Chung Culture in the Eye of a Bangladeshi

Soumitra Kumar Kundu

PhD

Business Administration 

Chonnam National University
                                                   

                             Chung Culture in the Eye of a Bangladeshi

       From the time of my arrival in Gwangju, to today; how I struggled in the beginning, how smoothly things run today. This process of achieving a "home away from home" feeling had many steps.  So, this talk will discuss these steps. What kinds of problems did I face, and how did I overcome them?  How people of various areas helped solve my problems in different ways, and how every incident and problem I have faced has given me opportunities to think deeply about the Korean attitude of helping people.  I wondered if there is any historical or traditional background in Korea that brings this kind of support to foreigners who are trying to live here.  I observed that the culture of Korean tradition and history has its link to the overall development.  In Korea seniors generally pay the money for juniors when they go out together for dinner and go to the bar to hang out. Koreans are warmhearted and so generous. These characteristics originated from collective society, in which people prefer to say woori (us/our). For example, Korean men don’t say “my wife”; they say “woori wife”.  “Woori” doesn’t mean I have many wives; “woori” means “wife of our community”.  Many small things like that give us a clear understanding that the Korean community has always been concerned for the entire community.  It has that deep concern with the Chung culture, which can be found deep into their ancient traditional religions, like Samanijam.  Samanijam is a culture where if someone is sick, or has lost a family member, the whole village comes together for support.  They pass on their sorrow and happiness together with the Samon.  These things give us a clear idea that Korean society, from ancient times, was concerned about each other’s problems.  They thought collectively, cried collectively, and loved collectively. 

So, it’s clear that community living was very developed through this Chang culture.  In my view, we have a very similar culture in Bangladesh.  The Bengalis are always concerned with helping others and trying to make people feel by saying the words “Dada” or “Didi”, which mean that anyone we feel close to we call “elder brother” (“hyeong” in Korea).  Thus, I have found similarities between Korean and my cultures. It also surprised me that Koreans are more polite and respectful to the seniors in terms of age not for money or status. I also wonder about the changes that Korean society will in the future. It’s common to see younger people give their seats to seniors on the bus, however now a days, it’s becoming more common place to see the younger people keep their seats and ignore the seniors. As the society grows and changes, people are becoming more individualistic, and from now on, we can be more conscientious and thoughtful about this matter, about this matter, so we can overcome this situation together. 

http://gwangjunewsgic.com/gic-talk-september-schedule/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnNBqQcKxKo&t=24s
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x36rn24

Impression of CCAP (Cross-Cultural Awareness Program)

Soumitra Kumar Kundu

PhD 
Business Administration 

Chonnam National University

Bangladeshi

Impression of CCAP

It is very easy to know any information by a mere click on the internet but to gather practical experience is very tough. Before come to Korea I haven’t any practical experience about Korean culture, food, clothes and some other things. It’s very hard to get other countries food test or put on clothes or to know foreigners very closely from motherland, even though when I was a young student had never gotten a chance to have a close interaction with foreigners. I think, Cross-Cultural Awareness Program (CCAP) is working as a bridge between Korean students and foreigner to know each other. This is a great opportunity for the Korean students to learn and understand about different countries from foreigner. On the other hand foreigners are also getting chance to visit Korean students to share their own culture, food, clothes and some other things.

I’m working as a Cultural Exchange Volunteers (CEV) over three years and experience has taught me that activities are more important than power point presentation because it is a culture lesson, not an academic lesson. Activities can be included, singing, dancing, cocking, language activities etc. But I’m not good at singing and dancing and such. So, I try to cook something belongs to my country (if the schools are agreed) and give them a chance to put on my country’s traditional clothes after short power point presentation.

The young students and school teachers are very good, friendly and helpful.  Special thanks to my Korean Interpretation Volunteers (KIVs), as they helped me a lot all the time to make funny during the CCAP classes. I am truly thankful and grateful for being given a chance to join the UNESCO CCAP. I wish I could still be part of this program as long I am still in Korea.

Minha Park 박민아 Chonnam National University 

요즘 인터넷에서 간단한 클릭으로 많은 정보들을 모으는 것은 쉽지만 이는 실용적인 경험을 얻기에는 부족합니다. 한국을 오기 전, 저는 한국에 대한 문화, 음악, 옷 등과 같은 실용적인 정보를 많이 알지 못했습니다. 제가 어린 학생시절 외국인과의 문화교류의 기회가 없어 다른 나라의 옷을 입어보거나 음식을 먹어보는 등 외국인들을 아는 것은 어려웠습니다. 저는 CCAP가 한국학생들과 외국인을 이어주는 ‘다리’ 라고 생각합니다. 이 프로그램은 한국 학생들이 다른 나라의 문화를 이해하고 배울 수 있는 좋은 기회입니다. 또한 외국인들도 한국 학생들을 방문함으로써 그들만의 문화, 음식, 옷 등을 공유할 수 있는 기회가 됩니다.
 저는 CEV(cultural exchange volunteer)로 이 프로그램을 참여한지 3년이 넘어갑니다. 이 경험은 저에게 수업에 있어 파워포인트 프레젠테이션(PPT)보다 다양한 활동을 하는 것이 더욱 중요하다는 것을 알게 해주었습니다. 이 프로그램은 문화를 배우고자 하는 것이지 교육적인 의도가 아니기 때문입니다. 다양한 활동은 노래 부르기, 춤추기, 요리하기, 언어를 배우는 활동들입니다. 그러나 저는 노래 부르기나 춤추기 등을 잘 못하기 때문에 저의 나라의 음식을 요리했습니다(만약 학교가 동의를 한다면). 그리고 발표 후에 학생들에게 저의 나라의 전통 옷을 입어 보는 시간을 가졌습니다. 어린 학생들과 학교 선생님들은 매우 친절하고 도움을 많이 주었습니다. 특히, CCAP 시간 동안 학생들을 재미있게 해주려고 노력해준 저의 KIV(Korean interpretation volunteer) 파트너에게 고맙습니다. 저는 UNESCO의 CCAP에 참여할 수 있는 기회를 주신 것에 대해 매우 감사합니다. 저는 제가 한국에 있는 한은 이 프로그램에 참여하고 싶습니다.