SNU Spotlight: Serena Pham "Staying in Korea...(cont)"

Name: Serena Pham
Age: 22
ISI Year: 2009
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Current Location: Massachusetts  

Continuing on with our series and changing things up a little bit, we have our first female Serena Pham.  Serena has been living in Korea for the past two summers and will be there again for an entire year as Fullbright Scholar.   

PL: Hello. As I always like to start, what is the best memory of your SNU ISI stay in Korea
SP: During my SNU ISI stay in Korea, I didn't get to stay at Stay Seven hotel with other ISI-ers. I definitely missed out on those bonding moments with my classmates.
Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the Arts and Crafts class. I had a great time using my creativity through my drawing to make fun of my TA (Mr. Hyeongjin Oh) and other classmates: Everything became diseased.

PL: Haha! I miss the T.A's and especially making fun of Mr Oh too! Any interesting talents, weird habits, funny facts about yourself?
SP: I don't have any interesting talents or worth-mentioning weird habits, but a fact about myself is that I grew up in a very multi-cultural environment: Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish, American and Ethiopian.
 
PL: Wow...wow.  Getting back to the topic, what are you in Korea for?
SP: As a Fulbrighter, I am going to be in Korea for a year to study Public Health and do research on Alzheimer's Disease at SNU, while attempting to complete my Korean study. In addition, in the previous two summers, I have been working with orphanages in Seoul and Gyeonggi-dong. This year, with the support of the Fulbright Program, I hope to finish this project to provide an English-speaking and healthy environments for these children. If you're going to be in Seoul and love to teach English and play with children? Contact me! I'm sure you'll have great times with the children. They're absolutely wonderful!
 
PL: Growing up in a very multi-cultural environment, why'd you choose to continue studying/working in Korea?
SP: Originally, I wanted to go to Korea to study Korean simply for self-enrichment purposes, and hopefully, the language skill can help me to assist North Korean refugees as a humanitarian doctor in the future. However, soon after I arrived Korea, I found myself full-time committed to my orphanage project.

PL: Best and worst aspects about living in Korea? Any favorite places to go? Any tips or words of wisdom to fellow ISI'ers who are considering or will stay in Korea for an extended stay like you?

 
SP: Best thing about living in Korea? The food! For pacheon lovers - Near Hwe-ki station, there's an entire street that sells pacheon only. They're delicious and inexpensive.
The worst thing about living in Korea, especially in the summer is the heat and the moisture. I definitely had a hard time with Korea summer weather, especially coming from a very dry land - Colorado.
My favorite place to go to in Korea is Hangang gongwon at Yeoido.
Tips to fellow ISI-ers : Korea has many beautiful parks, and you know you want to straddle in one fine afternoon, when the heat is not wicked. But the tranquil moment is suddenly ruined because an ahjumma bumped into you (and mumbled something unpleasantly at you)?  Or, you live far away from the beautiful SNU campus and have to take subway to school everyday? But you are in fear of ahjumma, especially after seeing their mastered technique of claiming seats on subway? Yes, ahjummas can be very intimidating. One thing I learned after living in Korea for two consecutive summers is that if you are with a foreign-looking friend, ahjummas will make ways for you. They even smile at you. It's surprisingly amazing, I know. So if you happen to look Asian, it's not a bad idea to drag your foreign-looking friends with you. The down side is...you have to endure their stares for awhile.
 
PL: A love-hate relationship with ajuhmmas. :) Any future plans?
SP: My future plan is first of all, to go to Korea and stay for a year to study Public Health, do research and complete my Korean study and my orphanage project. Then I will return to the States to work for the government, hopefully U.S. Agency for International Development, to fulfill my Boren scholarship service requirement. After that, I will dutifully sign a >10-year marriage contract with medical school.

PL: Sounds like a good plan to me.  Thank you for your time Serena.  On behalf on the the alumni network, congratulations on your accomplishment and we wish you the best of luck with your studies and your orphanage project.

  

FYI, 2010 alumni Pablo Barrera, also awarded a Fullbright Scholarship, will be spending his upcoming year in Korea. As you can see from just the first 3 posts, SNU ISI brings together talented people from all over who have the potential to be leaders in their carious fields.  As I bring these people to view, I hope you guys have the platform to connect with people with similar passions so that our one summer in Korea was not just a memorable experience, but a great investment as well.  

-PEACE!✌ 

SNU Spotlight: Staying in Korea...

Name: Mark Sim
Age:  24 (International) 26 (Korean)
ISI year: 2009
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Current location: Seoul, ROK


Hello! Sorry for the delay and thank you for your patience.  After searching for different platforms, I believe this site will work out best.  I am still new to the blogging world, so please bare with me as I get myself acquainted.  Your tips and suggestions will be helpful.  
As the title of this post says, I will be interviewing alumni's who decided to continue their studies in Korea.  This short series is intended to be of help and interest to the many others who are planning to do the same...so with that, let's find out a little bit more about Mark Sim.




PL: Hey Mark, what was the best memory of your SNU ISI stay in Korea?
    
MS: All my memories of ISI were the best. It's really hard to choose one since they all kind stand out for me! My fondest memory was the night of my birthday. I remember I was in another ISI student's room talking about something to do with the program when we decided to make our way back to my room. I was sharing a room with Tim Song and for some reason the halls were really empty and quiet. Usually there were always a few of us lounging around talking and getting to know one another. As we walked down the hall, the door to my room was open and it was dark inside. I didn't think anything of it and walked in. All of a sudden the lights were turned on and there were 15 other ISI students (all people I miss!) inside my room with a cake screaming happy birthday at the top of their lungs! I was really surprised and touched by the whole thing. There was even a cake and people took a lot of pictures too. This one student Janice then took a slice of cake and rubbed it over my face as kind of a happy birthday thing which was funny for everyone, including me! I had lots of fun during the ISI and miss everyone!

PL: It's definitely not a true birthday celebration unless you get caked! How about any interesting talents, weird habits, funny facts about yourself?

MS: I can play moonlight sonata on the piano with my eyes closed.

PL: So this current Spotlight series is on ISI Alumni who decided to stay in Korea for whatever reason. What are you in Korea for?

MS: Right now I am a graduate student at SNU in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Regional Information, Sustainable Development and Applied Economics Lab. My thesis topic is so far revolving around affordable housing development and how growth management policy plays a role in its creation.

PL: Why'd you choose to continue your studies in Korea?

MS: I was fortunate enough to have been chosen for graduate studies in Korea and decided to take advantage of my opportunity to study here. SNU is considered the top academic institution in Korea so being able to study in Korea at SNU is a once in a life time opportunity. Also, being a foreign born Korea, I've always wanted to get the full on Korean experience so I can better understand my culture and learn the language.

PL: You are truly making the most of your opportunities. Now let's get to know you a little better.  What is the best and worst thing about living in Korea? Any favorite places to go? Any tips or words of wisdom to fellow ISI'ers who are considering or will stay in Korea for an extended stay like you?

MS:
Best: The people here are really nice. Korean food in general is dirt cheap compared to the prices back home. The costs of living here is fairly low if you consider things like the costs of food, drink and entertainment. Rent can be cheap too.

Worst: I really miss the little things like deli meats, really good bread and pizza from back home the most. Mostly I just miss certain types of food. Also prepare for lots of culture shock.

Favourite Places: Pizzeria UNO (COEX) deep dish Chicago style pizza! 대학로 near 혜화 station on the blue line (4). Tons of places to go eat, drink and catch a movie or play.

Words of wisdom: Never forget where you were born (America, Canada, Singapore etc) because it helps you to keep grounded when you are facing all the culture shock. Always remember that you are in a foreign country so act accordingly. Don't be shy about eating new food and trying new things! Eat as much as possible and do as much as possible during the ISI program. 

PL: Lastly, what are your future plans?

MS: Right now I am also working part time as a retail planning/development consultant (think Centum City, Central City, Lotte, etc etc kinds of places) and will probably be doing that full time after I complete my degree here. I'm hoping to be able to work for a few more years in Korea, Hong Kong, China, Japan and pretty much everywhere else in Asia for the next few years.

PL: Well Mark, thank you for your time and we hope that you may constantly endeavor through whatever life brings so that you have a successful and joyous life.

(At the top of Gwanak-San, mountain next to SNU)

Am I the only one who thinks he looks like Chan-Ho Park?


-PEACE!✌ 

SNU Spotlight Timothy Song

Name: Timothy Song
Age: 23
Current Location: Boston, Massachusetts USA
ISI Year: 2009



I had the privilege to interview my fellow 2009 SNU ISI studly classmate Timothy Song. Tim is currently a consultant and an aspiring Mixed Martial Arts fighter. Keep your eyes and ears open because Tim might be coming out on a Pay Per View near you!  Check out the few questions I asked him...


PL: What was the best memory of your stay in Korea?

TS: The last night of the program we went out partying in our favorite spot in Hong Dae, JunCo.  We ate a lot, drank a lot, and just hung out with the same crew that we became very close to during the trip.  Lots of talking and laughing.  After JunCo, we all headed over to Ho Bar, which was a spot we found on our first night in Seoul.  We had a great time, hanging out, wearing bunny ears, playing truth or dare like little kids.  Finally, after that, we left and ate Ssang Gyup Sal at 4am with everyone to end the night.  Just a great great way to end an excellent trip.

PL: What are you doing now and how did you get into it?  Any future career plans and dreams?

TS: Consulting, Website Maintenance, got the job through networking through my grandfather and other past internships.  Future career plans? Nothing specific yet, but I hope to make lots of money! (Who doesn't?) I think happiness is priceless so I'm going to try to find a career that makes me happy as well as makes me money.

PL: Any interesting talents, weird habits, funny facts about yourself?

TS: Started doing MMA 2 years ago.  4-0 as a fighter.  Last fight was a 0:37 knockout!

PL: Any words for potential students who are contemplating SNU ISI?
 
TS: Advice? Make sure they take advantage of being in one of the coolest cities/countries in the world! Live a little!!! Study (not) and have fun! Do everything Seoul has to offer 

PL: Any words of wisdom or anything else you would like to share or recommend to fellow ISI'ers?

TS: If you're ever in Boston, check out www.madfreetime.com/blog and you can find lots of cool stuff to do!!!







Thank you once again Tim! I know it might be a little awkward, but if you want to get to know Tim more, feel free to contact him directly though FB.  That's what this ISI network is all about.


If you feel like you are "interesting" enough, supporting a cause/awareness, etc.  and would like to be recognized on The Spotlight or want to recommend someone, please message me.  I also want to hear your recommendations, suggestions (such as questions to be asked), and anything else you would like to see on this page.

-PEACE!✌