Working with the Dongseo University students has taught me several lessons.  I am reminded of the R&H lyrics from "Getting to Know You."   When you become a teacher, by your students you are taught. 
  While there are many similarities in higher education with what is consistent in the states, South Korea does offer some differences. This past weekend, I was invited to participate in MT, or Membership Training. I was told   it is a weekend retreat which is a part of all college programs and that it  ( like almost all activities in Korea) involves food and drink.    While I was skeptical as to the point of such a retreat, I was pleasantly surprised by attending.    Yes, there was alcohol, beer and soju, the almost constant beverages here in Busan but the focus was on togetherness and team building, not drinking.  18 is the legal drinking age in Korea. Many college students are older due to mandated military service of 2 years for the men.  So, nothing illegal was going on.  Dongseo is a Christian university so there's a big difference with religiously founded school's in the USA. The administration does not   deny the use of alcohol by students.   
 When I arrived, with another Professor around 6 pm on Saturday night, the retreat was in full swing.    About 40 students had gathered in a large hotel room efficiency. I was told the area and hotels are popular choices for MT training. The room was large, had a kitchen at one end and three bedrooms off the main room. The room was really a large apartment set up for  40 or 50 people to meet. Small folding tables were set up and everyone was cooking and eating. We were ushered to the head table. Here's where the " Training" comes in; Freshman students serve and follow the instructions of upper-class men and women ( women, mostly!) and the Junior / Senior students serve and wait on the faculty and guests.  The food was delicious and each table had a portable butane grill, where a student grilled meats and veggies.  After dinner, the seniors managed the freshmen in cleaning of all dishes, folding and dismantling tables, sweeping floor, etc.. It was an army of freshmen, proving they were Team players and efficient workers. 
 Once the room was cleared, all gathered for games. The game programming was  coordinated by 2 freshmen guys. I was informed it is a great honor to be assigned this  task. The had a selection of games-including a version of charades, in English for my honor, and  some fun party games I had never played.  We picked teams and team captains and all laughed for about 3 hours of play.  Yes, there was a winning team and ultimately a winning player.  He was told that his grand prize was a wonderful meal- which he had just eaten! Very cute.   Now  we left around 10 pm and the students stayed through the night, so there were activities that I did not see.  But all in all, a fun experience and a look into the respect for elders factor that influences all things Korean.

So this past weekend, 2 friends came to visit. Erika Kissam and Swon Lee, both  KSU alum and classmates from years ago.    I took them to the Dongseo campus to see the beautiful building. Here is the roof garden on the 6th floor. Everything at Dongseo is immaculate and as the building is only 2 years old, state of the art.

Swon is a native Korean and so she took us on a culinary tour of Busan.  We started Friday night with an excellent sushi restaurant. But Saturday was the triple crown and I could barely keep up, due to a bug I was fighting.  We started with a traditional Korean breakfast at the fish market. The fish was so fresh and pan-fried right from the boats.  My only struggle was sitting on the floor under the traditional low Korean table. Damn these thighs.  For lunch, we went to a  beautiful  Korean  dining room (with chairs!) and had an 8 course feast consisting of  young Ginseng roots, a snail soup, grilled prawns, and traditional Korean pancakes including red bean, mushroom and pumpkin. 
 By dinner time, I was still stuffed, yet we had traditional  Bulgogi, or grilled meat. ( Korean bar be que).  

Sunday we started rehearsing for the MAC theater production and went to all eat chicken after rehearsals. Korean love to eat and drink.  I need to pace myself for the long haul. 

Cherry blossoms are everywhere in Busan right now. Yesterday I went for a hike in the mountains behind Dongseo campus.  There are excellent trails with vistas of Busan  and  a few natural mineral springs just minutes from the campus. Judging from the number of hikers I  met, these trails are very popular.  Yesterday was a gorgeous day for hiking and seeing spring blossoms.

Along the trail there are exercise stations. These are outdoors, well maintained  and popular with the senior citizens. Instead of playground equipment for kids, Korea offers  adult recreation and fitness.  Most of the stations are located at a natural spring, so you can get mineral water and fitness.  I found these  outdoor gyms amazing, and stopped at this one to do a few  reps among the cherry blossoms.

 It is the end  of my 1st week here in Busan.    Running hot water and internet have been works in progress, as the  building I’m living in ( ironically named the New Millennium  Tower) had
problems with both. But  break is over, classes have begun and a new day  brings welcome hot water.   
  
I do have a stunning view of western  Busan. 

  I’m becoming  fairly familiar  with the subway system, purchased a metro debit card and
actually have  taken a few buses. There is very little English signage in
Busan, although the subway system is in English. The Busan subways are sparkling
clean and quite well organized. Each station has numbered exits, and directions
to businesses are listed by exit number. And at $1.20 a ride, it puts NYC to
  shame.  
   I  have also met beautiful new students... 
 The Dongseo Theatre students are delightful, and remind me so much of our  Kent kids at
home. Today, they told me I remind them of Santa Claus and Olaf from Frozen, so
clearly they have no idea who I am!  For the senior class we are working
Children of Eden as their final project with an ensemble of
underclasspersons. Auditions are next week and the same  perplexity
applies. 

While I am  teaching sophomores and seniors, they are mostly in their mid
 20’s.   Several of the men in class have just  completed  2 years of mandatory military service.
They all are, infectiously  enthusiastic. Most of them speak English well
enough to get the gist of my meandering  musings. I also have 
designated student interpreters  who are modestly efficient.
  The Theatre campus is a 45 minute commute ( by shuttle bus) from the
main campus and is a state of the art facility in the  Cultural Center
(Big Bucks $$$)  section of the city. 
  I met  the artist director of Mac theatre  and
start rehearsals for both plays in the next week. - all in all, things are
moving forward and although I have been busy, I miss everyone. 
 


 
 

 
And while it is cold
windy, it’s not below freezing and...NO SNOW! I see camellias in
bloom and azaleas are budding.  Sort of  Myrtle beach meets  the
Rocky Mountains.


 

click link above to find e-inside article about  the partnership
with Dongseo University

I arrived in South Korea on March 1st. Have spent the last few days over-coming  jet lag, I now can concentrate on what I will be doing for the next 4 months. Dongseo University is a beautiful campus  high  on the hillside overlooking   Busan.The photo below is  the view from my room. Busan is a large city of 4 million and I have only met 5 so far.  All wonderful folk! Having been through immigration and  set up needed accounts, not to mention riding the metro and  climbing these hills, I am starting to feel acclimated.  Today I will meet other theatre faculty  at the  second campus, where I will be teaching.
 It is early March and already I see a few buds of trees opening. Very exciting!

 So I arrive in South Korea on  March 1st and start teaching on March 3rd. I am working with students  of Dongseo University in Busan.  Here's a link to their site.