Dear Prospective Study Abroad Student,

Usually, on a July 4th, I would spend time with my family and friends in Houston, but in the spring of 2005, I took the road less traveled. I stood with my eyes closed as the warm morning sun embraced me and I began to breathe in the fresh air. When I opened my eyes, "greenness" surrounded me as if I was standing in a surreal painting. All I could see were fields of green pepper, corn, soybean trees and tobacco plants. I waited for Young Suk to finish getting ready so we could go help her father uproot the weeds from part of soybean plant section in the field. Later on, we all rode on a tractor with her father to go to the ancestral memorial site to clean up that area. That was one of the most enriching moments in South Korea.

On July 9th, Young Suk and I went took a train visit her sister, Young Bit in another city a few hours away from Seoul. There, I met four intelligent and adorable elementary school-age children: Park Hanna, Kim Su Hun, Kim Song Hun, and Kim Su Yun. I sat down with Young Suk, Young Bit and the children to practice reading a Korean story. I tried to read along and pronounce a few Korean words. Later on, I was able to teach the children a short English song, "Father I adore you." It was a wonderful exchange of dialogue because the children already knew some English and they were teaching me Korean. These children became my teachers.

Studying abroad for a semester allowed me to make long lasting friendships, particularly with Young Suk. We actually met in my study abroad in Vietnam through a class at Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language for Foreigners. However, as the summertime approached, she invited me to come to her country to visit. There is no doubt in my mind that if it was not for my study abroad program, I would not have been able to gain such a wonderful friend as well as experience her culture in her country. In particular, I remember being able to visit Young Suk's mother and father and spending time on her farm.

Feel free to contact me at nguyentq@stthom.edu and visit the website for Vietnam National University below.

Sincerely,

Tram "Chum" Nguyen



Contact information: (They both speak and write fluent English)

(1) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Secretary: Miss Duyen Hai Bui
Department of Vietnamese Studies
and Vietnamese Language for Foreigners (VNS)
University of Social Sciences & Humanities (USSH) - Vietnam National University
HCM City
+ Address: 10-12 Dinh Tien Hoang, District 1, HCM City
+ Tel: 84-8-8225009
+ Fax: 84-8-8229390
+ Email: vietnamhoc@hcm.vnn.vn
+Website: www.vietnamese-language.com.vn


(2) Hanoi, Vietnam

Staff: Mr. Min Van Pham or Ms. Thuy Anh
International Cooperation Office
University of Social Sciences and Humanities
336, Nguyen Trai St, Thanh Xuan Dist, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (844) 858-3798, Fax: (844) 858-3821
Email: qhqt_xhnv@vnu.edu.vn
Website: www.ussh.edu.vn/gioithieu_en.htm



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