This past Friday, I had the opportunity to visit the DMZ, or demilitarized zone. I was excited to learn more about the history of the area and wanted to soak in as many stories as I could to bring home to Nebraska and my students. I had an incredibly eye-opening experience, but I do have to say it definitely was not what I was expecting. I could go on and on about what I learned and saw, but I will try to limit myself to a short blog post.
When we first arrived, I was surprised to see a small amusement park and concession stand area greeting us in the parking lot of the admissions area. I was confused and even asked those around me what was going on and if I was mistaken. Later as we were touring the surrounding area with our guide, Nancy, she explained that while the older generations still have memories of lost homes and loved ones in the North and will come to cry in this area, their grandchildren do not understand so the amusement park was built to entertain them. Nancy even freely admitted that seeing and hearing the crying and laughter mixed was a strange situation, but one that was inevitable with the war having occurred over 60 years ago.
The day was full of videos, tours, hands-on history, long hikes in and out of an infiltration tunnel, and in-person experiences that will enrich my ability to teach about not only the history of the Korean War, but the Korean people and culture as a whole. There has been so much that has changed in the time since the Korean War, and that has shaped the DMZ, the hopes for reunification, and what a possible reunification would look like. I came out of this experience with a whole new outlook on what the DMZ was, what it means to the Korean Peninsula, common misconceptions, and what the future of this area may look like and what they are working towards.
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