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Ewha International
Summer College

TESTIMONIALS

2022 EISC (Session 1) : Amelia Michelle Sojung Moon from University of California, Los Angeles, USA

2022 EISC Testimonial Amelia Michelle Sojung Moon Good afternoon everyone. My name is Amelia Moon and I am studying Biology at the University of California Los Angeles. It’s already been one month since we started classes. We’ve done so many things this pastmonth, from classes to field trips to dinners with our PEACE Buddies. Actually, I did a two week internship at a company through the EWHA program. So, I guess that makes it a month and a half for me. Let me talk briefly about my internship. MYSC is a company that specializes in providing social innovation and impact investment consultations for startups. I know, it’s hard to understand. To put simply, they are a consulting firm and investment bank rolled into one. I had the honor of working for and attending the AVPN Global Conference, which was the official side event for the G20 summit that will be held later this year. It was wonderful to see the collaboration between industry leaders to address climate change and social issues around the world. My first day, I was guided to a desk covered with welcoming post-it notes from various employees. I even received a post-it note from the CEO! It was such a welcoming and cute surprise. I forgot to take a picture of it, so I hope this stock image will do for your imagination. Every day, we went out for lunch somewhere new. My favorite lunch was the 급식-style lunch, where you get to scoop your own food, the way it is portrayed in high school k-dramas. The portions here in Korea are so small compared to the portions in the US, especially Texas, where I am from. Of course I had to get seconds! If you’re concerned about finding an internship, I would definitely give the internships that EWHA is providing a try! It was also my first experience and I was super worried, but they were so welcoming and I would definitely do it again if asked. I definitely would recommend to all of you to give it a try if you come back. Here at EWHA, I only took one course here, financial management. We know how important money is in life. This course taught me how to invest in the stock market and the basic principles of finance. So, if you really want to make the big bucks, take this next time. :) Lastly, EWHA has introduced me to so many amazing friends whom I have had the opportunity to go on field trips with. As a student preparing for med school, the EWHA program was an eye-opening experience. The internship showed me not only company life but also opportunities to impact the world, far beyond the local scale of communities. Having the privilege to immerse myself in Korean culture and food has deepened my appreciation of my Korean roots. It really puts into perspective the difference and similarities that can be found between the American and Korean culture. I sincerely hope all of you have had as much fun learning about Korea through the EWHA program as I had and that we will cherish the memories we have made here. Thank you.
- 작성자
- 작성일2022.08.05
- 조회수373
2022 EISC (Session 1) : James Francis Kerwin from Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick

2022 EISC Tesimonial James Francis Kerwin Hey guys, my name is James Kerwin. When I first arrived at Ewha, I was feeling a strange emotion I wasn't used to feeling: fear. I tried to play it down but my first night in Korea, I was actually really scared. I was scared of being so far away from home for so long. I was scared because I was visiting a country where I didn't speak a lick of the native tongue. I was scared that I wouldn't be able to get a TB test the next morning, and I'd never end up in a dorm. And, most of all, being so far from home, I was scared that I'd never be able to connect with any other people in a meaningful way. Ewha helped me assuage these fears. Now I can say, I actually really enjoy being far away from home. After taking a single Korean language course and watching like at least 12 Korean movies, I think I'm pretty much fluent. The TB thing was no biggie, although the new Covid test I had to get the next morning was a bit of a pain in the ass. Despite that, and most importantly, Ewha helped me meet and connect with people like I'd never considered possible. I've met people from Netherlands, Hong Kong, Peru... I've never thought I'd be able to relate to people from such different places, but here in Korea we're all foreigners! Of course, there are also the people I've met from Korea, many of which are not here today but still hold a special place in my heart for making my visit to Korea as memorable as it has been. I can't forget to mention my Peace Buddy Sam, who helped a lot, endless thanks to her. I can talk on and on about all the great things we all must have done here. Just this weekend I went to Jeju and climbed a mountain! I'm certain you all must have done spectacular things as well. For those of you who went on the Ewha field trips, I'm sure you enjoyed them. Even the lines at Lotte World are fun in Korea! Maybe that's going a step too far. Regardless, our experiences here have been endlessly enjoyable and rewarding. The classes I have taken have been excellent. I really never thought I could learn so much Korean, having no prior experience, in such a short amount of time. Before I came here, I wasn't aware of the Korean culture of education, but now I know that it's pretty hardcore over here. The 2 and a half hour classes do not mess around, that's for sure. That being said, these classes were worth it for the amount I've managed to learn so quickly. I can confidently say Korean Cinema has made me fall in love with Korean movies, like Decision to Leave which I highly recommend you watch in theaters before you go, and thanks to Korean Language I can even read their titles in Hangeul. As it is, the world is far from perfect. I'm sure we're all aware of that. There's a whole lot to be afraid of or anxious about. Looking at the way things are around us, sometimes I think I really do have good reason to be scared. But my time at Ewha has made me realize: maybe not. Maybe the world seems like a scary place, but if you just take a step out of your comfort zone, you'll realize that things aren't too bad. In fact, here in Korea and at Ewha, things are better than "not too bad." Things are pretty great. Thank you.
- 작성자
- 작성일2022.08.05
- 조회수319
2022 EISC (Session 1) : Tiong Kai Tan from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

2022 EISC Testimonial Tiong Kai Tan My name is Tiong Kai from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. This summer exchange at Ewha Womans University has certainly been a fruitful one. My experience within the classrooms were pleasant. The professor was very patient with us and explained the concepts well. I have always wanted to learn more about AI, and the course I allowed me to have a hands-on experience in AI in Python and some of its applications. Outside classrooms, there were many fun-filled activities organized for us. We were also assigned buddies, which was helpful as she brought us around and help us get used to student life in Ewha. This has been a valuable experience that has allowed me to immerse in the Korean culture while giving me to opportunity to meet students from all around the world. It was truly a memorable experience for me.
- 작성자
- 작성일2022.08.05
- 조회수308
2021 Ewha ISC (Session I): Maike Sjollema

EISC 2021 Testimonial Maike Sjollema This summer I was fortunate enough to participate in the 2021 EISC program through my home university, Utrecht University. Due to COVID the program was held online, but despite that I felt very excited starting my courses at EWHA. I partook in two courses, one Korean language course and the other course was called Gender Relations in Korea. Both I immensely enjoyed. Due to time zone differences, my days started rather early in the morning. Yet the staff was very considerate of these differences and also allowed students to watch the lectures in their own time. The international classroom helped me connect with students all over the world which was an additional bonus. Furthermore, EWHA not only ensured insightful courses, but also guaranteed we stayed active and healthy while studying online. Particularly through a Kpop dance session given by a professional dance teacher. During this session we learned and practiced the choreography of BTS’ song: Butter. Overall I am highly pleased by all the experiences I had and everything I learned about the Korean language and culture. I will definitely visit Korea and EWHA in the future for an in person experience. Thank you to the EISC team for providing this program and making it run smoothly.
- 작성자
- 작성일2021.07.30
- 조회수516
2021 Ewha ISC (Session I): Safira Tafani Cholisi

I am Safira Tafani Cholisi from Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. This Fall 2021 I will be transferring to Ewha Womans University at the Division of International Studies. I was thankful to be selected as a recipient of the Dr. Ira & Chang Hyun Geer Scholarship by the International Foundation for Ewha Womans University. I have always been interested in Korea, particularly its culture and music. I have been watching a lot of Korean films, some of which can be considered as my ‘lifetime’ films. I am also interested in gender issues, and am aware of Ewha’s history of being a higher academic institution that aims to educate women and ensure that women can fully realize their capabilities and potentials. As I saw through the announcement of EISC, I was immediately interested in taking the Korean Cinema and Gender Relations in Korea classes. Fortunately I was able to take both. Although it is quite regrettable that I could not visit the Ewha campus directly due to the current situation, I was still able to enjoy the online program and the classes. I liked how the professors facilitated the class in such a way that we can engage in a lively discussion. As the students come from all over the world, I was also able to listen to the experiences of others and compare it to my own. We also could share our perspectives about a film or a gender issue in our own country and in Korea. The professors also delivered interesting and relevant topics in their lectures and classes, which did not only give me new information about the issues but also helped me understand the materials better. My takeaway from this program is the learning I’ve received while engaging with the class materials and also the different experiences shared between us, the students. I learned that different backgrounds can result in various perspectives, and they all should be respected. Although there was not enough time for me to interact directly with the others one-by-one, spaces such as mini group discussions helped us to get to know each other better. EISC provided me with both a learning and sharing space which taught me that academic learning does not always have to be a one-way approach, but it can also be done by communicating with one another. I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity that has been given to me by Ewha, the EISC Team, the International Foundation for Ewha Womans University, and all the professors and classmates. I hope there comes a day when we can all meet each other physically. Thank you.
- 작성자
- 작성일2021.07.30
- 조회수519
2021 Ewha ISC (Session I): Carolina Pedreros Delgado

Dear teachers, organizers and students of Ewha International Summer College 2021 One day in the evening light I wondered how I could learn more about South Korea. I looked at the Andes Mountains located in Chile and I thought “if the mountain does not come to me, I have to go to the mountain”. So I began to find out with great hope about possibilities and I found the Ewha International Summer College 2021 program, wich was leaded by one of the most prestigious and internationally recognized universities in South Korea: Ewha Womans University. Along this path I had the support of the Ewha Foundation, who awarded me the Drs. Ira & Cindy Chang Hyun Shin Geer scholarship. This initiative is aimed at students at a local and global level, considering developing countries and constitutes a light of hope for those who want to access higher education. Without a doubt, the Ewha Foundation opened the doors to my desire to study about South Korea. This time I had the opportunity to participate in three courses. The first, Korean Cinema with Professor Nam Lee, which addresses cinema from its origins to contemporary times, its relationship with the globalized cultural industry, film analysis, and invites participants to develop a critical view of Korean audiovisual productions. The second, Gender Relations in Korea, led by Professor Jisun Song, which deals with the consequences of social conventions in the development of both men and women, as well as the adversities that women face, especially to develop and establish their fundamental rights, despite the social conventions that have dominated public discourse for years. And the third, North Korean: History, Politics and Society, by Professor Antonio Fiori, who from a broad perspective integrates us into this hermit nation with unique antecedents about Juche, its international ties and the dilemmas facing its society. All these classes were very interesting since they can be linked to my area of study, which is communications. In this sense, I can highlight how pleasant it has been to participate in the Korean film classes considering the external factors associated with the films. Such as the film The Host, by Bong Joong-ho, tells us about a monster in the Han River that captures a girl, but at the same time portrays Korean culture, the IMF currency crisis in 1997 or the Gwangju massacre. Then, from the perspective of Gender Relations in Korea, it has been significant to see the role of the media in the generation of stereotypes and the consequences that this can have on society, from the use of images to language, as well as the responsibility that communicators must assume in the construction of reality. Finally, the North Korea course was intriguing all the time given the nature of this nation, but especially from the point of view of the integration of propaganda in the cinema as a strategy to sustain Juche and also from the future challenges for this society, considering its social planning and succession, as well as its international relations that integrate areas such as the nuclear threat, the economic and food crisis or reunification. Undoubtedly participating in Ewha International Summer College 2021 has been a great opportunity to deepen about this nation, at the same time it has allowed me to share good moments with my teachers and colleagues from different countries who have made a great effort to deliver the best of each one. Although world conditions do not allow us to be together, the online modality has contributed to breaking down the barriers of distance, and has allowed us to also connect in a digital mode. Of course, I recommend that all future students apply to the program, do not lose faith and do everything possible to make your wishes come true. It will be great if we can stay in touch and that one day we can share together at Ewha University. Congratulations to all and thank you very much.
- 작성자
- 작성일2021.07.30
- 조회수606
2019 Ewha ISC (Session 1): Roseanne Alexandra Lalk from Utrecht University, the Netherlands

Speech Hi everyone! I’m Rose and I’ve been asked to hold a short speech for you. Our time here has finally come to an end… We’ve done so many things. It feels like I’ve been here a lot longer than a month. I’ve been to Namsan Tower, Lotte World. I’ve made kimchi, I even went to a raccoon cafe… . But you know what the funny thing is? I don’t think these will be the things I’ll remember most from my time here. What I will remember are not the big tourist attractions like Myeongdong or SM Town or even the DMZ, no matter how fun or interesting they were. What I will remember is “studying” in the lounge with my friends, and doing laundry with my friends at midnight. What I’ll remember is the time I met a former comfort woman, who wanted to change her outfit in the middle of our meeting because she wanted to wear her most beautiful clothes for us. What I’ll remember is all the kind elderly Korean people who always tried to help my friends and I on public transport, even if they didn’t speak English and we didn’t speak Korean and their help was not always necessary… I will also remember how inspiring my teachers were and how they motivated me to work harder for a program I wouldn’t even get credit for. And most importantly, I’ll remember the friends I made. I know, a little cheesy, but it’s true. The CB gang was formed our first day of the program and I just feel like I’ve known them for a much longer time than just a month. Being at Ewha was not just an experience that was a lot of fun, it has also given me a deeper understanding of Korea and issues that I was not aware of before I came here. Before I came here, I thought the concept of a women’s university was a little strange, and I chuckled a little at what I thought was a misspelling of the term “women’s university”. But being here has shown me how important to women’s roles in Korea a woman’s university was and is. When my gender relations professor took me to the Women’s History Museum here on campus, I was shocked in the best way to see so many photographs of a 100, 150 years ago, featuring mainly or only women in positions that I was normally used to only seeing men in. They were scholars, teachers, Ewha presidents. Ewha has shown me that it does not matter what gender, colour, sexuality, or age you are, you should always be allowed to follow your own path and defy the expectations that have been set for you. Being here has made me realize how lucky I am to be in my position and has motivated me to not just be in this privileged position but also help others who might not have the advantages that I have. I am sad that our time at Ewha has come to an end, but I’m sure we will meet again in the future. I thank you all for listening to my speech and I wish you a safe trip home.
- 작성자
- 작성일2020.04.01
- 조회수835
2019 Ewha ISC (Session 1): Andrew Joseph Lee from Duke University, USA

Speech Hi, I’m Andrew and I’m from Northern Virginia near D.C. I will be sharing my 3 one-word takeaways from Ewha. I hope these takeaways help you reflect on your time at Ewha too. First, culture is really important. To answer why I came to Ewha, it mostly has to do with family. My mom graduated from Ewha and I have a lot of family in Seoul, so I thought it would be cool to study and live in Korea for a bit. One main part of culture is language; but I’m sure a lot of us had trouble these last few weeks trying to buy something at a store or order an extra bowl of rice, sometimes we can just feel dumb right? I also came to Ewha expecting an international study abroad experience, that feeling of being a little out of place, the feeling of being a wehgoogin, but it was interesting that often I felt like a host when ordering food for my friends or navigating across Seoul. In this way, I felt like I was closer to the culture simply by being a heritage speaker. This helped remind me of how really important language is for culture. So I think it’s really awesome that a lot of us had the chance to learn Korean too to learn the culture. Another important part of culture is food! Food is just the best :) I’m sure we all had plenty of time to enjoy all the great food in the Korean cuisine, and I will for sure miss this part of Korean culture. My second takeaway is education – we are at school. As my first study abroad experience, Ewha was a unique learning experience both inside and outside the classroom. First, I learned to be audacious through my International Relations of North Korea with East Asian Countries class, as pictured here. It was amazing hearing lectures and stories from a professor who had been to North Korea on numerous occasions and who taught as an expert. And it was even cooler to be encouraged to make my own conclusions on how to solve the North Korean crisis. As a Korean, reunification is a personal interest too, and I’m glad to now truly understand what it will take. Outside the classroom, I learned a lot through field trips. At the House of Sharing pictured on the left, I felt like I encountered real history. Looking at the exhibitions about Japanese abuses to Korean women, it felt like just looking at the history I had already heard from my parents. But meeting one of the actual halmoni’s or grandmothers who survived Japanese abuse actually made the history feel more tangible. At the DMZ, I got to see the place only talked about it in class. It was really awesome seeing a lot of symbols of hope for reunification, like a photo gallery of meetings between the presidents. Also at Dorasan Station, I got to see the unused train track connecting the North and South, and just imagining what it would be like for people to casually go back and forth in the future was really meaningful. I think my education at Ewha taught me that you can only learn some things by going to a different context or being in a different country. My third and last takeaway is simply people. Most of life truly is the people you’re with and I’m glad to have met really good friends at Ewha. I actually had the chance to do a lot of tourism earlier this summer going to Thailand, Japan, and throughout Korea, and while traveling I realized that there’s only a certain extent to which visiting the places is really appealing. The places themselves have a limited amount of value, and the bulk of tourism is just hanging out or spending time with the people you’re with. Seoul has a lot to offer and it was awesome exploring Sinchon, the Han River, Namsan tower, Lotte World, food markets, and everything else in between, and I’m really thankful for the friends and chingoos that I could enjoy it with. This was just a snapshot of my experience at Ewha and what I am taking away. I hope these takeaways also help you think about what you’re going to take home from these last four weeks at Ewha. Thank you.
- 작성자
- 작성일2020.04.01
- 조회수810
2018 Ewha ISC (Session 1): Zouapang Yang

Speech Greetings everyone! I am ZouaPang Yang from the University of Wisconsin Madison located in the United States and today, I have the honor of leaving you all with this parting speech as our time at Ewha comes to an end. Can you believe it? We’ve finally made it. It feels as though we just moved in yesterday! Time really does fly in the blink of an eye. I want you to take a look at the people around you. Are they your friends? Are they your classmates? Take this time to reflect on the relationships you’ve built and all that you have accomplished here in Seoul. It has been pretty great witnessing the old ways of Korea from our field trip to the Folk Village, experiencing the modern way of life from our peace buddies--and other locals--and, probably for many of you, trying kimchi for the first time ever. I’ve been asked, “What is your favorite memory of Korea?” so many times and no matter what new seafood I try, late night runs I have to the GS25, or how many bike rides I take along the Han River, my answer will always be the same. I will never forget the amazing friends I’ve made. It’s even more amazing how each of us lead different lives back at home but programs like this one can unite us with the goals to better our education. By enrolling in this summer exchange program, you challenged yourself. So I now must ask you, what will you do with the knowledge and experience you’ve gained? What will you share about the merits of international academic programs like Ewha’s Summer College? As citizens of the world we have a responsibility to become disciplined in honoring differences and embracing them as variations of human nature. Whether you meet someone who has a different religion, someone who identifies as LGBTQ, someone with a different socioeconomic background, or simply, someone who is different from you, we must first, always, have respect because people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. I have much to learn but I do know one thing: we are the future. Therefore, I challenge each and every one of you to share all the things you have learned from your experience here and inspire your peers to become citizens of the world as well so that we may create a better world for everyone. Empower others with what you’ve been empowered by to come here today. I congratulate you all on a successful completion of this program and wish you all a safe travel home. Thank you.
- 작성자
- 작성일2019.01.07
- 조회수1121
2018 Ewha ISC (Session 1): Emily Yi

in a Starbucks writing this, in a remote town in north New Jersey. Back home after a little over a month of being in Korea, but it doesn’t quite feel like home anymore. Before I left for Korea, I never really realized that sometimes I would be the only person of color in a store. But while in Korea, I was surrounded by people who looked like me and who spoke my native language. I’m listening to K-pop right now, and it almost feels… surreal. It almost feels as if I’m in my own bubble, surrounded by my “foreignness”, despite living in America for almost 19 years. To summarize my time in Korea, I should start with the beginning. Being on the plane to Korea was an experience in itself – I was shocked that the flight attendants spoke to me in Korean (although, in retrospect, what else would they have spoken?) and once I heard the captain say over the loudspeaker that we had landed at Incheon, my heart was pounding in my chest. My uncle greeted me as soon as I exited into the airport’s main area and I immediately felt overwhelmed with emotions. I don’t often watch Korean dramas, but one I did watch when I was younger (You Are My Destiny or 너는 내 운명) had a scene where a mother is waiting in Incheon Airport for her daughter to come back home and happened to be filmed in the exact same spot that I had come out of. I was also meeting my uncle for the first time in years – my parents said that the last time I had seen any of my family in Korea was back when I was a baby. I had only ever heard stories about them from my dad but I had never paid them any attention. One of the first things I did in Korea was go to Gyeongbok Palace. My cousin took me before dropping me off at the Ewha dormitories and tried his best to explain what each building was and the history behind the palace. Despite how hot it was, several tourists were wearing hanbok. The dresses were beautifully embroidered and decorated, and I wanted to wear one, although the rational part of my brain won over and said it was way too hot outside to wear such thick clothing. The only time in my life I’ve ever worn hanbok was when I was in elementary school and had a multicultural festival that was focused on Asia. I wore the hanbok to school but eventually ended up changing into a t-shirt and leggings because I felt so isolated. But walking through Gyeongbokgung, I was the one in jeans while other girls were proudly wearing hanbok. (I still took pictures anyway.) On the first Ewha field trip, I had the opportunity to witness traditional performances and outfits at the Korean folk village. The performances were fun and lively, contrasting the soothing images of nature surrounding the village. The quiet beauty of it all was peaceful. My first weekend in Korea was spent with my family – I remember taking the subway to Yeongdeungpo Office station and was surprised at how clean the subway cars were. After a failed attempt to go to the Han River park (it started pouring as we were walking along the river, forcing us to take shelter by a convenience store), my uncle and aunt took me to a Korean barbecue place to eat 삼겹살 and I was reminded of the Korean barbecue places back home in the US. I could go on and detail every single experience I had in Korea (going to Myeongdong, doing an escape the room puzzle for the first time, my first time going to a PC bang, my first time doing karaoke, going to an EXO concert, eating at the restaurant at the top of N Seoul Tower, etc.,) but this essay would drag on and become repetitive. It’s super cliché to say that my study abroad experience changed me and I hate describing it as a so-called “magical experience” but there definitely has been a shift in how I perceive myself as a member of the Korean diaspora. For years, I’ve felt as if I’ve been “faking it” as a Korean – I refused to learn the language growing up, I refused to eat Korean food like 김치찌개 or 순두부찌개, and I definitely was not interested in any aspect of Korean history or culture. That’s all on me, but growing up in a predominantly white town where anything that didn’t conform to the “norm” was considered weird was stifling to any attempts at connecting with my ethnicity. I was so afraid of being Korean, of being “different” that I cut myself off until college, which is when I realized that it’s okay to not be just “American”. I’m not nationally Korean – spending a month there and trying to adjust to all the cultural differences taught me that real quick – but I’m not wholly American either, like I wanted to be while growing up. That doesn’t mean I don’t wonder about what life would be like if I hadn’t been adopted and brought over to the US. I mentioned that it’d be nice to visit the city of Suwon (where I was born) and a week later, I was in a car with my aunt and uncle driving there. I don’t really know what I expected, but I didn’t feel as if it was any different from Seoul. I found myself imagining my birth mother walking through the streets, and a small part of my brain imagined myself growing up there, walking with her. Despite this, I didn’t feel like I truly belonged there in Korea – I felt as if there was always something distinctly “foreign” about me. But I still reveled in the fact that everyone had the same features I did and spoke the same language my parents sometimes spoke at home. I wasn’t a minority for once, and that alone made me feel something akin to belonging. I’m a Korean adoptee. I was given the blessing of being raised by Korean parents, but I grew up more “American” than anything else. This trip to Korea gave me something – inner strength, perhaps? – something I needed in order to be able to reclaim the Korean half of Korean-American. I’m still reconciling the differences between Korea and America, and I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I won’t be going back for a while. But I’m determined to become more fluent in Korean in hopes that maybe I can spend a gap year in Seoul after I graduate college and explore more of this newfound part of myself. I want to thank Ewha for the opportunity to visit the country where I was born and have fun while taking classes with the field trips. If I have the opportunity to participate in the International Summer College again, I definitely will. To end this, here are some of my favorite pictures that I took in the month I spent there.
- 작성자
- 작성일2019.01.07
- 조회수1299