Students get first taste of Korea

GUNPO, South Korea — "Yes! I'm finally here! I can't believe I'm actually in Korea! This is so cool!" Spencer Graham said in uncontrolled excitement as he disembarked the 777 that had carried him and the nine other Grant County Ambassadors across the Pacific.

Outside the Incheon Airport the host students and dignitaries from Gunpo waved hands and signs of welcome.

"We are beginning to see the fruit of the years," said Gunpo's exchange coordinator, Young-mi Cho. Host students from last year's trip had asked to come be a part of the welcoming committee, running forward to give hugs like they were family returning home. New hosts and students found each other and soon laughter and exclamations echoed across the concrete as they waited for the bus.

The schedule for the next 11 days will be rigorous, but as the students went off to their 'homestay' there was no anxiety.

"They seem well prepared. Very relaxed and happy," Young-mi commented in slight awe.

After seven months of preparation and fund-raisers, they should be. Brittany Milligan, Cari Cortez, Christopher Paul, Hanna Green, Brendan Brooks and Marshall Kirkpatrick of Moses Lake and Matt Kottong and Spencer Graham of Warden were chosen in February from a pool of applications and were interviewed by members of the Grant County Economic and Cultural Exchange board. Since then they have participated in several cultural orientations on etiquette, food, expectations, culture (dress, habits, traditions, styles) and language.

Gathering at the courthouse the following morning, slightly bleary-eyed from jet lag, there was still the undercurrent of excitement as the students boarded the bus, and it continued throughout two days of activities. Activities which have included touring the Last King's Palace, The Blue House (like America's White House), and meeting the newly elected Mayor, Jae-young Ro, who presented each student with a ghee embroidered with their names.

Mayor Ro was impressed by Grant County student interest in him and not simply Gunpo or his office.

"Your students are very personable," he told chaperone Deea Paul through an interpreter, "they ask about me, not about policy or the weather. I am blessed to know they take interest in the people, that means they will make good friends and lifetime memories."

Chaperone Carol Green presented him with a limited edition drawing of the courthouse and told him Grant County is looking forward to his visit this Fall.

After eating lunch with the ambassadors, Mayor Ro said, "It is good to be with the energy and appetites of youth! Please tell me all about your visit and your observances when we see each other again next Friday."

There will be many observations between now and July 28. Suwon Palace, a military arts exhibition, English classes at Gunpo High School, visiting the demilitarized zone and folk village, riding rides in Everland, Tae-kwon-do, shopping, and seeing the National Museum along with homestay experiences, bus rides and hanging out.

The food will warrant innumerable stories and experiences.

"They're such great kids," Carol Green whispered to her fellow chaperone, "I'm so proud of them."

They truly are, as Commissioner LeRoy Allison dubbed them in March at the annual board meeting, "The Dream Team."