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Shelbyville, Tennessee ~ Saturday, September 6, 2008
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Halfway point
Posted Saturday, May 3, 2008, at 8:04 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
It's Sunday morning in South Korea (May 4) and my trip is officially halfway over. We have been in a hotel for the last four days and will be moving into a youth hostel tomorrow. I have never stayed in a youth hostel so it should be an interesting experience. Yesterday we made a two hour drive into an area near Seoul and toured an old folk village. We were expecting it to be a real village but in actuality it was a recreated village located in a theme park. It showed us what Korean houses, villages, weddings,etc. were like before the Korean War demolished most of them. Some in my group were very disappointed that we were visiting a "recreated" version in a theme park, but I actually found it nice to just be able to spend the day outside walking around. There was also a traditional market an amusement park at this place so we were able to have a little fun shopping and riding on some of the rides. I had a good time. The day was topped off my dinner at T.G.I. Fridays. I was delighted to have chicken quesadillas:-) What a treat. Today is our first "rest day" since we got here so I'm looking forward to reading and decompressing in my hotel room. The Korean culture is pretty fast-paced and I don't think they believe in rest. We were strongly discouraged by the club who led us yesterday from taking this rest day (each day we are with a different Rotary Club). We were told if we take a day of rest (and therefore don't meet with today's club) we'll be considered "lazy Americans." At this point, we don't care ha ha! One last note of interest...normally on GSE trips, the GSE team is expected to do presentations at the various Rotary Club meetings on a daily basis, or at least 3 or 4 clubs a week (or at least that's what we were told prior to coming here) but we have only been to one actual club and therefore have only done our presentation one time!
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They do have suicides,bullying,fads and other hassles we have.
There's a fine line between encouraging independence and freedom of thought and permitting undisciplined behavior.
There's also a fine line between creating order and respect for authority and programming people like a bunch of Stepford's androids.
Achievement should be more of a joy than an obligation.
Ambition should not force someone to lose their values,their ties to other people or the sheer joy of living.
Being a credit to one's school,country or corporation should not cost a person their separate identity.
The stereotypical Asian "over-achievers" seem as disturbing as the lotus-eaters in American society who know nothing and care for nothing but temporary pleasure.
The real children behind these images are probably very similar and very human.
It's been said that "the only meaningful measure of success in child rearing is an adult with highly developed capacities for trust, empathy, and affection".
Any society or homelife that achieves that is doing well.
Any that does not (whether they focus on creating producers or consumers) is a disaster and needs to focus on success in this area rather than avoiding mediocrity or failure in others.
I like the Korean approach to education. There is obviously no room for mediocrity.
Thanks for the information!
I often wonder how one place has affordable health care,another has good,inexpensive education,yet another has good roads or business start-ups or clean environment or whatever.
Does one place have better strategies than another-or just different priorities?
The school we visited was not a boarding school. It was a university prep high school. When kids reach high school age here they either choose to go to a university prep school or a vocational/technical prep school. The university prep is more demanding.
The private prep school we visited was very affordable compared to private schools in the U.S.
I'm not sure when they have time with their families...Sunday is there only free day. High school students are not expected to work -- there is no way they'd have time for that. I'm sure many university students work. Most of our interpretors are college students who want to earn extra cash.
In high school, English is definitely a major subject, but they are not forced to only speak English. At the school we visited, English was one of 12 classes taken each day. We sat in on an 11th grade English class. That class was, of course, taught in English. I think all of the elementary, middle and high schools teach and put a strong emphasis on English. Whether a person speaks English or not as an adult depends on whether or not they continue to use the language after graduation.
Many college students major in English.
Many Koreans are able to read English and can understand it if you speak slowly. Not nearly as many people can speak English, though, because they don't have a lot of opportunities to engage in English conversation.
Was this a boarding school?
If not,when do they get to have time with their families?
I understand that older students must pay for their own tuition and many work and go to school during high school and post-secondary education.
(Adults can keep on going to school,too,though for as long as they choose.)
I've heard that some schools demand English use only and forbid the Korean language just as Native Americans were denied their mother tongue.
(Punishment for not using English is similar but the intent isn't to promote genocide.)
I understand students usually attend summer school,as well,to get into the university of their choice.
(Oh well,I guess all that studying develops the stamina necessary for moving,shaking AND late-night partying.)
Are the people there as tech-oriented as I've heard?
It just sounds wonderful...I hope you all take pictures and will beable to post some when you all get back..Ya'll are very lucky to beable to do this...Yes I have also heard and watched a special a while back how they take their children's education very seriously..They all wear the same type of outfits to school on the special I saw..I have also heard that it is very clean there...Is that so ? Stay safe...I am waiting to read more...
We haven't visited any churches yet but several of the people I've met are very religious and do attend Sunday services. When we visited Seoul in a couple weeks, I'd like to visit the church there. It's the largest in the world. Many people have converted from Buddism to Christianity.
The school were visited was unreal. It was a private high school and the kids go to school from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. South Korea takes education very seriously and their kids are so smart. Despite there awesome curriculum, parents still want to send there kids to the U.S. for education, even if it's just for an exchange. I think the schools in Korea are much better that at home.
The landscape is beautiful here. Lots of mountains and the colors are so gorgeous. I have never seen so many Azaleas (spelling?) in my life. There is some rural areas where they grow ginseng, but we've been in mostly urban areas. It really is a beautiful country.
Hi..Have you visted any of the chruch's there? How do they spend their Sunday's there? At the park do they have ride's like we have at our's?What about the school's there? What are they like? Do they have farm land there like our's? I have so many question's I would like to ask you.This is so wonderful for you. can't wait to hear what you are doing next. Stay safe...
Oh you can see it is early here. I can't spell LOL
Sadie I hope you are having a great time. Remebember Bryan and I are thinking of you and do get plenty of rest. Are you homesick yet?
You HAVE to have this rest day. I am glad you guys stood your ground. Remember the clubs are generally happy to have you and just want to show you all they can. They are proud of their cities, and they are proud of their club's work. i hope the other team members are able to share their experiences as you have with this blog.
I wish we had been able to do the same. What a nice link home.