San Kim has successfully crossed coming to America off his bucket list.
Kim, a foreign exchange student from Incheon, South Korea, is staying with his host family Josh and Jeanna Woodland and their children Levi and Alyce for his freshman year of high school.
Upon his arrival, Kim was surprised by the size of Manchester. His initial thought was “How do people live here?” as Kim was used to a city of nearly three million people.
“In my country, there are many things to do with my friends like P.C. rooms, where we play games on computers.”
Despite the challenge of a small community, Kim has fully immersed himself into the West Delaware community, going to homecoming, TP-ing, and joining various extracurricular activities including band, cross country, bowling, ESports, and soccer.
During summer soccer club practices, Kim appreciated playing soccer on grass because in South Korea he had to play on a dirt field. “In South Korea, you can’t see the grass because everything is concrete because it’s a big city,” Kim said. “I have seen grass before, but not this much. It felt wonderful to play soccer on it.”
“In South Korea, you can’t see the grass because everything is concrete because it’s a big city. I have seen grass before, but not this much. It felt wonderful to play soccer on it.”
— San Kim (9)
Education is another difference. In South Korea, school runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and teachers take students’ phones before class starts.
Kim has also noticed a contrast in driving. In South Korea, people don’t learn how to drive until age 21.
Kim said, “I rode in some cross country boys’ cars, and sometimes it was scary. Sometimes they would let go with both hands when they were talking with their hands.”
Before returning to Incheon, Kim wants to go skiing and snowboarding and experience Christmas in America. Doing this will allow Kim to cross more off of his bucket list.
