This summer vacation turned out to be especially meaningfulfor me. I was invited by the Overseas Koreans Foundationto participate in a homecoming program hosted in Korea. Ialways wanted to go to Korea. Ever since I was young, I ateKorean food, watched Korean dramas, and met Korean people.

Iwas also passionate about Korean history, and I studiedthe subject diligently. However, I never got the chance tovisit Korea firsthand. I knew that I would someday have togo to Korea and see the places I have only heard about.

So I was very excited when I received the homecominginvitation after winning the grand prize at the March-First Essay Contest. I viewed Korea as a nation that has arich history and culture while in the present maintains a fastpacedand future-oriented society. Once in Korea, I wasoverwhelmed by the metropolitan cityscape, but I was alsofascinated by the long history the land contained. Throughmy visits of old Korean palaces and fortresses I could feel thehumble elegance of old Korea that I have only heard aboutbefore. This positive impression of Korea was enhanced bythe homecoming program. As it turned out, the homecomingleft a variety of experiences and memories that I willcherish for a long time.

First of all, meeting and interacting with so many internationalKorean students gave me a sense of belonging to aglobal Korean community. Hundreds of international studentsattended a dynamic first introduction at Cheonan. Wewere divided into camps and were assigned and sent to differentprovinces in Korea. I was sent to the camp headedfor Daejon. In our Daejon Camp we were further dividedinto small groups that allowed for more personal interactionsamong students.

These interactions proved to be what made this programmost enjoyable. I had a chance to meet people from countriesthat I have never visited. I met students from countriessuch as China, Russia, and Canada who told me all abouttheir hometowns and about their lives at school in their respectivecountries. Through these students’ presence, thishomecoming not only offered an introduction to Korea butalso an international Korean experience that was very unique.

I also enjoyed the interactions I made with the native Koreanstudents in the program. After reaching the provinces,we were joined by native Korean students from Daejon.

Throughout the time we spent with them, I enjoyed askingthem about their lives in Korea, and they were more thancurious about the school life I have in America. I think therelationships we made with them more than anything elsehelped introduce to us Korean culture and everyday life.

With our new company, our camp started our first programat the Gongju Hanok Village. This history-centered programincluded sections such as participating in Korean traditionaldance as well as an introduction to Baekje royal attire. Weslept in an actual hanok. I felt the charm of old Korea captivateme in the two days I stayed at the hanok village. Thefollowing main program was held in Daejon. We participatedin a K-Farm section and got a chance to visit a Korean highschool. Out of all the programs in Daejon, I think the homestayprogram left a lasting impression on me. Two internationalstudents paired up with one Korean student to stay athis or her house. I think the homestay helped me to makemy first Korean friends by letting me experience their livesboth at home and at school. Sometimes when I contact myhomestay friends through KakaoTalk I can feel this old excitementall over again.

After two days in Daejon, all of the camps gathered againto Seoul. Once in Seoul we participated in a city walkingtour, visiting many famous Seoul sites such as Dongdaemun,Cheonggaecheon, and Gwanghwamun Square. On the lastday, we drove north to Imjingak near the DMZ where werode bikes in a parade for the unification of Korea. After thebike parade, we had our closing ceremony at Sejong University.

tI was sad to say goodbye to the friends that I had madein this homecoming. I felt that the common heritage we hadlearned and reaffirmed through our eight day journey hadbrought us together.

Overall the whole program was fun and memorablethroughout. However, there were two experiences in thishomecoming that were most revealing to me. The first wasat the opening ceremony at Cheonan. Amidst all the numerousTaegukgis that were flying in the warm air, hundredsof students gathered to watch a reenactment of the March-First Movement. Although I had studied about the colonialperiod of Korea and the heroes of the March-First Movementthrough books, realizing that the very ground I was standingon was an enslaved land just a few generations ago overwhelmedme. I looked at the faces of those involved in themovement and wondered what spirit drove these people todo what they did. Then I thought about the current divisionof Korea, and wondered what the March-First heroes woulddemand of those of us living in the present in a free but dividednation.

I felt this strong emotion again when we did the bike parade atthe DMZ. Looking over the Imjin River towards all the barbedwire and guard posts I saw the painful history repeating tiself. Irealized that the independence movement is an ongoing process;the only way to complete it is unification. I saw pictures of theDMZ in America, but seeing the invisible line firsthand was a soberingexperience that I will never forget.

This homecoming was a unique experience that becamethe highlight of my one-month stay in Korea. I felt that Ihad visited many meaningful places and will have many newmemories. Korea is such a beautiful country. As a historymajor, I had the delight of visiting the most fascinating historicalsites. tI all felt like a dream for me. Iam always proudthat I have this heritage with me as a Korean-American.

Most of all, the people I met in Korea widened my scope as aglobal Korean. Meeting them gave me a sense of excitementand the pleasure of knowing that these seemingly differentstudents are similar to me in many ways. Most importantly,I felt our common Korean heritage binding us together andbringing us home again.