3F in South Korea

The Korean capital Seoul is a place of contrasts. There are districts dominated by enormous skyscrapers, rivaling those on Wall Street, but also areas with ancient palaces and original old wooden houses. There are hectic, neon-lit neighborhoods like Myeong-Dong, where the shops and food stalls never close, and more peaceful stretches along the Han River, where the city’s youth gather for picnics. During the study trip, 3F experienced many of the city’s different neighborhoods, as well as the more tranquil suburban life in Guri, where the class’s partner school, Inchang High School, is located. This turned into five full days of homestay filled with experiences both in and outside of school. Besides the homestay, there was also time for a trip to the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea and an exciting meeting with the Korean journalist Mr. Oh, who talked about his work in establishing a folk high school in a country where students are otherwise rarely given much room for breaks.