I came to Korea to learn Korean. I ended up learning about the world

I moved to Seoul to learn Korean, but ended up learning about the world instead. My expectations were to improve my Korean, understand Korean society, and build a future in this country. However, what I discovered was that studying Korean would teach me so much about other parts of the globe.

At Korea University's Korean Language Center, my classroom often felt like a miniature United Nations. I studied alongside individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, and Turkey. Growing up in Australia and New Zealand, I had limited exposure to these cultures. Nevertheless, I realized that multiculturalism has a geographical aspect. Migration patterns, geography, and history collectively shape the cultures we encounter in our daily lives.

Korea's proximity to Central and Northeast Asia, combined with its growing cultural influence and educational opportunities, brought together students who might have otherwise never crossed paths. Despite our common goal of learning Korean, we became each other's teachers. This experience highlighted how our common goal of learning Korean brought us together, and in turn, we taught one another about our respective cultures.