Jindo National Gugak Center

Our dorms had an overlooking view of the Yellow Sea and the surrounding mountains on the Island.  

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For the majority of the trip, we stayed at Jindo National Gugak Performing Arts Center, where both the students and families learned a Samulnori drumming routine. At the college, everyone stayed in dorms and took traditional music classes. Our dorms had an overlooking view of the Yellow Sea and the surrounding mountains on the Island.  

Every morning at Jindo, I woke up to this amazing view. I ignored how gross my body felt from the humidity and heat and, instead, enjoyed every moment at the college. Though I threw myself into the music classes, I did have difficulty adjusting to not only the “college” schedule but also the Korean lifestyle. Regardless of where I was, I had to deal with both the language barrier and cultural differences. Particularly in Jindo, the peninsular is isolated from Korea’s major urban life in Seoul and Busan; thus, I had few other tourists, besides the ones in my group, to blend in with. I stuck out even more from natives. Throughout the trip, I worried about offending them and made extra effort to say proper greetings and thank yous. 

During our final morning at the college, we said farewell to the cooking staff with a thank you in Korean and a bow. The staff seemed appreciated of our efforts to thank you.

 

I didn’t know the language and often felt out of place at the college. Yet somehow, Jindo National Gugak Center became my home away from home for a week.  I hope to return in the future!

 

With style, 

 

Sarah