Better Together – 2. Gwangju International Student Day 2023

By Jo Lezada

Photos by Kim Tae-hyung

The 2023 Gwangju Citizens’ Day convention held at Jungoe Park presented a myriad of foods, fun, and entertainment for everyone to partake in and experience cultural diversity to the fullest. In this article, I wish to highlight a particular event in the name of International Students’ Day, which is none other than Gwangju’s prized university booths for the International Students’ Fair.

It was a pleasant surprise to see this section of the convention attract such a bustling crowd consisting of not only international students but people of all ages lining up at the university booths who came not only to inquire but to earn prizes, experience cultural tidbits such as wearing traditional clothing, and fun activities, including nail art and photo booths! I was greeted with sunny smiles and a friendly atmosphere that would have made me consider every university had I participated at every booth in sight.

In addition to the fun, the consultation I received was not only encouraging but overall helpful and informative. As an international student who aspires to earn a master’s degree at Chonnam University, the consultants who worked with me were patient, considered the language I was comfortable in, and made sure to walk me through the entire process without leaving out any important details. Now I know exactly what I need to do after I graduate, and it is all thanks to these kind and helpful people who were managing the booths and promoting their universities. I even got a freebie after the consultation, as if the help I had received was not already enough. It was such an encouragement to see how much more accommodating these universities have been becoming to international students in spite of the language barriers that, perhaps, I may consider representing my own university at a booth someday!

All in all, not only was the weather sunny and bright that day, but everyone at the booths who represented their universities burned even brighter with pride, passion, and genuine enthusiasm that created a friendly environment brimming with enjoyment. It was the kind of impression and atmosphere I was looking forward to upon entering university life. Despite the academic pressure and difficulties that come with higher education, it is these people who reveal their passion and enthusiasm for their fields that make the entire journey worthwhile. Color me excited not only for next year’s convention but for the future of my academic career here in Gwangju – all thanks to this experience.

The Author

Johanna Angelaluz Lezada is a trilingual Filipino who is now in her third year as an IT business student at Nambu University here in Gwangju. She also works as a freelance translator and is the vice president of education for the Gwangju Toastmasters, both of which are based at the Gwangju International Center. Her hobbies include drawing, writing, traveling, and studying paleontology.