Column
2018 Fellowship for Textbook Specialists of Honduras
Visit to Korea
Santo Ulises Avilez Zelaya
Editor, Ramses Publisher
In response to the invitation from the Korean Studies Academy (AKS) and as part of the interchange of textbook specialists from Honduras, we visited this wonderful country from the 22nd to the 29th of April of the current year. With great curiosity and enthusiasm, we went to the facilities of this academy where we were welcomed with kindness and special care.
We were pleased to be received by the director of the Korean Studies Academy, An, Byeong-Uk. Then we started the seminar; of special interest to me is the fact that AKS also wanted to learn about our educational system and other issues of Honduras. Little by little, we were getting to know more and more about Korea, its history, educational system, culture, economy, inter-Korean relations, etc. These topics were explained by great academicians who, in a very didactic way, illustrated each of the points mentioned above
We also learned about its gastronomy, its industry, and the multiple invasions they have been subjected to, including how a country can rise again after a bloody war. In a very special way, I learned a little about its everyday life, its people, its squares, markets, etc. — the life of Koreans outside of what a book can mention. I could see it at first sight -- people going to their jobs, sharing coffee, driving a car, etc.
We were able to live their culture, enter their palaces, and, for a moment, travel back in time and see their kingdoms and even the changing of guards at Changdeokgung Palace. I have always thought that history must be lived, not just read, and that is what we did on this trip.
We had the opportunity to see a traditional theater performance, where we enjoyed the story with music, dance, interaction with the spectator, etc. We also experienced the modernity of Korea; we had a tour on the fast train (KTX) to the city of Gyeongju and then to Seoul, saw its buildings, shopping centers, etc. The speed of their Internet also attests to the greatness of this country.
Our vision of Korea has been broadened, and we have become sensitized to its different issues; we also acquired better understanding of the diplomatic efforts that they make to give the world a broader image of the country’s reality and history and share their culture -- efforts that we have decided to carry in our next editions. We see this country as an example to follow, and that is why we will be incorporating into our books as much information about the Korean aspects as we can.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people and institutions that made this fellowship for textbook specialists possible, especially the Academy of Korean Studies and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Honduras.
We were pleased to be received by the director of the Korean Studies Academy, An, Byeong-Uk. Then we started the seminar; of special interest to me is the fact that AKS also wanted to learn about our educational system and other issues of Honduras. Little by little, we were getting to know more and more about Korea, its history, educational system, culture, economy, inter-Korean relations, etc. These topics were explained by great academicians who, in a very didactic way, illustrated each of the points mentioned above
We also learned about its gastronomy, its industry, and the multiple invasions they have been subjected to, including how a country can rise again after a bloody war. In a very special way, I learned a little about its everyday life, its people, its squares, markets, etc. — the life of Koreans outside of what a book can mention. I could see it at first sight -- people going to their jobs, sharing coffee, driving a car, etc.
We were able to live their culture, enter their palaces, and, for a moment, travel back in time and see their kingdoms and even the changing of guards at Changdeokgung Palace. I have always thought that history must be lived, not just read, and that is what we did on this trip.
We had the opportunity to see a traditional theater performance, where we enjoyed the story with music, dance, interaction with the spectator, etc. We also experienced the modernity of Korea; we had a tour on the fast train (KTX) to the city of Gyeongju and then to Seoul, saw its buildings, shopping centers, etc. The speed of their Internet also attests to the greatness of this country.
Our vision of Korea has been broadened, and we have become sensitized to its different issues; we also acquired better understanding of the diplomatic efforts that they make to give the world a broader image of the country’s reality and history and share their culture -- efforts that we have decided to carry in our next editions. We see this country as an example to follow, and that is why we will be incorporating into our books as much information about the Korean aspects as we can.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people and institutions that made this fellowship for textbook specialists possible, especially the Academy of Korean Studies and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Honduras.
