The start of my journey with VANK

My name is Michelle, I’m from Colorado, USA and I was a VANK Youth Researcher from September 2023 to June 2024. I attended Korea University for a year to graduate and did my internship at VANK at the same time. When I first came to Korea, I was very nervous about the idea of doing an internship in Korea. I was very worried about whether I would be able to do well as well as about whether or not I would be able to get along with my coworkers. Thanks to the warm welcome I received almost from the moment I arrived, I put those worries to rest and was able to work hard for nine months.

What I did

I’ve gotten to do a lot of different things at VANK, so let me introduce to you what I have done!

• Appearing in contents – I learned a lot about Korea by appearing in contents!

Play Taekwondo Challenge https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwmLaRqPz4-/

Pure Korean Name Service Ilhum https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyDaPr5PcLd/

VANK in Ulleung High School https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzVm1EYvPjt/

Friend of Korea https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzaviZjP76H/

Jikji https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz7jmUwpVh7/

• Writing petitions – When I first came to VANK, I wrote several petitions while I was getting used to VANK and understanding more about it.

• Creating contents – Following petitions, I created a lot of contents.

Rice Wine? Rice Beer? NO! Makgeolli? YES!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0Gwi_NPQP7/

Ulleungdo short sketch https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0LljZ_PW_h/

Ticketing in Korea, A Nightmare for Foreigners? https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1q8E3xp4r6/

Identity Verification in Korea, A Struggle for Foreigners?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1s9hrlyBQs/

Who is Homer Hulbert? Pt.1 https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2HQqSSu2A5/

Who is Homer Hulbert? Pt.2 https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2JfIbhuDUs/

Who is Homer Hulbert? Pt.3 https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2MZ8DMLEc0/

VANK SONG https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2tqBfYLhvu/

How much do you know about King Sejong?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2rAd55PaHF/

Do you know what day May 15th is? https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2t4UQ-LMIq/

Hangeul is in danger https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2vzo2Oy9nW/

Include the progress of Korea in U.S. textbooks https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4em3rzBELs/

DOKDO SONG https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7TXS-OPTqd/

• Activities outside the office – I visited Ulleungdo, Dokdo, Cheongju Early Printing Museum, King Sejong the Great Memorial Society, Overseas Koreans Agency, Hulbert Memorial Society, and attended the Opening Ceremony for the 3rd cohort of Global National Heritage Ambassadors.

After completing my internship

Thank you for understanding me, teaching me things I didn’t know, and giving me a lot of opportunities. I feel so lucky to have had such a good relationship with VANK, laughing, crying, eating, and working together. As my youth is coming to an end, I am grateful to have shared these memories, and I will continue to support VANK’s activities in the future!

My Petitions

• Bridge Asia (www.bridgeasia.net)

Sign Language Expansion https://www.bridgeasia.net/bridging-issues/view.jsp?sno=660

Positive Educational Environment https://www.bridgeasia.net/bridging-issues/view.jsp?sno=666

• Woollim (www.woollimkorea.net)

Sign Language Expansion for Climate Change Understanding
https://www.woollimkorea.net/beginning-of-woollim/view.jsp?sno=510

Protect Teachers’ Rights
https://www.woollimkorea.net/beginning-of-woollim/view.jsp?sno=517

Better explain Korean culture in Hallyu contents
https://www.woollimkorea.net/beginning-of-woollim/view.jsp?sno=523

STOP sexual abuse involving drugs
https://www.woollimkorea.net/beginning-of-woollim/view.jsp?sno=529

Please help foreigners to be able to go to performances in Korea
https://www.woollimkorea.net/beginning-of-woollim/view.jsp?sno=623