Why Spend the Summer in Seoul?

Dear family, friends, teachers, and whoever else might have stumbled across this blog,

     Thank you all for joining me on this exciting journey. I can't wait to share it with you, and before I leave, I'd like to offer a few details about the program and what I'll be doing. Also, I'd like to give a brief shout-out to everyone who has helped me get to this point, most remarkably my unfailingly supportive family and teachers. I'd also like to thank Caila McHugh, who made me aware of and interested in NSLI-Y and whose format for this first blog I borrowed! Enjoy.

What?

NSLI-Y (National Security Language Initiative for Youth) is a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State that provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students and recent high school graduates to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs. NSLI-Y awards full scholarships, which cover all expenses including travel. If you have any other questions about NSLI-Y, feel free to visit www.nsliforyouth.org.

When and How?

The application process began in August, when the online application became available. It included statistical information, several short essays, and teacher and parent recommendations, all of which were submitted by early November. I was notified in December that I was a semifinalist, and I completed an interview in January. After a long process of applying and waiting, I was notified in late March that I had been accepted as a finalist in the NSLI-Y summer Korean program in Seoul, South Korea.

Why?

See below my answer to the prompt "Please explain your choice of language" in my application:

     

I choose Korean because I love Korean people, culture, and language. There are many Koreans where I live, many of whom speak Korean. Some speak only Korean. This has motivated me to learn the language of a country that is a rising modern power and is historically and culturally unique. I have made an effort to establish numerous ties with the Korean population in my area in order to expand my worldview and learn about the culture and language of a beautiful country. Some of the reasons I enjoy Korean culture are its strong family values, its extremely challenging yet beautiful language, and its people, who have an ingrained hospitality, with which comes an ever-present sense of respect. I am attracted to foreign cultures and languages in general, but I choose the Korean program because Korea offers a sense of both ancient splendor and modern innovation. I want not only to introduce Koreans to American culture, but to help make Americans aware of the riches, whether linguistic, cultural, or gastronomical, that Korea has to offer.

Other Details

The program, including pre-program orientation in the States, is a total of 7 weeks: I leave in late June and will return in mid-August. I will be staying with a host family that speaks little or no English. I will be studying Korean language and culture in classes for 4-5 hours 5 days a week at Ewha Womans University (coed in the summer), and I will participate in mandatory cultural excursions and activities. During the weekends and afternoons when I’m not doing NSLI-Y activities, I’ll be doing lots of homework, exploring the city with fellow NSLI-Y students, and spending time with my host family.

Once again, thank you for joining me - I am thrilled to have this opportunity. I will be posting periodically on this blog, and I hope to be able to capture accurately the experience of living abroad.

Until next time,

JG