From South Korea to Alaska, exchange student enjoying what Alaska has to offer

WASILLA — JO “Sally” YuJin is one of three Rotary International Exchange students currently immersed in the Mat-Su Valley’s schools and greater community. YuJin is from South Korea and is here to sharpen her English skills and learn as much as she can about American culture until she and the other students leave in June following the 2018 school year’s end.

“It’s been great. We’ve been helping her adapt to the Alaskan way of life. I’m not gonna’ call it the American way of life,” YuJin’s host mother and Susitna Rotary President Lanissa Grogan said.

Cultural exchange is one of many avenues Rotarians take in their efforts to support their communities and visitors from afar. Grogan has been the Susitna chapter president for two-and-half-years. YuJin is her first international student.

“I thought it would be an adventure and an exciting experience,” Grogan said.

YuJin took three years of English back home. She is still in the early stages of fluent conversation.

“I’m learning,” YuJin said.

YuJin has been in Alaska for almost two months now. She’s currently attending Wasilla High School with another exchange student, Arnaud Bollens, from Belgium. YuJin’s learning has been far from limited to the classroom. During her time here, she has already embarked on several adventures with Grogan and other Rotarians, from nearby hikes up Hatcher Pass to far-off scenic flights over Esther Island. During that time, she saw several iconic Alaskan animals like black bears, sea lions and of course, moose.

“I think it’s great. She’s very adventurous,” Grogan said.

YuJin said that she plans to be an English teacher back home in South Korea.

“She speaks pretty good English you just need to speak slow and be sure that she understands the context,” Grogan said.

After high school, YuJin aims to travel as much as she can. Sweden is at the top of the list. She enjoys children and plans to share her experiences in America and abroad with her fellow South Korean students.

“I’ve watched a lot of American movies,” YuJin said.

She’s drawn to American teen movies in particular. “Pitch Perfect 2” is one of her favorites.

During YuJin’s interview at WHS on Sept. 17, the teenager often giggled nervously, holding her hand over her face. Grogan said even though she could be shy, YuJin was very open to new experiences and new foods. She described YuJin as, “outgoing but still soft-spoken.”

“She loves American food, I can’t stress that enough,” Grogan laughed.

YuJin has tried a lot of different dishes and said that she did in fact enjoy eating the American’s staple, hamburgers. She’s also tasted Alaska’s staple, salmon.

“I love salmon,” YuJin said.

So far, one of YuJin’s favorite American foods came in the form of Mexican cuisine.

“She loves chicken enchiladas,” Grogan laughed. “Everybody in my family likes them too.”

In South Korea, the dishes are vastly different. For instance, instead of cereal or eggs for breakfast, most South Koreans eat rice and seaweed wraps called kimbap. Kimbap was the first dish to come to mind when YuJin was asked about a classic, go-to breakfast back home.

“It’s a huge undertaking to go another country with all these people you don’t know,” Grogan said. “She’s done really, really well here. She’s fitting in really well.”

When it comes to trying new things and learning about other people from any place across the globe, Grogan shared simple advice, “Just have an open mind. I always find that if you do things that make you nervous or uncertain, it usually works out and you learn about yourself and other people.”

She noted how fun her host-parent experience has been so far and recommends other parents and individuals across the Mat-Su to try it as well.

“If people want to host, they do not have to be a Rotarian,” Grogan said.

Natali Bonadio from Brazil, is the next and final Rotary International Exchange student to highlight. Bonadio is attending Palmer High School.