Knowing a Bit More about Myself And a Lot More about the World
Knowing a Bit More about Myself And a Lot More about the World
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  • 승인 2007.07.26 15:22
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Chris Malpass
Old Dominion University, Virginia, USA
  The "Land of Morning Calm"is nothing but an idea until you have the chance to experience it firsthand.
  I spent ten days in Beijing, China before I boarded a Korean Airlines jet headed for Inchon, Korea. Immediately after boarding the plane, I was welcomed by the well dressed stewardesses and shown to my seat. The atmosphere of the flight was so different than I was used to because it was peaceful. I was never uncomfortable at any point during the flight. The attitude of the stewardesses was merely a precursor to the wonderful experiences I would have once in Korea.
  After flying along the beautiful coastline for a few moments, we landed at Inchon and disembarked from the plane. The architecture of the airport was awe-inspiring. The broad curves of steel and glass that embraced the busy terminals appeared to be almost magical in the way that they were woven together. After spending an hour relaxing inside of the airport, our group boarded another Korean Airlines jet towards Daegu, which was our final destination.
  We were greeted with smiling faces by a group of students from Yeungnam University, whom each introduced  himself and helped us collect our baggage and load onto a bus. McDonald's was our first stop, where we stuffed ourselves with bulgogi burgers, which was quite a departure from what I'm used to eating at McDonald's. Shortly after our first experience with food in Korea, we were shown to our rooms and headed straight for the bed to get some much needed sleep. Whether I was prepared for the coming days or not, they happened much like a dream; a whirlwind of bus rides, laughter, and new friends.
  I had the opportunity to see Pal Gong Mountain, which was beautifully breathtaking in every way possible. The lush green landscape was a perfect backdrop for the eloquently styled structures used by the monks. It was my first glimpse of how important Buddhism is and has been in past and present Korea. I later came to realize that not only was Buddhism important to many Koreans, but Christianity was as well. Blazing neon crosses marked the location of churches across the night sky.
  The most important experiences happened through the relationships formed between myself and the Korean students who shared their culture with me. It seemed as though their hopes and dreams were so familiar that I was in at home. Each student, no matter how outgoing or shy they were, taught me something about myself and others. I never once felt that I was intruding on anyone and I was thrilled to be able to try to do everything the Korean way.
  During one afternoon outing to Pohang, I was taken to a fish market where myself and  two other Americans were served a hefty plate of sashimi-style raw squid and other kinds of seafood. I was totally out of my comfort zone with a completely raw meal, but I took a deep breath and tried a few bites. Why would there be a street lined with restaurants serving raw seafood if it wasn't good, right? Contrary to my expectations, the meal was really delicious.
  The traditional marketplace in Daegu was an experience in itself. I've always loved to immerse myself into a culture and the best way to do so is to do the things that Koreans do. There were booths filled with charms, sunglasses, baseball hats as well as endless streets filled with textiles and herbal remedies. I will never forget the sights and the smells of the bustling market.
  Eat where they eat, shop where they shop, and party where they party. That's what I was told to do when in Korea. Well, I had eaten raw seafood, shopped in the traditional Daegu market, and now it was time for me to party like Korean college students. I went along with a group of 10 or more Korean students and 9 other Americans to a club on a Saturday night. There was no shortage of clubs in Daegu. A district that stretched for a few city blocks was nothing but clubs to suit whatever kind of music or atmosphere you wanted. We ended up at one of the larger clubs and had the time of our lives. It was a piece of home to hear American music, but it was still slightly foreign because some of the songs had been remixed by Korean artists. It was a gentle balance of new and familiar, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. 
 
At Bulguksa in Gyeongju
I was constantly exposed to Korean history and tradition, which made it much easier to understand modern Korea and its citizens. Not only did we visit a national history museum, but we visited Sokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, as well as many traditional Korean restaurants.
  The feeling of being at home never left me while I was there as I was welcomed with warm smiles and kind words from the beginning of my stay. There is so much history and culture in Korea to learn about and I have merely scratched the surface. The short time I spent in Korea left such an impression on me that I have plans to return to Korea as soon as 2007.
  I hope that your history and unique heritage are preserved for many generations to come. I now know a little bit more about myself, and a lot more about the world.

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