This summer, 13 Students and two faculty members traveled to South Korea to study Korea’s remarkable economic journey in the post-war period, while strengthening their skills and deepening their understanding of leadership in action in the world. Please enjoy this final blog post below from trip leader Mrs. Dollhopf as she shares about the group’s final day and reflections of the trip.
Day 9 – Mrs. Dollhopf
Our final full day in South Korea was a beautiful one. We were fortunate with weather during the entire trip, with almost no rain and mild temperatures. We started our day by taking a bus to the Namhansanseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arriving we entered the museum and had a chance to read about the history of the Joseon Dynasty and the fortress. The students were tasked with coming out of the museum with an interesting fact (and a couple of extras in case someone took their idea). At the end of our time in the museum, Bryan gave a talk on the fortress. Then, we gathered to stretch before our hike and shared our facts. Our guides were very impressed that our students were all ready with a fact to share, many with extra details. The Deerfield students certainly showed off their ability to process information quickly and thoroughly.
Most of our time at the site was spent on a beautiful hike – having left phones on the bus – was spent engaging in great conversations and taking in the vistas. Our Envoy guide gave everyone a riddle which they had great fun solving. Soon, several of the students were offering puzzles of their own to solve. There were many laughs and some healthy frustration. At one point we paused for Julia to give us the second part of the presentation which Bryon had started in the museum. Her part was an interactive game of “would you rather” comprised of historical situations from the fortress. “Would you rather be a soldier or grow food for the community?” After our responses she would tell us why one choice might be better than another. It was very engaging and helped us to learn even more.
After the hike we had lunch nearby and then decided to drive to the mall where we would have dinner, and offered a last shopping opportunity for an hour beforehand. Our final dinner was a special one, as it was a buffet of a variety of types of food. The students enjoyed the experience from the dumplings and cheese starters to the cheesecake and gelato desserts.
Before heading back to the hotel to pack for a very early start to the day, we stopped at a lovely park to spend a little time reflecting and being grateful for the other people on the trip. At one point we had half the group sit in a circle with our eyes closed while our guide read off statements. If those not in the circle felt that any of those in the circle fit the description, such as “I would love the opportunity to go on another trip with this person” or “this person made me feel seen”, then you would give that person a gentle tap on the shoulder. Then the two groups switched places. We also asked the students to finish the statement “I used to think that leadership was _______________, and now I know that leadership is “_____________________”. It was fascinating to hear how many varied responses there were. Our students have been very thoughtful all along this trip and I hope they share their responses to this prompts with their friends and families.
Day 10 – Mrs. Dollhopf
On our last day, we met at 6:00 AM to leave for the airport. Unfortunately, a couple of students were not feeling great that morning. We think it may have been something at the buffet, but by the time were on American soil, everyone felt fine. Things went relatively smoothly at the airport, and it was nice to see everyone still moving as a team, waiting for all to get through security and even waiting for everyone to get their luggage before leaving to find their families. I for one, feel blessed to have gotten to be on this trip with 13 amazing students and the wonderful Dr. Otterson. My last request from the students was to tell me one thing they were proud of on this trip. Here are some of the responses:
“One of the moments I am most proud of is deeply connecting with people I did not know at all before the trip”.
“One of the moments I am most proud of on this trip was forming lifelong friendships with people that I had not interacted with beforehand and really getting to know everybody on the trip, especially the leaders as well”
“I am most proud of stepping out of my comfort zone to experience Korean culture and better understand what leadership means in a Korean context.”
“One of the moments I am most proud of on this trip was seeing everyone embrace the experience with open minds – whether it was trying new foods, diving into aspects of Korean culture like K-pop dancing, connecting with and living with new people, or simply stepping outside of our comfort zones.”
“One of the moments I am most proud of on this trip was getting to know the group and bonding over our new experiences, lessons, and fun in Korea.”
“One of the moments I am most proud of on this trip was pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, whether that was speaking up more, trying new foods, or facing something daunting. It’s been challenging, but I’ve come out on top”
“One of the moments I am most proud of on this trip is making memories with others that I wouldn’t be able to interact with before.”
“One of the things I am most proud of on this trip was definitely the incredible spirit that was always top-notch. No matter the situation – whether we were running late to a meeting sport or unfamiliar with the subway – there was always support from everyone. There wasn’t a single day I regretted, and I know there won’t be a day I don’t miss the amazing vibe everyone brought to the trip.”
“One of the moments I am most proud of on this trip was the collective enthusiasm we had for Korean culture. I felt better connected with both Korea and my peers.”
“One of the moments I am most proud of on this trip was how each meal, we all rotated our seats. We didn’t need to be told to talk to someone new, and instead we all wanted to connect with someone outside our typical circle, and because of this spirit we now have all made new friends.”
“One of the moments I am most proud of on this trip was being open to learning about leadership through the lens of South Korea and grasping its diverse culture nourished within its roots. Through this learning adventure, I strengthened friendships amongst new peers in the Deerfield community and created valuable bonds through interactive group activities.”
