Five weeks at Jiguchon seemed long at first glance, but time flew. Especially the last week felt so short, and we repeatedly said “I don’t want to leave.” This week’s class was very different from the previous ones. We taught 예비반, which had a wide range of students who cannot speak Korean well yet. Except for a few Chinese students and English speakers, most of the students spoke many different languages. We were surprised to find that some of them came to Korea only a few weeks ago. Their family situations also varied; some of them flew by themselves to meet their parents, and a lot of their families were still separated since they have not fully settled down. They seemed more reserved probably because they were at the stage of making new friends and adjusting to the new environment. Since we had more language barriers, we had to actively use translators. I downloaded Mongolian and Russian keyboards to communicate with the girls in my class. It took a lot longer to even talk about basic things, but I was thankful that at least we were able to talk to each other and have them engaged. I cannot even imagine how hard it would be if you cannot understand anyone around you, and I think we need more places like Jiguchon where kids from diverse backgrounds are welcomed.
And it’s a wrap!
The last farewell was hard but I’m sure it will remain as one of the most fulfilling and memorable memories. I will never forget the cheers and smiles they all showed when we went into the cafeteria. For elementary school, we had a presentation for each grade to recap their classes; first/second grade sang ABC song, third/fourth grade sang and dance to Cupid by fifty-fifty, and fifth/sixth grade danced Ddu-du Ddu-du by Blackpink. Each presentation was really short but we could feel the bonds we have built and shared through the month with each one of them. Saying the last goodbye was even harder than I imagined. I could not hold my tears when I saw tears in the students’ eyes. A little boy who barely answered my short Chinese sentences told me “Wǒ yě xiǎngjiàn nǐ,” which means “I will miss you too.” A girl who was in 예비반 and who was always cheerful became really sad that we were leaving so soon, so I promised her that I’ll come back later when I come back to Korea. I hugged as many students as I could and we all went downstairs to say goodbye when the school class ended.
For middle/high school, we actually had a more joyful farewell party. Students presented amazing dances, songs, and a musical, and we also had a full list of talent shows. We had less than ten class periods with the students, but we became more like friends. Jiguchon’s teachers prepared a barbecue party for us, so we grilled meats together and had a great dinner. The chaotic but incredible energy of the school and students are still so vivid.
To be honest, I cannot believe we are not going back to Jiguchon the next week. However, I know I can go back to see them when I come home. Jun, from the last Duke Engage Korea team, visited Jiguchon on our last day, and a lot of the students recognized and welcomed him. It is a privilege that I can also do that in the future, so I will take that advantage and come back as I promised. I will miss everyone so much, but until the next time we meet, I really hope the best for everyone. Thank you so much Jiguchon!!’
– Kathy Lee
