Month: November 2019

November 15, 2019 4 – 8pm

Social Event

For this trip IA Scholars went to the Columbus Zoo with scholars from other scholars groups. I personally spent the evening with Ryann from IA and member from Humanities Scholars. To get into the Zoo for free, we had to bring 5 canned goods to donate. I had a lot of fun! I was able to meet new people and see a lot more animals than I thought we would.

This relates to International Affairs because, IA is all about communication. Even though we are from different Scholars groups, we were still able to talk and have a fun time. We also saw, and learned about so many different animals. The lights were really fun to see, as well.

I was able to benefit from this trip because I met so many new people. I was really surprised! I was able to step out of my comfort zone and spent the whole night with people I had just met. It was so much fun! It made me feel proud of myself for doing it. I was also happy to be able to donate so much. Donating is extremely important, especially as we get close to the winter season. As it gets colder, more people need, so to be able to donate made me really happy.

 

November 2, 2019 and November 10, 2019

Campus Event Reflection

Parasite is a Korean movie by the same director that directed the movie Snowpiercer. In this movie, there are two families. One that is rich, the Parks; and one that is poor, the Kims. The Kims end up manipulating the Parks into hiring all of them without realizing they are related. The whole movie is about the division in class.

The Kim Family lives in a half basement, while the Parks live in a huge home. The Kims literally live under the richer, who have the homes above ground. This shows the idea that the poor live under the rich. Without the rich, the poor would not have a place to live. Later in the film, it is revealed to the Kims that the former housekeeper was keeping her husband alive in the underground bomb shelter in the Parks home. And finally, at the end of the film, we learn that the father of the Kim Family is living in that same bomb shelter. This shows that their is always someone living under the rich, literally and figuratively. The husband of the housekeeper is even seen thanking the father of the Park Family and eventually, we see the father of the Kim Family do the same.

This movie shows how, in our society, the rich cannot survive without the poor being under them. Whether it be literally, like when the original housekeeper is hired and the mother of the Park Family is struggling to just keep the dishes clean; and therefore, hiring the mother of the Kim family. Or like in the finally moments when we see that, yet again, another person living under the noses of another, new family in the Park household. It relates to International Affairs because it shows the division of class in South Korea.

I do have a couple questions. I wish it was explained how the former housekeeper got so beat up when she returns. She tells her husband that she will tell him later when he asks about it, but that never has the chance to happen once they find out about the Kims manipulation. Did she maybe get beat up by the loan sharks that are after her husband, or did something else happen to her? I also want to know what happens to the friend that gave the main character his way into the Park Family. Does he return and find out what happens? Is he still friends with the main character? Does he find the daughter from the Park Family?

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. I even saw it twice! Because I am a Korean Major, this movie was even more beneficial for me. I was able to see sort of what’s the situation with class is like in South Korea. And, I was also able to hear more native speakers have conversations and use slang words.

I definitely recommend this movie, if you haven’t seen it!

November 3, 2019 12:15 – 3 pm

Social Event Reflection

I had initially signed up for this event solely because I wanted to see the Book Loft. However, I got so much more! Our tour guide knew some much about the history of the village; I was so surprised. I thought we might just walk around and he would point out different buildings and tell us what they were. He did that, but he also told us so much history. I learned that it is a historic district so the outsides of building cannot be changed. He told us that the homes there are so expensive and that some people have even connected homes and turned them in to one big one. One family even bought the old Catholic School building and the parking lot next to it and turned it into their house! And they didn’t stop there; they put a garage underground! I was so surprised how wealthy everyone there is.

He also told us history. Did you know the original Max and Erma’s was in German Village. Sadly, they recently sold it, but it really did start there. He showed us where there are big stones by the rode and said that’s what people used to step up into horse drawn carriages. He just told us so much more than I thought he would. I definitely recommend going on one of his tours if you get the chance!

This event relates to International Affairs because he old us the history of the German people. Especially during the World Wars, it was really hard for them. By having such a historic place we are able to look back at old times and see where we have come and need to go internationally.

I had a great time and I will definitely be going back to German Village in the future!

October 26, 2019 10am – 1pm

Service Event Reflection

At this event I was able to help paint the walls in an elementary school in the Columbus Area. I was with other IA scholars and students from the school, who were grades 2 – 5. We all worked together to paint an inspirational saying and trees that would later be filled with leaves with different positive affirmations. Students at the school would be able to take a leaf when they are having a difficult day. I felt good knowing that students at the school would have something to make them smile when they needed it.

This event relates to International Affairs because service is important to remind us to help others. In International Affairs a lot of times people forget that things need to be done to help people not just benefit one country or the other. It is for the people living in those countries that should be thought of. By going to this event, I was reminded of those that just need a positive message for the day. We were able to give that to that school that day. I hope that the students there love it!

We got to see the some of the kids who went to the school and that made it more special for me. It wasn’t just some random painting in a school hallway. It was something that would make these kids happy. When we first got there in the morning a lot of the kids were pretty shy. However, by just lunch break, most of them were really talkative and funny. I appreciated the experience more because I got to interact with the kids. I even remember one kid standing back and saying, “I painted this!” Him saying that made me feel good about what I had done, too.