The Woosong University Global Volunteering Team, Sol Probono, Went to Indoneia

The Woosong University Global Volunteering group is comprised of: 28 Woosong students; and there are 5 professors in charge of this program, 33 people in total.

The group went to Jogjakarta, in Indonesia, from 17th to 24th of February, 2013 for eight days and seven nights of volunteering. They fulfilled a volunteering program which required them to perform a service effort, an education service, and a school health program with the Islam University, UII.

First, the service effort consisted of working on a farm, working on an infrastructure project for an apartment house, and working in the bamboo industry of Indonesia which is a major industry. Secondly, the education service consisted of teaching about Korean, art, music and physical education. Thirdly, the school health program consisted of skills such as proper hand washing and teeth brushing techniques. These activities were implemented at Tirtoadi Elementary School. Lastly, volunteering team took time to have a culture exchange with a local resident. Besides a Korean children’s song contest and a Korean food preparation event, a K-Pop and Dance performance was demonstrated. Furthermore, during the Korean food preparation event, the Team presented the traditional Korean food, kimbap. After this program, a kimbap restaurant will be started by one of the local residents in Jogjakarta.

At 6 pm on the 14th of March 2013, the Volunteering Team had a briefing session at Woosonggwan on the fourth floor. At the session, the student volunteers were given a presentation on the visionary future strategy for Indonesia, and what the students can do to continue volunteering overseas. During the session, I interviewed two students and one professor who had participated in the program:

-Park Hui Je (22)-

I taught the Indonesian children the formal Korean greeting and a deep bow. I felt a sense of extreme happiness when the Indonesian children performed our customs. Also, the project gave me the opportunity to understand Indonesia culture.

-Kim Young Jin (23)-

I taught the Indonesian children Taekwondo. At the end of their training, the children were shouting: “I LOVE TAEKWONDO!” and this gave me a shudder all over. One definition of volunteering is: ‘providing service to a person who needs help without cost’ but, I don’t think so. I think volunteering, while hard work, helps me gain a modest attitude and enjoyment.

-Chun Ji Eun, Professor-

Woosong University supports the “international university” policy, so we planned an overseas volunteer program for students to become growing global leaders. All of the student volunteers felt happiness through this activity and learned modesty, consideration, and gratitude.

Woosong University Global Volunteering Team, Sol Probono, raises the bar for all volunteering programs.

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Staff writer Haung Ha Na.

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Malaysian Life which became a Fabulous and Precious treasure

Have you had an amazing vacation abroad? Here are 12 students who had a fabulous experience in Malaysia. They were chosen as outstanding students in last semester’s GEEC Class, so they had a chance to go to University of Malaya in Malaysia. This was the second time GEEC Classes provided this opportunity. They had many interesting experiences. Here is what they had to say.

Oh GyeongGeun, 20, Department of Electronic Railway Systems

“Before I went to Malaysia, I thought life in Malaysia was tough because their GDP is lower than ours, but I was wrong. It was exciting and fun! I met many new native friends and Korean friends. We always studied and traveled together. It helped expand my knowledge and view. Also, I learned not only English but team work and collaboration.”

In my case, I also went to Malaysia with GEEC. I experienced ‘the Ramadan fast’, but for just one day. It is a part of Muslim culture. They shouldn’t eat anything during the day because they purify themselves by fasting. It was very hard, but a worth while experience.

Before the students go to Malaysia, they divide in to teams, but it didn’t work because they were always together, regardless of their team. Everyone became great friends.

Son Byeong Jea, 25, English Department

“I never thought we are not different. We are like a family. There were other Korean University students, but we were the best. They envied us because of our teamwork. When we went to Singapore and Penang in Malaysia, we didn’t have time to plan our journey, so we had to plan on the spot. However, we enjoyed our journey because we were always ready to travel to unfamiliar places with positive attitudes. Above of all, we helped and trusted each other on our travels.”

We not only developed strong friendships, we also had the chance to enjoy native culture. Last August, there was a big holiday in Malaysia called ‘Hariraya’. We were invited to one of our Malaysian friend’s home. It was very good chance for us to experience Muslim culture.

Min Ji Hong, 20, Department of Railway Construction Systems

“Before we went to our Malaysian friend’s home, we thought it would be difficult to adjust because they are Muslim. However, we ate their traditional food and enjoyed their culture. Some our students wore their traditional clothes, so our Malaysian friend was happy. We stayed one night at their home and they treated us warmly. So we made some Korean food in return. I’ll never forget this experience.”

Throughout our Malaysia experience, the students learned many things such as collaboration, native culture, how to respect other cultures, leadership, and communication with foreigners. Also, they have developed confidence in using English and living in other countries.

Now they are ready to go abroad again and visit in other countries. This experience taught them what is really important in life.

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Staff writer Cha SuJi.

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A Review of Gyeongbokgung

There are many reasons why people are drawn to Gyeongbokgung Palace. I have been hearing about Gyeongbokgung for a long time. I know that Gyeongbokgung, in Korea, is like Tiananmen in China. So I felt very glad to have the opportunity to go to Gyeongbokgung with so many friends from the Woosong Herald.

We divided into three groups to visit Gyeongbokgung. When our group visited, tourists and primary school students attentively listened to their guides, learning about the history of the palace. Also, the elderly and other local Seoul-ites experienced the quietness of the impressive environs on leisurely strolls. Gyeongbokgung offers a different experience for different people. Originally constructed in 1395 under the reign of King Taejo, the architectural plans were supervised by Korean architect Jeong Do-jeun and his assistant, Sim Dokpu, and the site itself occupies approximately 410,000 square meters. Also called Northern Palace because of its location, Gyeongbokgung is Seoul's most prominent palace. Although situated in the middle of the city, once inside the gates of the palace, you quickly forget the hustle and bustle of city life. What is particularly appealing about walking through the site is that there is lots of greenery, a sight becoming an increasing rarity in downtown Seoul.

What left me with a deep impression is the National Palace Museum. The National Palace Museum is located south of the Heungnyemun (gate), and the National Folk Museum is located on the east side, within Hyangwonjeong. Entry to the palace includes admission to the museums as well. The National Folk Museum is well worth a visit, especially if you want some insights into Korean culture and the daily lives of Koreans throughout the country's long and turbulent history. I especially liked exploring the complex of dioramas, pagodas, and model homes on display in the museum's outdoor court. The museum itself is made up of three interconnected buildings -- there are maps available to help you explore. The National Palace Museum was created in 1992 and is filled with relics collected from archaeological digs at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Jongmyo. Focusing on the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), it's the perfect place to learn about Confucianism (once Korea's main religion) and ancestral rites that were passed on through the royal line. The displays give insight into the lives of Joseon royalty and palace architecture as well.

Gyeongbokgung is a beautiful place I want to visit again. This time, we only visited it for two hours. I feel that I have not gotten to know its beauty at all. If you have the time, go there and experience this historical site!

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Guest writer Gao Hai Yan.

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Unforgettable China

About 30 students who received good grades on the TOEIC Test Contest held twice a year at Woosong went to China on July 30th. We stayed there for a week and we had a good time.

On the first full day of the trip, we went to the Gate of Heavenly Peace and the Forbidden City. The Gate and The Forbidden City are both symbols of China, so they were very crowded.

“They remind me of a Chinese movie called Curse of the Golden Flower, said John, one of the lucky Woosong students on this special trip. “I was really surprised at the huge, massive historical gate.”

We also went to big, amazing Shanghai Qufu where we learned about Confucius's life.

In the day, we visited a market for foreign people and a famous beer factory located in Tsingtao. At the factory, we directly saw the process of beer-making, and Mr. Wang, head of our travel company, instructed us about the drinking etiquette of China. Then, we got to drink a sample of the freshly brewed beer.

“The taste of the beer was incredibly cool,” said one of the students.

The atmosphere in Tsingtao was different from the rest of China. It was comfortable and beautiful. We went to a beautiful park and the sea. There were a lot of Chinese people and foreigners like us. Once again despite the rain, we enjoyed being at the beach, and we played some games.

“The most precious thing about this trip was to be given the chance to get along with students from other departments and to learn first-hand about the life and culture of the Chinese people,” said one student, reflecting on the last night of the trip.

Even through the schedule of the journey was a little bit tight, we fully enjoyed the trip. It's been about three months now since we returned, but I think the memory will remain in our minds for a long time.

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Guest writer Kim HyeIn.

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Busan International MOTOR SHOW 2012

On May 25, the 2012 Busan International Motor show kicked off at BEXCO in Busan. This was a great opportunity for Korean people to experience a motor show and to learn about more than 170 cars and 22 automobile brands, coming from all around the world.

This year’s theme was The Voyage of the Green Car Across the Ocean. The majority of the countries all around the world have studied how to protect the environment from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and so on. Now more than ever, it has become essential for companies in many fields to pay attention to such global issues.

The show’s organizers anticipated that more than 750,000 people would visit the motor show on Saturday, May 26.

The event was a showcase for lots of cars made by BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai, KIA, GM and others. The world-leading car companies showed not only their new cars but also eco-friendly cars which included hybrid and electric vehicles. They also displayed passenger cars, commercial cars, specially equipped vehicles, motorcycles, and automobile parts and accessories.

Other special events included business meetings, a new car giveaway, a car audio festival and an R-C car contest.

One BEXCO attendee and car enthusiast, Kim KyungMok, said, “This is the most amazing show ever in my life. There were a variety of cars and beautiful racing models.

The best part,” said KyungMok, “is that I can take photos with all of the cars such as popular concept cars I haven’t seen before and electric vehicles I have always been interested in.”

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Staff writer Kim ByeongJu is currently a Woosong University student majoring in English.

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Countdown to the London Olympics

  The 30th Summer Olympic Games starts on July 27th and lasts for 17 days. It is the biggest sporting event on the planet with 10,500 athletes and millions of spectators. As is tradition, 8,000 inspirational people will carry the Olympic Flame as it journeys across the globe, ending on July 29th in this year’s host city, London.

The scheduled 2012 Summer Olympics will make London the first city to have hosted the modern Olympiad Games three times. London has hosted the Olympic Games on two past occasions, in 1908 and 1948, with the third planned for 2012.

Last summer in the Beijing Olympic Games, Korea placed 7th overall. Korea hopes to win 10 gold medals and place in the top 10 for these Olympics.

In the Summer Olympics, the regular events are: swimming, judo, archery, taekwondo, volleyball, weightlifting, and so on. There are 26 regular events.

This is the first time the Korean women's volleyball team reached the Olympics in nearly eight years. Korea's medal favorites are: Park Tae-hwan (swimming), Jang Mi Ran (weightlifting), and Lee Yong Dae (badminton).

The medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games will be awarded during a total of 302 Victory Ceremonies, taking place at venues across the UK.

Sustainability and ecology are an important part of this Olympics. Polluted ground near London Olympic Park was purified by water. Stadiums were built using 90% recycled resources. All tourists use only public transportation or walk.

The official 2012 London Olympics’ slogan is, "Live as one," and the motto is "Inspire a Generation.”

The Opening Ceremony will be held on Friday, July 27, 2012 at 9 PM. Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games are now on sale on a first come, first served basis. Ticket prices start at just £20, with special prices for young people and seniors.

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Staff writers Lee Na Kyung and Jeong Min Ju are currently Woosong University students majoring in Nursing.

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Yeosu EXPO 2012 (Part 3)

The Yeosu Expo was an issue before its opening because of Korea’s desire, the Kim Yu Na effect, and many people’s help.

We looked forward to holding the Yeosu Expo for a long time. This year was the result of many years of preparation; it was time to show the world. I, personally, eagerly looked forward to it because I mostly have lived on the land. Therefore, the ocean is an interesting topic to me.

When I visited the Yeosu Expo, I got three impressions. First, the Yeosu Expo was very informative and unique. They introduced the world’s best knowledge and technology related to the Expo’s theme-- “The Living Ocean and Coast;” and proposed ways to utilize them to develop and advance the global community, economy, and science. Also, there are individual company pavilions and international pavilions. Furthermore, the Yeosu Expo had enjoyable events, cultural performances and a variety of shows with the open sea. It provided a bunch of information about various themes.

Second, the Yeosu Expo organizers were creative. Their exhibitions used high quality technology, such as 4D imaging, screening, or simulation. Therefore I could experience and understand things more easily than I expected. Also, they made interactive facilities that everybody from the young to the old could enjoy together. Most of the pavilions made people experience or see things in three dimensions and used machines and high technology. They did not just have us look at pictures. Every time when I went to a different pavilion, I got a shock because of the unimaginable high technology. It was a totally different exhibition than what I am used to seeing. This style made me concentrate and participate more.

Lastly, the Yeosu Expo included nature. There were 3 distinct aspects of nature: the mountains, the ocean and the land. The smell of the ocean and the fresh, clean air of the mountains were awesome. In addition, the sightseeing was fantastic. I think the people who live in the city and have a busy life can relax well in that kind of natural environment. The nature is harmonious, so we can feel nature's friendliness.

However, there were some points that I was disappointed with. Even though I reserved the pavilions, I failed to get in on time because of the many people and long lines. Also I found one thing during interviewing people from other nations: they said this expo is unknown to other countries compared to the Shanghai Expo. I want to make up for these parts so that we finish the Yeosu Expo more successfully than we started. I hope that Korea is developing and stepping ahead of the rest of the world through this good change with the Yeosu Expo. 

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Staff writer Shin Hye Kyung is currently a Woosong University student majoring in Nursing Science.

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TianJin Harmony: The Old and the New

Have you ever heard about one of the thousands of cities in China called “TianJin?” For Koreans, this is not as familiar as other cities. Although we may not have heard about the city in high school textbooks, lectures in history class, or TV documentary programs, Tianjin is a central and historic trade city--one of four major harbor cities in China.

In 1858, China entered into a treaty with four countries (Russia, U.S.A., U.K., and France). Since the treaty took effect, the city has changed its lifestyle to a new way of living, and it showed quick economic success. Moreover, there are many Korean residents who have established their businesses in the city. For this reason, Korean products have been produced in great amounts in their factories.

When I was in Beijing, I found out something new about China by traveling to several places, which many people find popular. It was an especially wonderful experience, and I cannot forget the memories with my friends. Fortunately there was a national ten-day. During this time, my friends and I planned to go to Tianjin on an overnight trip.

First of all, we took a train in the morning. Getting to the city took 30 minutes by train. While train was moving, I could see that China is no longer a poor country, as we misunderstand likewise described scenes in many movies.

Arriving at the station in Tianjin, I was surprised at so many exotic sights I’d never seen before. There were buildings established using a style of western construction materials. The more I saw, the more I was fascinated by the city that what was such an interesting mixture between eastern and western architectural styles.

When we had lunch at one of the Korean restaurants, I noticed there were many Korean businesses near the restaurant to service the Korean community living there. They were also very popular among Chinese.

Another thing that impressed me was “the old street.” In that district, the ancient and modern buildings were coexisting peacefully. In looking around the street, I could imagine many generations of Chinese walking on the same street.

At the end of our visit, we took some pictures on “Italian street.” This street was literally decorated in a completely Italian style. On my way back home, I thought that I will never forget these precious memories in my whole life. I especially recommend visiting Tianjin-- to everybody, any age.

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Staff writer Lee InSeong is currently a Woosong University student.

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Yeosu EXPO 2012 (Part 2)

Most Koreans are filled with anticipation of the Yeosu EXPO 2012. The Yeosu Expo provides an opportunity to enhance the international community’s awareness of the function and value of the ocean, share knowledge on the proper use of the ocean and recognize the need for cooperation in the marine sector.

The Yeosu EXPO has a good purpose, but there are some problems. One problem is the International Pavilion, which is one of the most popular attractions. The International Pavilion is comprised of exhibitions from countries in individual national pavilions and booths. However, some countries did not prepare well and some pavilions only want to earn money by using the EXPO. Not only in the Saudi Arabian pavilion, but also in the Peruvian pavilion, there are no exhibitions about the ocean. They are only selling Peruvian seafood in the Peruvian pavilion.

“I think, the International Pavilion is the best but some pavilions did not look good. I don’t know why they only recommend buying their food or souvenirs. Also their souvenirs are so expensive! When foreigners see that, it is very shameful,” said Lee Su young, a visitor from Seoul.

Jason Park, a tourist from Australia, mentioned, “I study abroad in Australia and I came here to see the Yeosu EXPO. The EXPO has a lot to see. There are many performances like the Water bike show. I love it, but the Aquarium and some of the International Pavilion did not meet my expectations. When I went to some pavilion, I said ‘That’s it? Oh, I was really disappointed’ The EXPO seems to only focus on appearance.”

The EXPO organizing committee determined only their sections and they do not care about the individual international pavilions. Many visitors who want to understand the importance of the ocean are disappointed. If the EXPO wants to be considered a great success, the committee has to solve these problems.

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Staff writer Cha SuJi.

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Yeosu EXPO 2012: Reflections (Part 1)

Back in 2010, there was the “City Makes Life Better” Expo held in Shanghai. I was so excited that I purchased tickets in advance. However, according to the news, there were so many people that normally it would take people 6-8 hours to wait for a premier pavilion. Not only that, the trip itself would be costly, which made me make the decision: not to go.

How fortunate I am to be a member in the Woosong Herald, which offers its staff the most wonderful incentives. This time, it offered all its staff a 2 day-1 night trip to Namwon and the Yeosu Expo.

Everyone was so inspired that no one was late for the scheduled departure: 1:00 on May 11th. After one day staying in Namwon, we headed to Yeosu the next morning. We were worried whether there would be a traffic jam due to the opening ceremony, but it turned out that was not necessary. We arrived at 9:30 and we were able to enjoy the expo for a good eight hours.

This year's expo theme was related to marine life and ecology, which is easy to understand because Yeosu is a city on the coastline. It is about time for humans to pay more attention to the ecology as well.

The first thing that impressed me was that there were so many volunteers. Even in the restroom, a volunteer would never leave his position, which made me “uncomfortable.” It was not proper to ask him questions in the restroom, so I made a short interview with another volunteer, Chonghua Lee, at the gate. According to her, not all the volunteers are paid for this event, some of them regard this as their temporary job with a sustainable pay, others were simply helping for one day or two.

“This is my current job. I am doing this because I like to meet people. While I am doing this, I feel I am doing something good for everyone. I am very proud of myself,” said Lee, a 27 year-old volunteer.

We made two appointments for the Theme Pavilion and Aquarium. After waiting for about 10 minutes, we were able to visit the Theme Pavilion. It was scientific, informative and entertaining at the same time. In the Theme Pavilion, there were all sorts of important facts about marine life and ecology. And there was an adorable dugong telling the mysteries about the sea.

After this, we visited many international pavilions, all of which were connected to the theme.

The most visit-worthy part of the Yeosu Expo, in my opinion, would be the Firm Section. All high technology-supported shows were there, like Samsung and Hyundai. The employees were not allowed to take any interviews, so I chatted with two of them, wanting to know more about the big companies’ perspectives about marine life.

“Seventy percent of the earth is covered by water; who dominates the sea dominates the earth,” said an anonymous, ambitious employee from Samsung.

“Our mission in [the] 21st century is unlocking the mysteries about the sea,” said another employee form Hyundai.

It was an interesting and meaningful trip. All I hope is I could visit the Yeosu Expo again shortly and explore the rest of it.

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Staff writer Ying Cheng Hao is currently a Woosong University student majoring in Railway Electrical Engineering.

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China: A Paradise Of Food

On an early morning last July, 10 students of Woosong University gathered at Gimpo Airport. They’re the winners of Woosong’s Chinese Speech Competition which was held last May, myself included. Especially I have a lots of interests about Chinese cuisine so that was a great chance for me. ‘Chinese cuisine’, ‘French cuisine’ and ‘Turkish cuisine’ is commonly listed as the worlds 3 best cuisines. Especially China is one of the food paradises. For example, someone said “Chinese people eat all food except chairs, desks and airplanes which have 4 legs or are flying things.”

We took 2 hours to Beijing International Airport and the bus drove for ages then arrived at Beijing Foreign Studies University which we lived at for 10 days. That place is familiar to me because I studied there one semester last year.


Our Beijing schedule was so tight. The Great Wall which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Forbidden City which took 3 days to explore, the Summer Palace which is Empresses summer house, Jing Mountain Park which you can see the whole Forbidden City, 798 Art district which you can see Chinese modern arts, Xiang mountain where you only can see a maple in Beijing, Peking University which has a beautiful campus rarely seen before. We saw every famous place in Beijing. Every time I go I feel that Beijing is huge.

Beijing food is also commonly listed as one of the China’s best 4 foods. Beijing duck which is sliced by professional chefs and Beijing’s traditional black bean noodles are one of the delicacies. Everywhere in Beijing city, you can find lamb skewers but it’s very cheap and if you eat with a beer that might be heaven.

After 10 days of the Beijing trip we took a train for 6 hours and arrived at Shanxi. Also Shanxi was enough to overwhelm us. We were so tired because of a long time rude but Shanxi food was also enough to recharge us up. Especially wheat is widely cultivated in Shanxi, so renowned for it’s noodle. Some historian said pasta of Italy was spread from Shanxi by the Silk Road.

Huge and grand Chinese historical remains always speculate me and China always teaches me things. I hugely appreciate Woosong university for giving all of us a chance to have a good meaningful experiences.

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Seo-Yoo Seok is currently a Woosong Student majoring in Culinary Arts;

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Global Internship - Earn a Year’s University Credit by Working in a 5-Star Hotel

 Have you ever thought that your studies at Woosong University would include a year in the USA? Or Singapore? How about the Pacific islands of Guam, Saipan or Palau?

That’s been the experience of many Food Service Management students, as the department runs an internship program for Junior year students.

The program was created in 2006 to give students an opportunity to get work experience, as well as an opportunity to work in an English-speaking environment. Students do take a year off, but that year is replaced by the internship, so they still return as Seniors. Many students have worked in 5-star partner hotels abroad, such as the Marriott, the Hyatt, and the Ritz-Carlton.

However, the internship program isn’t for everyone. There are significant costs involved, because students need to pay for living expenses, and in most places students need to pay for their accommodation. On the other hand, students are paid for their work.

This year, several partner hotels in the US, Guam, and Singapore indicated that they would offer placement for Woosong students. To prepare them for the trip, the department runs several internship classes. This year however, the process began very quickly when our partner hotel in Guam indicated that they wanted to have Skype interviews with the applicants even though classes were only on the second week of the semester!

The hotel was looking for people to work in their room division (reservations, front desk) and food and beverage (restaurants, bars, poolside kiosks).

After a quick Skype face-to-face video interview, eight students were selected for an in-person interview. And the following month they went to Seoul for an interview with the hotel’s general manager. The successful candidates are now currently working in Guam and have been since June.

A similar process was run for the hotels in the United States and Singapore, so there are also students now working in Singapore, Tucson, Arizona and San Francisco, California.

During this special time, Woosong students are adjusting to a different life for a year. They are busy practicing English with both native English speakers and people who speak English as a second language. Each person’s experience is different. For example, Kim Ji Hyun found that her biggest surprise was that in Tucson, Arizona, she couldn’t do anything without a car. However, she loves the experience in the United States so far, and can’t imagine what it will be like to return to life in Korea.

Park Hyun in Singapore was disappointed to realize that he couldn’t understand the English spoken there, because everyone speaks with a Chinese accent. Yet, after a few weeks he has begun to understand more clearly.

Ha Ji Hoon has returned from a year in Guam, and he’s now in his senior year. He says that he would have prepared differently had he known what to expect. “People should make friends with foreign English speakers to practice before going on the internship,” he says. “I prepared by watching American movies and dramas. But when I started working in Guam every time someone asked me a question, I replied with ‘What?’ or ‘Sorry?’. I really think that students who want to go on an internship abroad should make friends with foreign English speakers first.”

Woosong’s internship program is a challenging and rewarding time for students and ultimately those who successfully complete the difficult task are changed for the better forever.

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Éamon McDonagh is an English Language Professor at Woosong University

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Finding Myself, Finding Culture in Osaka

Several Woosong students including myself recently got a chance to travel to Osaka, Japan through the Crotonville program at Woosong University. The Crotonville program offers opportunities for students to help raise their leadership skills. It also allows them to experience a world outside of their own. Here is a short story on my experience.

Week 1: Woosong Crotonville Leadership Training

For the 1st week, we did training seminars domestically. During the training, we did creative projects, outdoor activities, had vision classes and much more. Also, we worked with remarkable instructors from well-known enterprises.

Week 2: Woosong Crotonville Osaka

We spent the 2^nd week in Osaka, Japan. This was my first overseas trip ever. We stayed at the Rinka Hotel. The bed was cleanly made when I returned to the hotel everyday, and there was even a clean Yutaka, too. Even though this wasn’t a five-star hotel, it was quite satisfactory. I heard that everything in Japan is small, and I really noticed that after I saw the restroom in the hotel, wow. The hotel food was prepared American style, Japanese style and Korean style for the various foreigners.

We were taken around Osaka castle, Deer Park (Nara Park), Dodaiji, Kinkakuji, and Universal Studios Japan. The Universal Studios Japan was by far the most incredible and interesting. We also took the subway to get around and it was surprisingly very quiet.

There was free time in the evening and we went to Dotonbori (downtown Osaka) close to the hotel. We ate regional sushi and went shopping. I had a hard time understanding the exchange rate when we spent money. Japan's prices are very high.

All in all, I feel like I know more and I learned better after going to Japan. Best of all, it was very good opportunity, and I've improved myself. And also, I got more valuable friends within the school.

The last thing I want to mention is that it is possible for students to apply for Woosong Crotonville twice a year. I recommend your participation and want to see the growth of the program. Maybe next time you can join too.

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SoYoung Kim is currently a Woosong Student

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Me, Myself, and I plus Travel

I have traveled a lot of countries relative to my peers. I went to the Philippines when I was in 6th grade in the elementary, I lived about a year as an exchange student in place called Phoenixville near Philadelphia, PA. I took a French class while I went to school there, and we had a trip to Quebec, Canada for few days. And I have no doubt about recommending to other students to go to the States for a year. It will help you a lot in many ways. You will be through the sweet and bitter, and other matters that were not even predicted. And at last you will grow up. Also, during this program you have to stay in host family’s house. So you will know how to mingle with people, talk to the strangers and say “Hello” to a person that you have passed on the road. 

Through culture shock, you will become aware of that ‘I was the frog in the wall!’ I have visited some countries in Europe like the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Czech and Hungary during my second year in high school. This made me want to restart my French, and dream to go to a French university. But I have noticed that it cannot be as easy as to get into for Koreans. While I was in my final year of my high school. I should have come back to earth earlier. But also studying French was my choice too. And I would love to do what I want to do. So I don’t regret it. I don’t think it is a good idea to go on a vacation during your high school years. It will make you confused like it did to me.

Finally I planned my trip to India alone; technically the trip went fine by me. But I started my trip with another Korean lady, unfortunately it lasted less than a week. But I met so many Koreans and one of my Indian friends took care of me while I was having some problems with my tummy. It was not that tough to survive there. It gave me some lessons and a viewpoint of how I am going to pioneer my life afterwards. So it was worth to being ill there. And i have come to appreciate my life and things that I’ve got now. So the trip to India was one the best that I have ever had.

My point is that I dare you to travel. It is such an awesome learning experience. Of course too, the more the merrier!

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Eun Young Hwang is currently a Woosong Student majoring in Hotel Tourism Management

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Taipei’s 3 Don’t Miss Districts

Taking a trip to Taipei, Taiwan anytime soon? Well leave your “Lonely Plane’s Guide to Taipei” at home, because we’ve got the three best districts to visit, from one Woosong student to another. 

Ximending on a typical evening

Ximending is an amazing food and shopping extravaganza. One of my favorite bites was a noodle soup located among the eateries scattered at the end of Han Zhong Street. Try walking along the streets on the fringes of the Ximending shopping area to find several local dessert vendors. While there, try the fragrant and delicious peanut soup. Don’t be afraid to walk down into any of the basements or up to stores on the upper floors because you will likely discover a shopping gem. If you have a weakness for footwear, you’ll love the range of shoe styles and plethora of inexpensive shops with great shoe specials.

Directions: Take the MRT to Ximending

Gate to Huaxi Night Market

Huaxi Night Market, located west of Longshan Temple, is a nice place to go for a late meal. You will encounter a number of locals there in search of late night dining as well. Check out the fried oyster omelet, found at the very end of the long street of stalls. There’s a dessert shop, a short distance from the entranceway, which has been open for many years. It sells Taiwanese style ice-kachang (shaved ice bowls full of red beans, coloring, and other tasty treats). If you’re into something less sweet, try the rice dumplings from the stall in front of ice-kachang. They are extremely tasty and quite filling too.

Directions: Take MRT to the Longshan Temple.

Danshui waterfront

Danshui is a seaside district in Northern Taipei. This area has streets lined with boardwalk games, quaint little shops and lots of local eateries. Refresh yourself with an almond-flavored drink, while munching on dumplings, fried quails eggs or potato slices on a stick. If you like Japanese clogs (a shoe with a thick wooden sole), Danshui is the place to get them. There’s a shop where you can choose among different kinds of wood and string patterns. Since most off-the-shelf clogs are loose and uncomfortable, custom clogs will fit you perfectly for easy walking around Taipei.

Directions: Take the MRT to Danshui.

Whether you’re looking for custom shoes, yummy treats or shopping, Ximending, Huaxi Night Market and Danshui are your best bets while starting out on your next vacation in Taipei.

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Jain Song is currently the Chief Student Editor of the Woosong Herald
and
a Woosong Student majoring in Culinary Arts

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