Dave Ogilvie
Members of the Golden Age Manor “Country Club” in Emo, along with interested members of the community, were treated to an exceptional “tour” of South Korea by Joanna Esselink last Wednesday.
After spending a year teaching on the other side of the world, Esselink had many humorous stories about adapting to the new culture and language.
Esselink obviously fell in love with the Korean people and their culture. After opening with a traditional Korean greeting, she explained how she began getting used her new surroundings by taking a course in the Korean language.
Later, she exchanged languages lessons with a co-worker who spoke Korean and wanted to improve her English.
Esselink also spoke with enthusiasm about the friendliness of the people, their deep respect for their elders, and their seemingly insatiable appetite for learning.
“The children I taught went to regular school in the morning, came to me for English in the middle of the afternoon, and then went to special academies in the evening to learn special skills in dance, music, sports, etc.,” she recalled.
Esselink also explained how the food is totally different from what we’re used to in Canada.
It took her a while to grow accustomed to the spicy food in South Korea, but eventually she mastered the use of chop sticks and started eating the local cuisine.
Those on hand also were given a short history lesson about how the people have suffered from the occupation of the country throughout their history.
Esselink spoke about the ongoing tension between North and South Korea. She visited many areas of South Korea, including the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), which is an area that separates the two warring countries.
“The South Korean people are very proud of how they’ve rebuilt their country over the last 60 years,” Esselink enthused.
South Korea today is a modern, technologically-advanced country. Although there still are many historical buildings, and their culture remains based on traditional values, the country now is a world leader in manufacturing, science, and technological innovations.
Following Esselink’s presentation, everyone was served tea, coffee, dainties, and “Kimchi-flavoured” noodles (kimchi is a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings).
There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi made with a main vegetable ingredient such as cabbage, radish, green onions, or cucumber, Esselink explained.
Everyone enjoyed the South Korean treat and the presentation, showing their approval with a warm round of applause.
