Best summer of my life!

Where do I even start? This program was sooo much fun! Honestly, I didn’t know much about Korea before I got there (not even the alphabet) but now I can speak and write in Korean!! I even wrote an essay about my family!

I learned a LOT about Korean history from the movies, trips, and all the activities. Sarah (the director) and the staff were awesome and always so helpful, especially since I eat halal and needed help finding food. There were a few times I needed medicine, and they got it for me right away. When students felt sick, Sarah would immediately take them to the doctor. I know my mom was worried about this but there were no issues!

The building we stayed in was AMAZING, literally brand new across from Hybe (BTS headquarters :D) and it was in such a cool spot right in the middle of Seoul. I learned how to take the subway and bus on my own (I was so nervous about this but it’s really not hard! thank you Sarah!), and I explored places like Hongdae and Seongsu with other students and by myself.

Before the program started, we all got welcome packages with snacks and gifts from Korea, and our acceptance letters had a link to a video where we learned how to get into the Kakao group chat so we could do online orientation… it honestly felt like getting a letter from Hogwarts!! There was even a letter and a gift for my mom and dad (I think Korean tea?) which they liked a lot.

My mentor picked me up at the airport and even had a cute handmade sign! I was so nervous because it was my first time flying alone but it was easy to find them because they had the SPARKS t shirt and the sign, and also because my SIM card worked right away when I landed so I could tell them where I was and vice versa.

The scavenger hunt we did with the Korean mentors during orientation was absolutely insane but so much fun. I thought it might be awkward since we had all just met, but it ended up being awesome.

Basically, Sarah put us in groups with the mentors and each group got a treasure map with hints written on it in a poem that took us to the next destination… at each place (there were six, one for each of the six historical periods we learned about) there was someone waiting for us with a new clue like an old magazine or a bus schedule that had a hint taking us to the next destination on it… at one of them (I think an electronics market?) Sarah was waiting there herself and pretended to work there and “sold” us a vintage PS2 game as part of the hint for the early 2000s. But when we looked closer we realized that THE GAME COVER WAS AN ANIME DRAWING OF ALL OF US… Sarah designed the game herself just for us! I’ll attach a photo if you want to see what I mean... I was so shocked. The day ended with a picnic next to a light show on the Han River! I was so tired but it was perfect!!

On the last day, it seriously felt like a movie. All the students got K-pop makeovers, and we even went to a live concert. It was magical :)

The completion certificates we got have our names in handwritten calligraphy, and we got these amazing photo books… I know it sounds crazy to say but i want to show mine to my kids someday.

There were so many little details that made this summer really special. Sarah especially was born to do this (she used to be a high school exchange student in Korea too when she was my age) and you can just tell she cares about the students so much. I can’t believe it was only the first year… they really did so much for us.

I miss Korea and my new friends so much. This was easily the best summer of my life!