Transition

By:

Kathy Tran

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Clips from my first week in Vietnam

Even with all the planning I’ve done over the past few months, things get hectic when it actually happens. For the past three weeks I’ve been in Vietnam to visit my family. Vietnam’s climate is very different from Utah. It is very hot and humid (60-70% humidity). Whereas, Utah does get hot but humidity is always under 40%. In the area my family is located, living standards are very different. Things aren’t as modern and people are okay with having bugs everywhere. When I arrive in South Korea, I will be expecting infrastructure and living standards to be very different. 

Of course my last week before heading to South Korea has been the busiest. Took a trip to my dad’s hometown in the countryside and a beach trip. Hence the late pre-departure post. Before I officially start my 10 week Korean language at Seoul National University, I want to have some goals written in stone so I can’t forget them and/or back down from them.

 Educational Goals

Objectives that SNU sets up for students.

Students with no prior knowledge of Korean learn how to manage basic everyday situations in Korea.

o   Students learn how to read Korean characters (hangul) accurately

o   Students learn basic structure of Korean language to understand and use short sentences

o   Students will learn Korean with a focus on language functions and tasks needed in everyday life such as greeting, introducing themselves, ordering food, buying things, make telephone calls, using public transportation, and inviting guests.

o   Students will learn basic Korean culture needed in everyday life such as Korean food and titles

·      Be able to carry a quality conversation in Korean

·      Get through the language program with high marks

·      Participate in meaningful service learning activities

Personal Goals

·      Try everything whether it is food or an activity even if it turns out bad

·      Meet lots of people: locals and international students

·      Travel to at least one other province

We’ll see in ten weeks or so if I have accomplished my goals. Off I go to an environment that is very different from Vietnam and Utah.

Kathy Tran

Annyeonghaseyo! My name is Kathy Tran. I am a Multi-Disciplinary Design student at the University of Utah. In addition to my studies I am a Diversity Scholar and a member of the Asian American Student Association on campus. Coming from a first generation Vietnamese immigrant family, I am the very first child to attend college and definitely first to study abroad. I have a love for pursuing many different experiences ranging from playing lacrosse, to creating chalk murals at festivals, and exploring world cultures. Some things you may find on my resume are various volunteer positions, athletics, and club memberships. Now it is time for me to explore cultures outside of my own identity. This summer I will be attending Seoul National University in their 10-week Korean Language Program. My interest in South Korea stemmed from being exposed to Korean media and learning about its technological advancements. During my time in Seoul, I have decided to stay with a host family. Through this experience, I will be able to learn about Korean culture more in depth and will constantly interact in Korean. Along with my daily 4-hour language class, I will be serving with Seoul Bean, a volunteer group that socializes with orphaned children while teaching them english. While attending SNU, I look forward to meeting other international students, serving the community, and interacting in Korean with native speakers.