쿠웨이트에 있던 대부분의 시간동안 한국 대표단과 많이 친해졌다. 이는 어찌 보면 당연한 결과겠지만 나는 그들을 통해 한국인으로서 나의 정체성을 분명하게 깨달았다. 지난 14년간의 해외생활동안 한국인으로서의 정체성을 잊고 살았는데, 이번 계기를 통해 내가 점차적으로 한국 사회에 적응하고 있다는 생각이 들었다. 나는 혈통뿐만이 아니라 한국인의 사고방식까지도 깊이 이해하고 닮고 싶었던 것이 사실이다. 이 글을 쓰고 있는 이 순간에도, 다른 팀원들처럼 한글로 참가수기를 쓰지 못하는 점이 매우 아쉽지만, 내 인생 전체를 돌아보았을 때 쿠웨이트로 가기 전까지는 한국을 이처럼 사랑한 적이 있었나 하는 생각이 들 정도로 한국을 사랑하게 되었다. 한국 대표단과 외국 학생들과의 끈끈한 유대감이야말로 우리 사이에 굳건한 관계를 만들어주었고, 2010 과학 엑스포 아시아 사업은 평생 내 기억 속에 잊지 못할 순간으로 간직될 것이다.  

<원문>

I’d like to put it this way: I have never dreamt that I’d step onto the land of Kuwait – or any other middle-eastern countries for this matter – if it were not for Expo-Sciences Asia 2010. It was only through a series of coincidental and of seemingly unlikely events that allowed me to embark on this trip. Nevertheless, however serendipitous this trip may have been for me, I’ve tried to exploit the best out of it, because I knew that this was a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The Middle-east has always fascinated me as I have known it to be the cultural edge where diverse cultures converged and mingled to form a unique community. Although the preeminent Islamic ideology seemed to be prevalent in the air, I could perceive the diverse elements of two extreme ends of the cultural spectrum: the East and West seemed to have found a mutually consonant haven.  This unique trait is indubitably not only evident in the Arabs; it was even more evident in the students from all around the world I’ve met at the Expo. Hence, perhaps the most rewarding aspect of this trip was not the award I’ve received for my project but the international connection established with the students from delegates of other countries.

As no one in the Korean delegation knew if there were going to be any awards for the science-expo, we assumed that there weren’t any awards for the individual project presentations since it was an expo. I can safely say that my preconceived notion of not having to compete for an award has elicited my capacity to wholly enjoy the event in a sanguine demeanor. I therefore conceivably assume that my predisposition to present my work well beyond my usual skills – when nothing stressful is demanded of me – has allowed me receive the recognition, as it has happened.

However, as aforementioned, the most rewarding aspect of this trip was not the award but the international connection established with the students from other countries. It was this sense of belonging to an international family of the Milset that really made me feel like I am embracing the whole world before me. Seeing the students from all around the world use the English Language as a tool to communicate with one another, I was veritably awed by how international and interdependent our world has become. For instance, although there was clearly a language barrier that hindered us from communicating effectively, we became relatively closest to the Turks, the Russians, the Jordanians and the Lebanese. The friendship we’ve built was so profound that when it was time for us to depart, I couldn’t stop myself from having tears forming in my eyes. I guess it was the fact that we’ve formed such deep friendship within a short period of time despite the language barrier – and that our separation wasn’t going to be an ephemeral one – that threatened to spill my carefully guarded emotions.

During the workshop when the respective countries presented their problems, causes and solution to the investment of free time in science and technology, I presented on behalf of Korea. It really boosted my love for my country as I spoke about Korea to the rest of the delegates at the workshop. When it was time for the workshop paper with proposed solutions to be published, I contributed to two of the fifteen or so solutions. The joy I’ve felt from the fact that I have contributed to an official paper is one of a quintessential sense of accomplishment.

For the most part of the trip to Kuwait, I believe I have grown most closely with the Korean delegation; this apparently is an inevitable cause, but it is through this propinquity with the rest of representatives from Korea that I felt I have finally found myself an identity. Perhaps it’s because I’ve spent 14 years of my life out of Korea that I have lost my identity as a Korean, and it was through this trip I have finally found myself gradually adapting to the Korean society as much as I wanted myself to be a Korean not only by blood but also by the Korean decorum; I still regret that I am not able to write this reflection in Korean just like the rest of my teammates. But since the trip to Kuwait, I have never loved Korea as much ever in my life.