On September 9th, at 4 p.m., we had our first meeting at a cozy café. The atmosphere was relaxed, and we decided to take it slow, focusing more on getting to know each other rather than engaging in any big activities. As we sat down, we ordered some delicious waffles, which served as a perfect icebreaker to ease any initial awkwardness.
Our conversation naturally flowed, and we discovered shared interests. Emese, who is from Germany, mentioned that she became interested in Korea after watching K-dramas. She talked about how these shows not only entertained her but also sparked a deeper curiosity about Korean culture, language, and even food. This led to a lively discussion since Minju and I also enjoy watching dramas and other video content. We exchanged recommendations and talked about some of our favorite series, comparing the cultural nuances and storytelling styles between Korean dramas and German media. It was interesting to see how K-dramas had become a cultural bridge for Emese, connecting her to a world so different from her own.
After that, we thought it would be fun to learn a few basic phrases in each other’s languages. Emese patiently taught us how to say “I am Kang Ik Yang” and “I am 24 years old” in German. The phrases were “Ich bin Kang Ik Yang” and “Ich bin 24 Jahre alt.” While I struggled a bit with the German accent and pronunciation, Emese encouraged me, and we all shared a few laughs as I tried to get it right. It was a bit challenging, but the process was enjoyable, and it felt rewarding to try something new.
In return, we taught Emese a few simple Korean greetings and how to introduce herself in Korean. She was excited to learn and did quite well for her first attempt. By the end of the meeting, it felt like we had built a nice foundation for our language exchange and cultural sharing.
Looking ahead, we made plans for our next meeting, where we’ll try cooking Korean food together in the kitchen of my dorm. It’s going to be a fun and hands-on way to continue learning about each other’s cultures. We’re all looking forward to the next session, especially since food is such an important part of cultural experiences. It should be an exciting and memorable time as we explore both language and cuisine together.
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