Experiencing Together Day

By Jennah Dabrowski

I have almost completed my two-semester-long exchange experience in South Korea, with my first semester being at Chonnam National University in Gwangju and my second at Yonsei University in Seoul, and it has been nothing short of incredible. I was able to join UNESCO KONA volunteers at the English Center last semester to help with English reading and comprehension practice, and have been attending weekly zoom meetings now that I can no longer volunteer in person. However, I came back to Gwangju on May 24 to experience Together Day 2025! I arrived in Gwangju early in the morning and visited the May 18 Memorial and Mugak Temple. Hearing the testimonies and experiences of those who lived through the Gwangju Uprising of 1980 made the visit all the more impactful and gave me perspectives I would have never been able to learn otherwise.

Once we arrived at Gwangju City Hall, I was amazed by the number of people who were attending the event. So many families with children of all ages and many international participants from all over the world were gathered inside and outside the City Hall venue. We walked past the booths that had been set up, and I got to hear about different city policies that were being proposed and voted on by members of the community. So many different countries were represented in activity booths, with games, art projects, and presentations available for the kids and visitors present. I was able to try different foods from countries all over the world and meet many members of the international community in Gwangju. As a KONA volunteer, I got to work with students on English reading practice and listen to their Korean folktale presentations.

For English reading, I shared some American folktales and stories like Johnny Appleseed as well as the history of the Statue of Liberty. The students also presented the Korean folktales they had been practicing and incorporated character cutouts to act out the stories they were telling. Being able to exchange stories between cultures is one of the reasons why I love working with kids.

As my exchange experience comes to an end, I have had time to reflect on this past year, and I have been truly blessed with everything I have been given. Even though the United States is relatively diverse, I had not had the chance to be exposed to another culture firsthand, and I am so grateful for all of the people I have met who have shared Korean culture with me and gone out of their way to help me during my time here. From shared lunches and guided memorial tours to opportunities to visit schools and meet local leaders, I have been given so many Korean experiences that will forever remain a part of me.

Cover Photo: Jennah with the KONA Storybook Center students and their families. (KONA Storybook Center)