatcan be found between the American and Korean culture. I sincerely hope all of you have had as much fun learning about Korea through the EWHA program as I had and that we will cherish the memories we have made here.Thank you.

2022 EISC TesimonialJames Francis Kerwin Hey guys, my name is James Kerwin. When I first arrived at Ewha, I was feeling astrange emotion I wasn't used to feeling: fear. I tried to play it down but myfirst night in Korea, I was actually really scared. I was scared of being sofar away from home for so long. I was scared because I was visiting a countrywhere I didn't speak a lick of the native tongue. I was scared that I wouldn'tbe able to get a TB test the next morning, and I'd never end up in a dorm. And,most of all, being so far from home, I was scared that I'd never be able toconnect with any other people in a meaningful way. Ewha helped me assuage these fears. Now I cansay, I actually really enjoy being far away from home. After taking a singleKorean language course and watching like at least 12 Korean movies, I think I'mpretty much fluent. The TB thing was no biggie, although the new Covid test Ihad to get the next morning was a bit of a pain in the ass. Despite that, andmost importantly, Ewha helped me meet and connect with people like I'd neverconsidered possible. I've met people from Netherlands, Hong Kong,Peru... I've never thought I'd be able to relate to people from such differentplaces, but here in Korea we're all foreigners! Of course, there are also thepeople I've met from Korea, many of which are not here today but still hold aspecial place in my heart for making my visit to Korea as memorable as it hasbeen. I can't forget to mention my Peace Buddy Sam, who helped a lot, endlessthanks to her. I can talk on and on about all the greatthings we all must have done here. Just this weekend I went to Jeju and climbeda mountain! I'm certain you all must have done spectacular things as well. Forthose of you who went on the Ewha field trips, I'm sure you enjoyed them. Eventhe lines at Lotte World are fun in Korea! Maybe that's going a step too far.Regardless, our experiences here have been endlessly enjoyable and rewarding. The classes I have taken have been excellent.I really never thought I could learn so much Korean, having no priorexperience, in such a short amount of time. Before I came here, I wasn't awareof the Korean culture of education, but now I know that it's pretty hardcoreover here. The 2 and a half hour classes do not mess around, that's for sure.That being said, these classes were worth it for the amount I've managed tolearn so quickly. I can confidently say Korean Cinema has made me fall in lovewith Korean movies, like Decision to Leave which I highly recommend you watch intheaters before you go, and thanks to Korean Language I can even read theirtitles in Hangeul. As it is, the world is far from perfect. I'msure we're all aware of that. There's a whole lot to be afraid of or anxiousabout. Looking at the way things are around us, sometimes I think I really dohave good reason to be scared. But my time at Ewha has made me realize: maybenot. Maybe the world seems like a scary place, but if you just take a step outof your comfort zone, you'll realize that things aren't too bad. In fact, herein Korea and at Ewha, things are better than "not too bad." Thingsare pretty great. Thank you.

2022 EISC Testimonial Tiong Kai TanMy name isTiong Kai from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. This summerexchange at Ewha Womans University has certainly been a fruitful one. Myexperience within the classrooms were pleasant. The professor was very patientwith us and explained the concepts well. I have always wanted to learn moreabout AI, and the course I allowed me to have a hands-on experience in AI inPython and some of its applications. Outsideclassrooms, there were many fun-filled activities organized for us. We werealso assigned buddies, which was helpful as she brought us around and help usget used to student life in Ewha. This hasbeen a valuable experience that has allowed me to immerse in the Korean culturewhile giving me to opportunity to meet students from all around the world. Itwas truly a memorable experience for me.

EISC 2021 Testimonial Maike Sjollema This summer I was fortunate enough to participate in the 2021 EISC program through my home university, Utrecht University. Due to COVID the program was held online, but despite that I felt very excited starting my courses at EWHA. I partook in two courses, one Korean language course and the other course was called Gender Relations in Korea. Both I immensely enjoyed. Due to time zone differences, my days started rather early in the morning. Yet the staff was very considerate of these differences and also allowed students to watch the lectures in their own time. The international classroom helped me connect with students all over the world which was an additional bonus. Furthermore, EWHA not only ensured insightful courses, but also guaranteed we stayed active and healthy while studying online. Particularly through a Kpop dance session given by a professional dance teacher. During this session we learned and practiced the choreography of BTS’ song: Butter. Overall I am highly pleased by all the experiences I had and everything I learned about the Korean language and culture. I will definitely visit Korea and EWHA in the future for an in person experience. Thank you to the EISC team for providing this program and making it run smoothly.

I am Safira Tafani Cholisi from Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. This Fall 2021 I will be transferring to Ewha Womans University at the Division of International Studies. I was thankful to be selected as a recipient of the Dr. Ira Chang Hyun Geer Scholarship by the International Foundation for Ewha Womans University. I have always been interested in Korea, particularly its culture and music. I have been watching a lot of Korean films, some of which can be considered as my ‘lifetime’ films. I am also interested in gender issues, and am aware of Ewha’s history of being a higher academic institution that aims to educate women and ensure that women can fully realize their capabilities and potentials. As I saw through the announcement of EISC, I was immediately interested in taking the Korean Cinema and Gender Relations in Korea classes. Fortunately I was able to take both. Although it is quite regrettable that I could not visit the Ewha campus directly due to the current situation, I was still able to enjoy the online program and the classes. I liked how the professors facilitated the class in such a way that we can engage in a lively discussion. As the students come from all over the world, I was also able to listen to the experiences of others and compare it to my own. We also could share our perspectives about a film or a gender issue in our own country and in Korea. The professors also delivered interesting and relevant topics in their lectures and classes, which did not only give me new information about the issues but also helped me understand the materials better. My takeaway from this program is the learning I’ve received while engaging with the class materials and also the different experiences shared between us, the students. I learned that different backgrounds can result in various perspectives, and they all should be respected. Although there was not enough time for me to interact directly with the others one-by-one, spaces such as mini group discussions helped us to get to know each other better. EISC provided me with both a learning and sharing space which taught me that academic learning does not always have to be a one-way approach, but it can also be done by communicating with one another. I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity that has been given to me by Ewha, the EISC Team, the International Foundation for Ewha Womans University, and all the professors and classmates. I hope there comes a day when we can all meet each other physically. Thank you.

Dear teachers, organizers and students of Ewha International Summer College 2021 One day in the evening light I wondered how I could learn more about South Korea. I looked at the Andes Mountains located in Chile and I thought “if the mountain does not come to me, I have to go to the mountain”. So I began to find out with great hope about possibilities and I found the Ewha International Summer College 2021 program, wich was leaded by one of the most prestigious and internationally recognized universities in South Korea: Ewha Womans University. Along this path I had the support of the Ewha Foundation, who awarded me the Drs. Ira Cindy Chang Hyun Shin Geer scholarship. This initiative is aimed at students at a local and global level, considering developing countries and constitutes a light of hope for those who want to access higher education. Without a doubt, the Ewha Foundation opened the doors to my desire to study about South Korea. This time I had the opportunity to participate in three courses. The first, Korean Cinema with Professor Nam Lee, which addresses cinema from its origins to contemporary times, its relationship with the globalized cultural industry, film analysis, and invites participants to develop a critical view of Korean audiovisual productions. The second, Gender Relations in Korea, led by Professor Jisun Song, which deals with the consequences of social conventions in the development of both men and women, as well as the adversities that women face, especially to develop and establish their fundamental rights, despite the social conventions that have dominated public discourse for years. And the third, North Korean: History, Politics and Society, by Professor Antonio Fiori, who from a broad perspective integrates us into this hermit nation with unique antecedents about Juche, its international ties and the dilemmas facing its society.All these classes were very interesting since they can be linked to my area of study, which is communications. In this sense, I can highlight how pleasant it has been to participate in the Korean film classes considering the external factors associated with the films. Such as the film The Host, by Bong Joong-ho, tells us about a monster in the Han River that captures a girl, but at the same time portrays Korean culture, the IMF currency crisis in 1997 or the Gwangju massacre. Then, from the perspective of Gender Relations in Korea, it has been significant to see the role of the media in the generation of stereotypes and the consequences that this can have on society, from the use of images to language, as well as the responsibility that communicators must assume in the construction of reality. Finally, the North Korea course was intriguing all the time given the nature of this nation, but especially from the point of view of the integration of propaganda in the cinema as a strategy to sustain Juche and also from the future challenges for this society, considering its social planning and succession, as well as its international relations that integrate areas such as the nuclear threat, the economic and food crisis or reunification.Undoubtedly participating in Ewha International Summer College 2021 has been a great opportunity to deepen about this nation, at the same time it has allowed me to share good moments with my teachers and colleagues from different countries who have made a great effort to deliver the best of each one. Although world conditions do not allow us to be together, the online modality has contributed to breaking down the barriers of distance, and has allowed us to also connect in a digital mode. Of course, I recommend that all future students apply to the program, do not lose faith and do everything possible to make your wishes come true.It will be great if we can stay in touch and that one day we can share together at Ewha University. Congratulations to all and thank you very much.

SpeechHi everyone! I’m Rose and I’ve been askedto hold a short speech for you. Our time here has finally come to an end… We’vedone so many things. It feels like I’ve been here a lot longer than a month.I’ve been to Namsan Tower, Lotte World. I’ve made kimchi, I even went to a raccoon cafe… . But you know what the funnything is? I don’t think these will be the things I’ll remember most from mytime here. What I will remember are not the big tourist attractions likeMyeongdong or SM Town or even the DMZ, no matter how fun or interesting theywere. What I will remember is “studying” in the lounge with my friends, anddoing laundry with my friends at midnight. What I’ll remember is the time I meta former comfort woman, who wanted to change her outfit in the middle of ourmeeting because she wanted to wear her most beautiful clothes for us. What I’llremember is all the kind elderly Korean people who always tried to help myfriends and I on public transport, even if they didn’t speak English and wedidn’t speak Korean and their help was not always necessary… I will alsoremember how inspiring my teachers were and how they motivated me to workharder for a program I wouldn’t even get credit for. And most importantly, I’llremember the friends I made. I know, a little cheesy, but it’s true. The CBgang was formed our first day of the program and I just feel like I’ve knownthem for a much longer time than just a month.Being at Ewha was not just an experience that was a lot of fun, it has alsogiven me a deeper understanding of Korea and issues that I was not aware ofbefore I came here. Before I came here, I thought the concept of a women’suniversity was a little strange, and I chuckled a little at what I thought wasa misspelling of the term “women’s university”. But being here has shown me howimportant to women’s roles in Korea a woman’s university was and is. When mygender relations professor took me to the Women’s History Museum here oncampus, I was shocked in the best way to see so many photographs of a 100, 150years ago, featuring mainly or only women in positions that I was normally usedto only seeing men in. They were scholars, teachers, Ewha presidents. Ewha hasshown me that it does not matter what gender, colour, sexuality, or age youare, you should always be allowed to follow your own path and defy theexpectations that have been set for you. Being here has made me realize howlucky I am to be in my position and has motivated me to not just be in thisprivileged position but also help others who might not have the advantages thatI have. I am sad that our time at Ewha has come to an end, but I’m sure we willmeet again in the future. I thank you all for listening to my speech and I wishyou a safe trip home.

SpeechHi, I’mAndrew and I’m from Northern Virginia near D.C. I will be sharing my 3 one-wordtakeaways from Ewha. I hope these takeaways help you reflect on your time atEwha too. First,culture is really important. To answer why I came to Ewha, it mostly has to dowith family. My mom graduated from Ewha and I have a lot of family in Seoul, soI thought it would be cool to study and live in Korea for a bit. One mainpart of culture is language; but I’m sure a lot of us had trouble these lastfew weeks trying to buy something at a store or order an extra bowl of rice,sometimes we can just feel dumb right?I alsocame to Ewha expecting an international study abroad experience, that feelingof being a little out of place, the feeling of being a wehgoogin, but it wasinteresting that often I felt like a host when ordering food for my friends ornavigating across Seoul. In this way, I felt like I was closerto the culture simply by being a heritage speaker. This helped remind me of howreally important language is for culture. So I think it’s really awesome that alot of us had the chance to learn Korean too to learn the culture. Another important part of culture isfood! Food is just the best :) I’m sure we all had plenty of time toenjoy all the great food in the Korean cuisine, and I will for sure miss thispart of Korean culture.My second takeaway is education – we areat school. As my first study abroad experience, Ewha was a unique learningexperience both inside and outside the classroom. First, I learned to be audaciousthrough my International Relations of North Korea with East Asian Countriesclass, as pictured here. It was amazing hearing lectures and stories from aprofessor who had been to North Korea on numerous occasions and who taught asan expert. And it was even cooler to be encouraged to make my own conclusionson how to solve the North Korean crisis. As a Korean, reunification is apersonal interest too, and I’m glad to now truly understand what it will take. Outside the classroom, I learned a lotthrough field trips. At the House of Sharing pictured on theleft, I felt like I encountered real history. Looking at the exhibitions aboutJapanese abuses to Korean women, it felt like just looking at the history I hadalready heard from my parents. But meeting one of the actual halmoni’sor grandmothers who survived Japanese abuse actually made the history feel moretangible. At the DMZ, I got to see the place onlytalked about it in class. It was really awesome seeing a lot of symbols of hopefor reunification, like a photo gallery of meetings between the presidents.Also at Dorasan Station, I got to see the unused train track connecting theNorth and South, and just imagining what it would be like for people tocasually go back and forth in the future was really meaningful. I think my education at Ewha taught methat you can only learn some things by going to a different context or being ina different country.My third and last takeaway is simplypeople. Most of life truly is the people you’re with and I’m glad to have metreally good friends at Ewha. I actually had the chance to do a lotof tourism earlier this summer going to Thailand, Japan, and throughout Korea,and while traveling I realized that there’s only a certain extent to whichvisiting the places is really appealing. The places themselves have a limitedamount of value, and the bulk of tourism is just hanging out or spending timewith the people you’re with.Seoul has a lot to offer and it wasawesome exploring Sinchon, the Han River, Namsan tower, Lotte World, foodmarkets, and everything else in between, and I’m really thankful for thefriends and chingoos that I could enjoy it with. This was just a snapshot of myexperience at Ewha and what I am taking away. I hope these takeaways also helpyou think about what you’re going to take home from these last four weeks atEwha. Thank you.

SpeechGreetings everyone! I am ZouaPang Yang from the University of Wisconsin Madison located in the United States and today, I have the honor of leaving you all with this parting speech as our time at Ewha comes to an end. Can you believe it? We’ve finally made it. It feels as though we just moved in yesterday! Time really does fly in the blink of an eye. I want you to take a look at the people around you. Are they your friends? Are they your classmates? Take this time to reflect on the relationships you’ve built and all that you have accomplished here in Seoul. It has been pretty great witnessing the old ways of Korea from our field trip to the Folk Village, experiencing the modern way of life from our peace buddies--and other locals--and, probably for many of you, trying kimchi for the first time ever. I’ve been asked, “What is your favorite memory of Korea?” so many times and no matter what new seafood I try, late night runs I have to the GS25, or how many bike rides I take along the Han River, my answer will always be the same. I will never forget the amazing friends I’ve made. It’s even more amazing how each of us lead different lives back at home but programs like this one can unite us with the goals to better our education. By enrolling in this summer exchange program, you challenged yourself. So I now must ask you, what will you do with the knowledge and experience you’ve gained? What will you share about the merits of international academic programs like Ewha’s Summer College? As citizens of the world we have a responsibility to become disciplined in honoring differences and embracing them as variations of human nature. Whether you meet someone who has a different religion, someone who identifies as LGBTQ, someone with a different socioeconomic background, or simply, someone who is different from you, we must first, always, have respect because people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. I have much to learn but I do know one thing: we are the future. Therefore, I challenge each and every one of you to share all the things you have learned from your experience here and inspire your peers to become citizens of the world as well so that we may create a better world for everyone. Empower others with what you’ve been empowered by to come here today. I congratulate you all on a successful completion of this program and wish you all a safe travel home. Thank you.

in a Starbucks writing this, in a remote town in north New Jersey. Back home after a little over a month of being in Korea, but it doesn’t quite feel like home anymore. Before I left for Korea, I never really realized that sometimes I would be the only person of color in a store. But while in Korea, I was surrounded by people who looked like me and who spoke my native language. I’m listening to K-pop right now, and it almost feels… surreal. It almost feels as if I’m in my own bubble, surrounded by my “foreignness”, despite living in America for almost 19 years. To summarize my time in Korea, I should start with the beginning. Being on the plane to Korea was an experience in itself – I was shocked that the flight attendants spoke to me in Korean (although, in retrospect, what else would they have spoken?) and once I heard the captain say over the loudspeaker that we had landed at Incheon, my heart was pounding in my chest. My uncle greeted me as soon as I exited into the airport’s main area and I immediately felt overwhelmed with emotions. I don’t often watch Korean dramas, but one I did watch when I was younger (You Are My Destiny or 너는 내 운명) had a scene where a mother is waiting in Incheon Airport for her daughter to come back home and happened to be filmed in the exact same spot that I had come out of. I was also meeting my uncle for the first time in years – my parents said that the last time I had seen any of my family in Korea was back when I was a baby. I had only ever heard stories about them from my dad but I had never paid them any attention. One of the first things I did in Korea was go to Gyeongbok Palace. My cousin took me before dropping me off at the Ewha dormitories and tried his best to explain what each building was and the history behind the palace. Despite how hot it was, several tourists were wearing hanbok. The dresses were beautifully embroidered and decorated, and I wanted to wear one, although the rational part of my brain won over and said it was way too hot outside to wear such thick clothing. The only time in my life I’ve ever worn hanbok was when I was in elementary school and had a multicultural festival that was focused on Asia. I wore the hanbok to school but eventually ended up changing into a t-shirt and leggings because I felt so isolated. But walking through Gyeongbokgung, I was the one in jeans while other girls were proudly wearing hanbok. (I still took pictures anyway.) On the first Ewha field trip, I had the opportunity to witness traditional performances and outfits at the Korean folk village. The performances were fun and lively, contrasting the soothing images of nature surrounding the village. The quiet beauty of it all was peaceful. My first weekend in Korea was spent with my family – I remember taking the subway to Yeongdeungpo Office station and was surprised at how clean the subway cars were. After a failed attempt to go to the Han River park (it started pouring as we were walking along the river, forcing us to take shelter by a convenience store), my uncle and aunt took me to a Korean barbecue place to eat 삼겹살 and I was reminded of the Korean barbecue places back home in the US. I could go on and detail every single experience I had in Korea (going to Myeongdong, doing an escape the room puzzle for the first time, my first time going to a PC bang, my first time doing karaoke, going to an EXO concert, eating at the restaurant at the top of N Seoul Tower, etc.,) but this essay would drag on and become repetitive. It’s super cliché to say that my study abroad experience changed me and I hate describing it as a so-called “magical experience” but there definitely has been a shift in how I perceive myself as a member of the Korean diaspora. For years, I’ve felt as if I’ve been “faking it” as a Korean – I refused to learn the language growing up, I refused to eat Korean food like 김치찌개 or 순두부찌개, and I definitely was not interested in any aspect of Korean history or culture. That’s all on me, but growing up in a predominantly white town where anything that didn’t conform to the “norm” was considered weird was stifling to any attempts at connecting with my ethnicity. I was so afraid of being Korean, of being “different” that I cut myself off until college, which is when I realized that it’s okay to not be just “American”. I’m not nationally Korean – spending a month there and trying to adjust to all the cultural differences taught me that real quick – but I’m not wholly American either, like I wanted to be while growing up. That doesn’t mean I don’t wonder about what life would be like if I hadn’t been adopted and brought over to the US. I mentioned that it’d be nice to visit the city of Suwon (where I was born) and a week later, I was in a car with my aunt and uncle driving there. I don’t really know what I expected, but I didn’t feel as if it was any different from Seoul. I found myself imagining my birth mother walking through the streets, and a small part of my brain imagined myself growing up there, walking with her. Despite this, I didn’t feel like I truly belonged there in Korea – I felt as if there was always something distinctly “foreign” about me. But I still reveled in the fact that everyone had the same features I did and spoke the same language my parents sometimes spoke at home. I wasn’t a minority for once, and that alone made me feel something akin to belonging. I’m a Korean adoptee. I was given the blessing of being raised by Korean parents, but I grew up more “American” than anything else. This trip to Korea gave me something – inner strength, perhaps? – something I needed in order to be able to reclaim the Korean half of Korean-American. I’m still reconciling the differences between Korea and America, and I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I won’t be going back for a while. But I’m determined to become more fluent in Korean in hopes that maybe I can spend a gap year in Seoul after I graduate college and explore more of this newfound part of myself. I want to thank Ewha for the opportunity to visit the country where I was born and have fun while taking classes with the field trips. If I have the opportunity to participate in the International Summer College again, I definitely will. To end this, here are some of my favorite pictures that I took in the month I spent there.

mission that inspired me to attend Ewha. My mission was to find my Korean family. I am a Korean adoptee, so of course I wanted to go to Korean and experience the culture, but I also wanted to go back and find my family. I always felt like part of my life was missing because I was unable to get the Korean life that I could have had. I knew I had to go back to Korea some day and find that Korean life that I was missing. First, my life at Ewha full of fun and friends, but going to class was important to. Every day I would go to class and then after my classes I would meet up with my friends. The classes I decided to take at Ewha were Korean Ceramics and Korean Fan Dancing. I took Korean Ceramics because when I was a child I read a book by Linda Sue Park called A Signal Shard. Linda Sue Park was a Korean young adult’s book writer and I read all of her books as to learn more about Korea and its culture. Secondly, I decided to take Korean Fan Dancing to learn Korean traditional dancing. I have never taken dance in my life, so this was a fun experience to have. Sliding across the floor in my socks, falling over when I would try to spin, and laughing with my classmates when we were on break. Both of the professors I had for my classes were amazing, so here is a shout out to Professor Eun Lee and Hwajung Yoon. Thanks for being such amazing professors. Secondly, I still went to classes of course, but wondering around the streets of Korea is where I learned the most. Going around Korea with my friends was the best experience I had going to Ewha. I loved going to the different restaurants every day to try different food, but my favorite place to eat was KyoChon. Besides just eating all the time I also went on different adventures with my K-posse. We went and tried on traditional Hanboks, hiked up the Bukhansan Mountain, and took a day trip to Nami Island. These adventures were just a few experience that we had together. Next, as my trip came to a close I remember that I never did a birth search to find my Korean family. I was having so much fun, so the thought of trying to look for them slipped my mind. I didn’t know why it slipped my mind until I realized that I had already found my Korean family. To my K- posse Annabell, Crystal, Mika, Betty, and Sam, you guys became my Korean family. Thank you for showing me Korea. All of you are the most amazing people I will ever meet. I will never forget the times that we shared together. You guys filled the Korean part of my life that I was missing. I hope to see you all in the future. Lastly I want to thank Ewha for giving me the opportunity to come and study in Korea. Without the Korean Adoptee Fellowship at Ewha I would have never had the opportunity to go and experience Korea. I would have never found my K-posse family without the help of this Fellowship.

inspired to come to Ewha because of its history as a innovative university working to empower women one day at a time. Being a Korean-American female, this mission really resonated with me. When I arrived on campus, I immediately felt welcomed and a sense of community belonging. As someone who is queer and gender-non binary, I was interested in the dynamic of learning about gender and sexuality while in the space of an all-women's university. Ewha also gave me the opportunity to take their Sex, Gender, and Sexuality in South Korea course with Professor John Cho, and the skills I learned from the course are ones that I will take with me for the rest of my academic career. At Ewha I took three courses: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality in South Korea, Studio Ceramics, and Korean Language Level 3. While picking a favorite is definitely difficult, I noticed a recurring theme in all three of my classes: that the professors genuinely care for the students and want them to succeed. When I was struggling in my Korean class my professor stayed after class was over to help me on my spelling and grammar. After submitting a rough draft for my final essay, I received thought-out and extensive feedback from my Sex, Gender, and Sexuality course professor. Whenever I would have trouble building a pot in our Ceramics class, our professor would always give us more time and would help us step-by-step. I was struck by how committed the teachers were to learning - both inside and outside of the classroom - as seen in the memorable experiences we had going on field trips to the Seoul Queer Pride Festival and the art galleries at Ewha. Ewha introduced students to the culture of Seoul and Korea through the field trips they facilitated -- of which my favorite was definitely going to Everland with my friends and testing our driving skills on the bumper cars. With Ewha being located near the center of the city, it was easy for my friends and I to explore new places in Seoul through using the convenient subway system and Kakao maps. Some of the best memories were made in the most unlikely of places and circumstances -- like crowding in a small 노래방 after being tired from classes, when we got stuck outside in the pouring rain and were soaked, or when we walked back home late after a group dinner. Perhaps one of the most memorable takeaways from attending Ewha were the people I was able to meet. I became close friends with people from other universities within the US and around the world as well. I was surprised by how open-minded and welcoming everyone was to each other -- of which I believe is thanks to how Ewha fostered the community environment. I became instantly close with students in my Sex, Gender, and Sexuality course, and we soon became inseparable, grabbing dinner together every day and making plans for the weekend. We actually already have plans for a meetup in September! My friends from my Studio Ceramics course and I still send each other pictures and talk about Shibas -- a mutual love of ours, and I'll never forget the late nights spent at cafes doing Korean homework together with my friends from Korean 3. The rigor of Ewha summer school pushes students to be their best while also allowing for close bonding and human connection to happen, allowing for a unique blend of both academics and friendships to bloom. Ewha makes it so that academics, friendships, and exploring the culture of Seoul are all integrated within each other, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind summer experience that I will never forget. Thank you Ewha! -Sarah Chang

Powell from New York University, USA My mother is Korean, but I didn’t grow up speaking the language and never had much exposure to the history or culture—beyond home cooking that is. I’ve always been curious about my mother’s background and that aspect of my identity. It’s also one of my life goals to be fluent in Korean. Over the years, I’ve flirted with learning the language. I’d spend months intensely focused on self-study, life would get in the way, and then the next time I had the urge to learn I’d have to begin at the beginning again. After a month at Ewha, that cycle was finally broken. I first heard of the International Summer College when my sister attended. She loved her classes, her new friends, the campus, and felt as if she gained a whole new family by the end of it, she said. It was transformative. I too had an unforgettable time. I’ll forever be grateful that my sister said, absolutely yes! she’d recommend it. We have an aunt, a few uncles, and cousins in Seoul who I’d met but barely had a relationship with. There was always a language barrier between us. While at Ewha. I spent my weekends with them and thanks to my Korean class, we began to communicate for the first time. I’ve come to understand what my sister meant about gaining a new family. It was life changing. I thought I’d feel out of place as a graduate student in the summer program among mostly undergrads, but I never did. We had plenty in common—especially our eagerness to explore all things Korean. I could go on and on about my experience—about the things I loved, the things I learned, saw, ate, what I found fascinating—and I have. My friends can attest to it. But, it is the classes, and their teachers, and the way they helped me connect with my family, that had the greatest impact. The first day in Korean class was beyond intimidating. We went over the syllabus and then were told there would be no more English. At that point, the little I knew of Korean disappeared on me. Words that were once easy to pronounce became sticky. It was also clear there would be a lot of speaking aloud, every day, in pairs, in front of everyone, sitting and standing, performing dialogues, getting called on randomly, when I’d only ever practiced alone in my bedroom before. It was, of course, the very things I feared that led to significant progress. I learned faster than ever thanks to teachers who made me laugh a lot, generous peers, and the immersive environment inside and outside of the classroom. I also took Gender Relations in Korea with Eun Mie Lim. Her passion was infectious. She gave me several new lenses through which to examine Korea’s history and present And as creative writing student whose fiction engages with mixed identity/race/culture and emotional inheritance, among other things, her class was more than generative. It inspired countless ideas and helped me begin to understand the context of my mother’s life and the way may parents met. The things we learned also helped me better understand gender relations in America by offering a counterpoint in perspective. I only wish I could’ve studied with Professor Lim longer. There was so much rich material and some of my most memorable experiences at Ewha happened in her class. We went on an eye-opening field trip to the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center. We also went to the House of Sharing and The Museum of Sexual Slavery by Japanese Military. There we met one of the impossibly strong women who survived the horrors of enslavement during Japanese occupation. We read the stories of so many women who were brave enough to share them. It was an experience I will never forget.

ISC: Yewon Kim from University of Virginia The summer I experienced at Ewha Women’s University was not short of transformative for me. Although I am Korean-American, I rarely had the opportunity to surround myself with Korean friends or people in the U.S., or did I have the opportunity to visit South Korea often. I knew that embarking on the journey to attend the International Summer College was going to be an eye-opening experience, but I did not expect the extent to which I would learn about myself and other people. Being able to befriend and live with people from all corners of the world, as well as experience the idiosyncrasies of their cultures, taught me things I did not know I needed to know. Going out to experience the culture of Seoul after class with fellow students and PEACE buddies, experiencing funny culture shocks, shopping, and getting lost, were a few of my fondest memories from the program. The sense of oneness I felt with the people who originally had very little in common with me, was exhilarating as we could share the commonality of being foreigners in the city. Every experience I had with these people and with the country became memories that I wished to cherish for the rest of my life. I learned not only about others, but also about the sounds and sights of my home country of which I felt so much more connected to by the end of the Summer College. Being able to go on culturally immersive field trips, as well as being able to seek out short individual embarkations alone, taught me to gain a deeper understanding of South Korean society, and where I fit in with it as a Korean-American. These valuable experiences and friendships made with fellow students and PEACE buddies extended well beyond the short four weeks of the program, and I brought back home with me not only more knowledge, but also an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Austin Lee from Georgetown University Famed Russian novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once said, “own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.” It was only when I attended the Ewha ISC program in a last ditch effort to resuscitate my dying ability to speak my ethnic language that I was able to come to a better understanding of the ethnic identity that was so important to me, the beauty of Korea, and the brilliance of the many minds that came together to experience Korea. Growing up in the United States, being raised by a single parent ethnic Korean from Japan along with an older sibling that did not speak Korean, topped by my lack of interest in K-Pop and K-Dramas and shows, I quickly realized that if I didn’t make an effort to retain my meager Korean language ability, I would inevitably lose it, and with it my only bridge to my family and ethnic culture. Thankfully, I was able to learn with and from some of most incredible Korean speakers I’ve met to date at Ewha ISC’s Level 4 class. It is with the utmost regret that I look back on quitting Korean school and culture programs in elementary school. As a computer science major, I had once looked down on the humanities and soft sciences, firmly believing that in college one has to go STEM or go home (or trade school). But for my second class at the Ewha ISC, I decided to temporarily lay down my pride and take Cross-cultural psychology. Although I still believe in the superiority of STEM, I developed a newfound respect for fields of thought that differed from my own. The conversations in Professor Ruth Chung’s class were very well moderated and opened enlightening discussions on the human psyche. I learned a lot about why Koreans generally think and act the way they do, compared to people of other cultures. On top of that, we had a couple of outings where we got to see more of Seoul, with Professor Chung being our unofficial tour guide. It is incredible to see how far this country has come within the past 6 decades, from its rich history to its resilient people. Perhaps the highlight of this experience would be the people I met. Spending time with other people who had a passion for Korea not only developed and refined my own passion for all facets of Korea, but also founded a passion for learning about different languages, countries, and people around the world. I look forward to adding more great memories to my travel bag.

Baik from California State University, Northridge This study abroad program is an experience that I will always remember. Thanks to the Gloria Hahn Memorial Scholarship, I attended the four-week program for the International Summer College where I took two courses- History of Korean Tradition and Folk Culture Korean Language Course. I learned so much about my Korean culture. There was something very special and unique when I was able to learn about Korean culture and language in Korea, where things that I would learn about can actually be seen fifteen minutes away. In addition to the courses I was taking, I was able to explore Korea while getting to know and meet people from all over the world. Han River I have never been in a place where I was able to meet such a diverse group of individuals with different passions and desires in learning and from all over the world! This study abroad experience was really an eye-opening experience to really broaden my perspective and develop as a person. Students from our program also shared our courses with students from Ewha and I believe this also made the program special in that we were able to make friends with students from Korea.Gyeongbokgung Palace My first course was History of Korean Tradition and Folk Culture. We read articles and had assignments to learn from the beginning times of Korea where there was a lot of influence from Confucianism, Buddhism and Shamanism to present day Korea, where those influences can clearly be seen today. This course really helped me to understand my Korean culture better and learn some random fun facts about it too. For example, kimchi was not always red, but it was originally white. Red came when trading became more popular in Asia and Koreans thought of a way to use less salt (as salt was more valuable than gold) and instead use chili peppers to preserve cabbage in the winter. We also took field trips to the Museum of Agriculture, NamDaeMun Sijang, SeoDaeMoon Prison, Namsan Folk Village, and the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Taking field trips pertaining to our reading really made this course fun! It was also fun getting lost and trying to find our way to field trip destinations with friends.SeoDaeMoon Prison My second course was Korean language. This course was really fun! I was blown away by how many non-Korean people have learned so much Korean. I have grown up taking Korean classes throughout my childhood but coming to Korea to learn the language was very different. I think I got a lot better in Korean because I was forced to implement what I learned in class right when I stepped out of the classroom.Dinner with Friends The program also offered field trips that were planned out so well and organized with so much thought and effort. I went to Korean Folk Village, DMZ and the House of Sharing. I was able to learn about the history of Korea and the pressing problems today in regards to its relationship with North Korea and also with the Japanese government.House of Sharing And what really made my time at Ewha unforgettable were the times I had exploring places all over Seoul with my friends. I learned so much about myself as an individual, so much about other people, and so much about Korean culture. At the end of it all, I was amazed at how much I received and how much I had done and learned in just a span of a month. It was truly an amazing experience.

Bernadeta Cahya Kumala from Gadjah Mada UniversityWhen I walked into the Lee San-Bong Hall for the opening ceremony, I was so excited to see students from 21 countries came to Ewha to spend their summer. We were so welcomed by Ewha staffs and the PEACE buddies at the opening ceremony. That day, we also had a campus tour that was organized by the PEACE buddies. In front of the ECC Building The day after the opening ceremony was our first day of class. I took macroeconomics for my morning class and Korean Ceramics for the afternoon class. In the macroeconomics course, we studied not only the theory but also Korean economic development history as well as learning current issues in macroeconomic. In the middle of the semester, we had a field trip to the Bank of Korea for the macroeconomics course. The Korean Ceramics course was one of the best course I had ever had. Before taking that course, I had never made any single pottery in my life, so I had been waiting for my first day of class. The course was for beginners so we learnt basic techniques of pottery. The good thing about this course was that we could explore our creativity and put it into our work. Even though the course was supposed to end at 3 p.m. every day but some students went home later because they were enjoying making ceramics too much. Pottery made by us! After four days of class, from Monday to Thursday, we had a field trip every Friday and there were also pop-up field trips on Saturday and Sunday for those who wanted to go. I went to all of the field trip that was organized by Ewha ISC. We went to Korean Folk Village, DMZ, Lotteworld, stayed for a night at the Jingwansa Temple, and made kimchi on our own. Jingwansa Temple Stay DMZ tour and Lotteworld Trip At my free time, I explored Seoul with my friends and sometimes with my PEACE buddy. On my first week, my PEACE buddy took me and the others to a chicken and beer restaurant, the most popular eating place in South Korea. I am still amazed with the fact that there are more chicken and beer restaurants in South Korea than McDonalds around the world. Anyway, the plate was so big, it took the four of us to eat a plate of the meal, but still, we couldn't manage to finish it. Friends Food I usually visited famous places in Seoul after my afternoon class or on the weekend, if I didn't have a field trip. I went to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Myeongdong Shopping Street, Hongdae, Namsan Tower, Dongdaemun Plaza, Han River, and more other places. My favorite place in South Korea was Gangnam. It was a paradise for us, K-Pop and K-Drama fans. My friends and I even visited the KBS building to see K-Pop Stars. Lucky us, we met A-Pink, one of K-Pop group. The most unforgettable moment I had in South Korea was when my friends and I explored Seoul on our own. Because none of us were Korean, we really depended on Google Maps. And some of the times we got lost at the street. Thank God, Korean people were so nice. Sometimes they even walked us to the place we were looking for, instead of just telling the direction. When you enjoy the moments, everything seems to happen so fast. I felt like I just arrived in Seoul and started my first day of the program but then I had to come to the closing ceremony. The ceremony was quite emotional for me, because I knew that I would miss every single part of Ewha and Seoul. It was one of the best summer I had ever had in my life.Graduating the ISC Program!

Kashima from University of San Francisco Having the opportunity to attend the Ewha Women’s University Co-Ed College Program in the summer of 2016 was by far one of the best and most memorable experiences of my life. As a Korean-American growing up in California, I have always felt a presence of Korean culture around me but I have never had the chance to truly immerse myself in it and embrace it. Well, as soon as I stepped off the plane at Incheon Airport, I knew that I had committed myself to something that would be the trip of a lifetime. My first week at Ewha I was just overwhelmed at the opportunities around me, from being able to go out into this new and lively city on my own, to meeting so many new people both native Korean and international. I was lucky to have such a great roommate from the Philippines who had a lot of knowledge about current Korean culture and was always there to exchange stories of our days’ adventures. The most important decision I made was to go on the first week’s field trip to the traditional Korean Folk Village, because I not only connected with people in my PEACE Buddy group but I also made great new friends from all different countries of the world. After that trip, I found my closest and best friends at Ewha. Not only that, but my PEACE Buddy who was an amazing, kind, and generous resource and friend really began to show us where to explore in the neighborhood surrounding Ewha, as well as Sinchon, and the greater area of Seoul. The University itself provided great resources, from the beautiful dorms shared amongst students in the program, to on-campus cafes and shops, and plenty of support from the Ewha students and faculty. Our field trips, to the Folk Village, as well as the DMZ, Everland Amusement Park, and more were a true success from the Ewha Summer Program team. Exploring Seoul’s shops, restaurants, summer events, and cultural livelihood on a daily basis, as well as taking field trips with the 300 other co-ed college students, truly made this program so meaningful to me. To both grow as an independent college student, and as someone of Korean descent, I finally felt as if I had somewhere else to call home. Aside from the fun of running around Seoul day and night, my classes gave me a great sense of purpose and I truly learned much more than I thought I could in 31 days. I took both Basic Level Korean Language, with two wonderful Korean teachers and a great intimate class of about 16 students, and Traditional Folk History of Korea with a truly knowledgeable and engaging professor from New York and a mix of Ewha and international students. My Korean class gave me confidence in pursuing my Korean identity through language and immersion, and my Traditional Folk History class gave me an insider’s look at Seoul through history, food, folklore, and weekly field trips to the palaces, museums, and markets that I would have otherwise never seen. I know now that I would return to Seoul in a heartbeat. Having my first experience traveling alone, somewhere none of my friends have gone, and where I know absolutely no one, I easily fell in love with the city. I feel like Ewha gave me the best possible framework to experience Seoul for myself and start a connection that I will certainly return to in the near future.

David Jeong from Harvard University At the beginning of last school year, a close friend of mine informed me that he had the most productive and most fun summer of his life while studying at Ewha Womans University. Despite being an immigrant from South Korea, I had not been able to visit my home country for 13 years. Although I was conversationally fluent in Korea, I have always wanted the opportunity to push my Korean skills in academic and professional areas. Although I was concerned with the cost of the ISC, I was fortunate enough to receive the Gloria Hahn Memorial Scholarship for 2016, and I am grateful and honored to be selected to this very day. From the moment I arrived at the school, I was treated so kindly by the PEACE buddies, especially my own Sunhyun Park! The PEACE buddies took us out frequently, and I got to participate in bowling nearby the school and in feasting on chicken and beer (치맥) at the Han River!Chicken and Beer at Han River The classes were also fantastic, with every professor coming in fully prepared and excited prior to every single class. Throughout the program, I was able to engage with people from all over the world—USA, Korea, Thailand, England, Japan, and so on. I am fully confident to say that I took major steps not only in learning Korean, but also in learning how to study Korean on my own for the future.I made life-long friends at Ewha! (Korean photo studios are so cheap and high quality!) During my spare time, I explored Sinchon and Hongdae thoroughly to find the best food possible! I never realized how much Korean blood I had in me as I began to realize that I loved Korean food much more than American food that I had been eating for the past decade.Try every restaurant near the school! My stay at Ewha opened my eyes to the modern culture of Korea, as well. I was introduced to K-Pop, Korean TV shows and dramas, webtoons, and so on. And as I learned more about the pop culture, I was fascinated with how much Koreans loved and took pride in every part of their own products.I got to meet some of my favorites! Traveling to DMZ, Everland, and Gyeong-bok Palace gave me the full range of experiences that I could not have imagined before the program began. If you love learning about culture of another country first hand and having the opportunity to interact with people of that country who care deeply about you, I believe that Ewha International Summer College is the best study abroad program that you can attend. Please come to Ewha!

ISC: Judith Veld from Utrecht University For me, 2016 was a year of adventure. It started by leaving the safety of The Netherlands for the snowy mountain peaks of Canada to go on exchange. As I was picking my courses I decided to take Korean. ‘Why on earth would you take Korean in Canada?’ is what everyone proceeded to ask me. I had been listening to Korean music for a few months and watched a drama so to me it seemed like a perfect opportunity. As the semester progressed I started thinking ahead of my summer, knowing that I had to leave Canada by the 28th of June. I looked at a map of the world and immediately made a decision: South-Korea. I Skype-called my parents and booked my flight tickets right away. That summer I would spend two months in South-Korea, although I did not know yet what I would be doing….Inspired by my Korean classes I decided I wanted to take a summer school to learn more Korean. Since Women’s and Gender studies are part of my major, EWHA was the perfect choice for me. When I saw the offered Women’s and Gender studies courses, I knew that I had found my summer plans, and the session I also so happened to be timed perfectly with my flights. The rest of my time in Canada flew by and suddenly I was standing at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam again for my one-day layover before going to Canada. I had just about enough time to see my parents, empty my suitcase, and change my clothes. Walking through Gimpo Airport felt unreal. I suddenly found myself surrounded by Korean! The next day I moved into my dorm, and the EWHA adventure was finally starting. The first exciting thing was meeting my Peace buddy. I had already been kakaotalking with her for a month and it was so much fun to meet her in real life! Throughout the summer school we met up multiple times, exploring different parts of Seoul. After the summer school I stayed in Korea for an extra month and I met her again, we even went to the mud festival together! The Peace Buddy system was a really nice way to meet Korean students. It was also really convenient to know someone to ask questions to. Whenever I had questions about places to go to for food or drinks, or questions regarding Korean translations, I could always ask my peace buddy. From the line friends store to noraebang and from samgyeopsal to bingsoo, my peace buddy introduced me to all the important Korean things. The day after the opening it was time for the first classes. I took Gender Relations in Korea and Korean 1.2. The Gender Relations class was really inspiring. The Netherlands is known for being quite progressive and we score high on all the gender equality measures. Korea, however, still has a long way to go. Learning about Korea’s history and how the current gender roles came to be, gave me a lot of insight into why I was seeing what I was seeing on the streets. My teacher, a Korean Ewha alumni who had been involved in the protests for democracy in the 70ties, was very knowledgeable on the topic and I learned a lot from her. The Korean language class also was very useful. When I came to Korea I had been studying Korean for 4 months, but I mostly only learned writing and reading, so my listening and speaking skills were still very underdeveloped. During my one month at EWHA I progressed a lot, up to the point where towards the end I could have basic conversations with the locals! Besides the interesting courses, several fieldtrips were also included in the program. The first fieldtrip I went on was one to the kimchi museum where I learned to make my own kimchi. Traditional kimchi is way too spicy for me, so I decided to leave out most of the red pepper when I made it. At last I had kimchi that I could eat and enjoy without burning my mouth! Afterwards we went to a non-verbal show, which was really funny and impressive. It was such a cool experience to go to a show in a foreign country and have a great time, even though you are not fluent in the language. This experience has actually been central to my stay in Korea. I could only speak and understand the basics of Korean, but I had a really great time, even with Korean natives whose English wasn’t that great. The Korean friendliness and willingness to go to extreme lengths to help you even though verbal communication is not really possible is something that I will warmly remember. The second fieldtrip was to Everland, where I found a Holland village. I had never expected to find a Holland-themed village in a Korean amusement park! Other than that, I really enjoyed the small zoo that was in Everland. I had never before seen an amusement park with a zoo in it. Korea really knows how to do things right. The fourth fieldtrip I went on was to the house of sharing, a place established especially for the so-called ‘comfort women’, women who were held captive and used as sex slaves when the Japanese dominated Korea. Being there and talking to these women was as inspiring as it was confronting. The horrors that these women must have gone through are unimaginable. At the exhibition on site I learned that there were about 80 Dutch comfort women as well. It shocks me that I have never heard about this issue, despite there also being so many Dutch victims. It is a horrible fact that such a crime of war is just shoved under the rug. As a small extra fieldtrip, our Gender Relations class went to one of the Wednesday protests in front of the Japanese embassy. These protests have been held every Wednesday since 1992 and are held to force the Japanese embassy to acknowledge their war crimes and issue an official apology. So far, the goal has not been fully attained. I’m really grateful that our teacher took us to the house of sharing and the Wednesday protest, and that I now know about it so that I can spread the word and do everything I can to give these women the justice they deserve. The last fieldtrip was to the DMZ. This was another confronting fieldtrip. The DMZ is the place where you can really see and feel what the division of Korea means. While staying in Seoul I never really realized that the border was that close and that I basically was in a ‘war-zone’. The Koreans themselves do not seem to be to be too bothered by the split in daily live. They have found a way to continue their daily lives and have accepted North-Korea being right there. It sometimes makes you forget that Korea is still very divided. Overall I am really happy that I chose for the EWHA summer program. The courses were both fun, but also stimulated me to think about very real issues in Korea. I met a lot of awesome people and I did so many fun things with them. I had (a lot of) bingsoo, stayed out until 10 in the morning, sung my lungs out and saw someone smoking a cigarette with chopsticks…. I don’t think I could have found any better way to spend my summer.