All about Seoul: Christchurch students travel to South Korea
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Eight senior level students from Middleton Grange International College in Christchurch traveled to South Korea in April 2009. The visit was supported by Asia:NZ’s School Study Exchange Programme.
One of the students, Danielle Bailey, felt that she experienced “a real part of Asia”. “I have already visited Singapore and Bali but I think that South Korea allowed me to witness an Asian culture that wasn’t overly affected by tourism or the Western world.”
She was paired with a Korean student, Saebon, for the eight-day trip and stayed with her family. “Saebon’s home seemed really small to me but most Korean people live in apartments just like this. Apartment blocks are everywhere!”
Danielle was impressed by the work ethic of her Korean counterparts. “They work really hard to achieve high grades because there is enormous pressure for them to get into the good universities.”
“Saebon had exams coming up in two weeks time so she and her classmates stayed up really late to study and only got about three or four hours sleep each night.”
The students also learned some basic Korean on the trip. “I can now use simple greetings such as hello (Anyonghaseyo) and thank you (Kamsahamnida).”
It was a busy week, which included an enjoyable trip to theme park Lotte World. The young Kiwis also visited the local council buildings. “We met the deputy mayor and we took a tour of the Changdeokgung Palace which exposed us to a little history about Seoul and Korea,” explained Danielle.
One of the highlights of the trip was taking in the atmosphere of South Korea’s throbbing capital. “Even at night Seoul is busy - it just never seems to stop. The lights, the technology, and the buzz were incredible. Christchurch seemed so small and quiet when I got home.”
While her fellow students travelled back to New Zealand, Danielle took the opportunity of rounding off her trip with a visit to Sokcho, a sleepy fishing village near the border with North Korea. There she met Helen, an international student at her school in Christchurch. “I looked at North Korea through a telescope and saw North Korean guards in a convoy and a North Korean fishing boat."
“Visiting Sokcho allowed me to see a different part of South Korea which was enriching.”
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For more information on Asia:NZ funding for school exchanges click on our School Study Exchange Programme page.
