For my third meeting with Gyusang we sat during tea time again. I have offered a few times to relocate and asked him if there's somewhere he'd like to go, but he doesn't find much objection to the noisy lounge like I do... I think I may need to be more persuasive next time!
Gyusang and I caught up on what we did over the weekend- he’d spent time with his grandparents then saw them off at the airport. When we talk about Korea, I can tell Gyusang misses it a lot, but he doesn’t get upset, in fact he gets pretty excited knowing he’ll be heading back later in July. For now he is just enjoying the time he has left in the States, before starting back at his University. Gyusang will be a sophomore, focusing on pharmaceuticals, but it won’t be long before he enlists in the Korean military- mandatory for all Korean men for 2 years. I asked how he felt about this, versus other countries like here where it’s voluntary. Gyusang gave a slight laugh and said ‘not good’ and that no one wants to do it. I asked him why he thought the reason for mandatory service was, and he explained simply, ‘because of North Korea.’ We spoke a bit more about current events involving North Korea and how these affect life in South Korea, but I was left thinking mostly how Gyusang, and many other students we work with are from countries where the threat of danger and/or political tension are never far away from them, whereas we have oceans and a major world power as our home to ensure we live life feeling, for the most part, safe. The idea of mandatory military service to ensure a country is prepared to should their neighbor invade, well it’s a concept we certainly couldn’t imagine. No doubt a law like that would cause many Americans to claim a breech of personal liberty and choice, but it is just a part of what comes next for Gyusang, and he takes it in stride.
The previous two meetings I felt at times that I was bombarding Gyusang with questions about his life in Korea and trying to learn all I can about his experience... while he is always eager to answer and seems to get my jokes most of the time, I was glad this time lead to a more in depth conversation of how our countries differ and what his future holds.
It is true -- we do live relatively safe and carefree lives in America. Whenever I talk with my new friends from Korea, Egypt, and Afghanistan, all my problems seem so mundane and insignificant. I am truly grateful to be born in the U.S.A.
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