After arriving in South Korea, I wanted to pay my grandmother a visit before starting my study abroad program. She lives near the city of Haenam in South Jeolla Province on a large rice plantation and spends her days doing back-breaking work out on the fields. My grandmother continues to farm, despite her old age and fragile body. It is, in short, her life. She’s lived in the same place for decades, doing the same things year after year.
Inevitably, I experienced a small part of her lifestyle during my stay. I spent the first day picking, washing, and drying fresh red peppers. Although I spent only a few hours in the sun, I felt extremely exhausted and dehydrated by noon. I couldn’t believe my grandmother did this type of work in her late seventies. Even more surprisingly, my uncles and aunts would come and help on their free time. The whole family seemed to have this hard-working and gritty personality. They all knew how to complete their tasks without any complaints. This experience made me think about my mother and father, who left this town so many years ago. It’s hard to imagine them in this place now, but I know it has shaped their personalities so much. They both work very hard for our family. This motivates me to do so as well.
As a child, I dreaded visiting my grandmother in the countryside. I wasn’t familiar with the lifestyle. I complained about the mosquitoes, the smell, and the lack of fun activities for someone my age. This time, however, I kept an open mind and began to recognize all the wonderful experiences this place had to offer. After all, my father and mother both grew up in the area, making it a very special place for my family. It’s where they spent their childhood, went to school, and met for the first time. In an odd way, I feel a certain connection to Haenam (as cliché as that sounds). I’ll definitely be coming back soon.
Jacob's Study Abroad Blog 