Name: Vanessa Sauter
Age: 17
School: Holton Arms School, Bethesda, Maryland
To be honest, I was a little nervous when I was first accepted. I’d had little exposure to Korean culture and knew little Korean. Regardless, the program seemed exciting and I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn more about Asian culture. The scholarship profoundly exceeded my expectations. The two weeks I spent in Korea taught me more about Korean spirit and culture than I could have ever learned in a textbook or US classroom. Whether eating bugolgi or in Seoul or visiting Hanok, a traditional Korean village, I enjoyed every day. It was an incredible experience, and I have gained a deep respect for Korea and its people. I’ve always been curious in East Asia and I speak a little Chinese, but the trip affirmed my interest in East Asian culture and has inspired me to study Korean in college. I plan on returning to Korea one day, perhaps even to study at Yonsei University.
Two students from the South Korea Spring Break program submitted essays to the Korea Foundation and they were selected for their annual news letter! They were also given a cash prize for their outstanding essays!
Congratulations to Michael Cavanaugh and Liang Xiong - Korea-US Youth Network 2010!
Speach from 2010 Summer Farewell Ceremony in South Korea
By Tuyen Than, Participant from Franklin High School, Seattle, WA
