My name is Maryn Heald and I teach 6th grade English Language Arts and Social Studies for Lincoln Public Schools. As a Korean adoptee, visiting South Korea is a unique experience. Being surrounded by people who look like me is exciting and discouraging all at once. Of course, everywhere we go, people assume I speak the language. Although I look like a Korean on the outside, not being able to communicate with the people or truly connect with the culture is disheartening at times.
Thankfully, the people here are very kind, patient and make an effort to try and understand. Some of my favorite experiences so far have been visiting Changdeokgung Palace in a Hanbok and taking a few dance classes!
The Changdeokgung Palace is located in the Jongo District of Seoul and was built by King Taejong in 1405. The palace is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) site, selected specifically for its beauty and architecture. Walking into the palace is like being transported back in time. The preservation of the buildings and grounds show how much pride and respect the Korean people have for their history. Being in a place where kings and queens lived, rich with history and culture is really amazing!
We got to experience a part of the palace called “The Secret Garden” which is a more extensive tour of the ponds, pavilions and trees of the Changdeokgung Palace. Below is a picture of me in a Hanbok, a traditional Korean dress. There are many places around Seoul to rent Hanboks! If you’re wearing one, it gets you free entrance into the palace.
As a dance teacher, another part of Korea that I was excited for was taking a few dance classes. I had so much fun taking a Kpop dance class, taught by a real Kpop trainee and background dancer. I also took a hip hop class at the famous 1Million Dance Studio. These experiences solidified two things for me. One, you can never stop learning and growing by stepping out of your comfort zone. Two, dance is something that can be understood and expressed no matter what language you speak!
Comments