COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY

  I was forced to travel, and stay overseas for a prolonged period of time. Still, I believe that it was a great opportunity for me to learn about different cultures, and embrace people from all around the world.

  I cannot really associate myself with the community I live in, and decide my authentic identity. It requires one deep rumination, as a person cannot easily choose who he is, or who he wants to be. For me, it is true that I have not spent much time pondering about who I really am, but I could not get even the faintest idea.

  Until fifth grade, I had remained in Korea attending a local school with my local friends. My community was Korea itself, nothing more, nothing less; all the people I had met were native Koreans whom I shared common interests with. Until then, I had no idea of how I would go overseas and attend school with foreigners with totally different cultures.

  On the very first day of school in Hong Kong, an Indian kid accosted, and spoke in English, a language I only knew ostensibly by then. I sheepishly told him that I do not speak English(it wasn't even 'I can't'), and ran away. I was extremely fortunate to find another Korean in our class, and until I got used to the school system and the new language, I hung out with him. The Korean community there was quite diverse, so it was not really difficult for me to get used to the school. Even in Hong Kong, my identity remained as a Korean as I did not feel much need to interact with people of different nations. Still, this does not mean that I did not interact with them at all; I did try my best to mingle with as many cultures as possible, but I spent the most time with Koreans, whom I was able to share common beliefs with.

  In Singapore, the situation was both similar and different. I made Korean friends much easily than other friends just like how I did back in Hong Kong, but I also became much more easily acquainted with foreign friends such as those from the United States, Brazil, Canada, etc.

  My identity is sometimes defined according to the community, and sometimes with those I hang around with. In Hong Kong, my identity was affected more by my Korean friends. On the other hand, the school environment affected me more in Singapore, forcing me to mingle with not only Koreans but also with others.