Experiencing Another Asian Culture

Randall Yamaoka
Seoul Women’s University, Korea

I was one the few students who had the opportunity to study abroad in TWO different countries. After studying abroad in Fall 2012 Spring 2013 at Kyoto Sangyo University in Kyoto, Japan, I developed a thirst of going on another studying abroad opportunity. The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has a great studying abroad program and I took advantage of it.

Randall Yamaoka with a Korean Drum

During the summer of 2014 (June-July), I attended the Seoul Women University in Seoul, South Korea. This program was called BIP (Bahrom International Program) and it consisted of multiple lectures about the story of the two Koreas, Korean History, Korean Economics, Korean Language, Korean Religion and Thought, Korean Dance, Korean Costume, Korean Food, Korean Film, and Korean Music. We went on great field trips such as going to the border between North & South Korea, Changdeokgung Palace, Gyeongju, Icheon Pottery Village, Korean Folk Village, Han River cruise, National museum of Korea, Hyundai Heavy industries, and NANTA performance. We also participated in Taekwondo and learned to play Korean traditional instruments.

This program provided me with vast knowledge of Korean culture. It was a great and unforgettable experience. I met people from all over the world. Although I spent a year in Japan, there are vast similarities and differences between the two cultures, Japan and South Korea. This program ended way too fast!! However for only spending a month and a half in Korea during the summer, I have learned a lot about Korean culture. I have provided some pictures below and on the next page, but it is nowhere near the amount of excitement, enjoyment, and fun I had.