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“Hello! Welcome!” The greetings were everywhere, and the people greeted me with smiles and laughter.

I am really thankful for three amazing summer weeks that were really the experience of a lifetime. I made friendships and memories that are unforgettable and found a comfortable place I could call home with amazing people around me. This program is really an open way to great new ventures, where you meet people from across countries, and blend with their cultures and differences with no judgement.

This program really helped me to improve and challenge myself for the next chapter. We are all different in every way—languages, traditions, countries, and even sleeping behavior—yet that makes it all even more fun and better. We had never met each other before, but we ended up being so close. Some might have forgotten each other’s names, but that never separated us. We used to be strangers, but now have become brothers and sisters from other families. It sounded difficult at first, like worrying over how to adapt to a new environment, wondering how to survive, how to make friends and do well in class, yet it turned out all reversed in the end, it was so easy. Helpful hands, smiling faces and laughter, cheesy jokes, the heat, the thrill of walking up to class, and even the convenience store to buy the additional happiness we call food.

It’s just not enough to say thank you once, especially for the program arrangements, assistance, and hospitality. It really felt like home: no worries, no judgements, no doubts, just a bunch of people having fun and caring for each other, spreading happiness. I love the way our differences made us stronger and brought us so much joy. I’m grateful for having a chance to know “us” instead of “you” and “me”.

Thank you, Asia Summer Program 2018.

Noor A Alam - Daffodil International University (Bangladesh)

Coming to the ASP 2018 was one of the best experiences of my life. It was an honor to get the chance to participate this program.

When we first arrived in South Korea, we were curious and nervous but they welcomed us generously. At the opening ceremony, we got the chance to represent our university and country.

To the best of our knowledge, all the cultural events and activities were unique, and we had a lot of fun participating in the activities. In the activities, we got to see the culture of South Korea. Visiting so many places were some of the best moments of my life.

We will go back to our country with a lot of good memories and experiences we got from the ASP. We are grateful to Dongseo University for arranging such a program. At the ASP, we got the chance to meet new people inside and outside of our classes. We got the chance to learn new things and new cultures. All of the classes were unique and helpful and it was our luck to get such extraordinary teachers and classmates.

Park Yoon Young - Dongseo University (Korea)

I’m one of the students who participated in the ASP program. At first, I was very afraid to get close to the students from other countries. They were all using different languages and I had never met them. It was awkward.

But as the days passed by, I found the differences were not so big. One difference was that the students from other countries usually came first to say “Hi”. So I think that getting closer is not that difficult.

In my case, I first tried to get closer with my roommate. After that, my roommate introduced me to other friends who came from her university. So I spent most of my time with them. And then I just got closer naturally.

Last, I made lots of memories such as taking pictures and sharing each country’s food. Another way to get closer was through the class activities. We are also thankful to our class teachers. They gave us assignments. It was a little hard to do assignments., but it was a good chance to communicate with people from many countries.

I know three weeks is too short. However, I had a great experience and I am proud of myself. I think that it might be helpful in my future.

LIN PEIXUAN - Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (China)

My ASP at Dongseo University was amazing . I got to know so many friends from Southeast Asian countries, and some of us became not just friends but good friends due to the ASP.

We had activities every day after the classes. I still remember the day after we had a water-balloon fight. I talked so much with Ode and Sofia (maybe until 7 o’clock) and then we were tired of standing so we went to the dorm to spend more time together.

Ode is from Indonesia and she suggested I should try the traditional clothes of her country. The clothes were so beautiful and we danced together wearing Indonesia traditional clothes. How amazing it was! She is such a kind girl and we discussed much about our different cultures.

Although I didn’t learn much during the summer classes, I have to say that during my class “The History and Culture of Central Europe” I absorbed some new ideas from the professor. Our professor was a nice guy, he brought chocolate and traditional candy from his country, Hungary, and the taste was odd! We played Hungarian instruments and learned the traditional folk songs of that country which was a totally new field for me.

I am really grateful for joining the ASP. All of the staff members were so patient, and they had a passion to help us with any kind of trouble. Thank you so much, DSU and 2018 ASP!

Eglė Našlėnaitė - Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania)

The Asia Summer Program was a great way to keep studying even during the summer. During the ASP we had a chance not only to get better in a professional sphere but also to learn about other cultures, make new friends from all over the world, and explore a new city.

The Asia Summer Program gave me the opportunity to visit South Korea, try local food and understand the Korean culture. I think that Dongseo University is a perfect location for ASP. It has a huge campus surrounded by beautiful nature. Busan is also a very beautiful city with a lot of places to visit. Even from my room window, I had a beautiful view of mountains and the city.

Even in those days when we didn’t have any plans, the ASP staff asked us to join the activities they had prepared for us. There were various kinds of activities, so everyone had a chance to participate. The activities were fun, with a lot of team games, so we had a chance to connect with even more people. Also, I really enjoyed Movie nights. I realized that Koreans create really good movies, too.

Moreover, everyone seemed to be very friendly. It’s so easy to start talking with others when you have so many cultural differences. Probably, the majority of conversations started with the question, “Where are you from?” I learned way more about climate and culture in other countries. Of course, I can learn that from books, but it’s totally different because you can ask questions right away and compare other countries to your own. I was able to share information about my country, too. I now feel like way more students know where Lithuania is.

Furthermore, because of the opportunity to choose from so many different courses, I could escape from my everyday courses. Even trying new studies can help in finding new hobbies, or in finding a different view to your studies. Also, it was a good chance to practice the English language, as not being able to communicate with the lecturers and new friends in my own language presented a challenge. Because of different accents and pronunciations, I had more practice in listening to non-native English language speakers.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to participate in ASP. I was able to learn not only about the courses I had, but also about South Korea, and other countries, too.

Rith Puthsahashvong - Norton University (Cambodia)

I’m so delighted to have gone to Busan in Korea for a life changing summer, and I’m so excited that I have become one of the participants in Asia Summer Program 2018. I couldn’t have expected to get the first choice of both courses in the morning and afternoon for studying in Dongseo University as an exchange student from Norton University in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

It was an eye-opening experience, and the first time I travelled independently. From the beginning, ASP staff members were very warm and welcoming with huge smiles at me when I arrived at Gimhae International Airport, and the hospitality was very comfortable.

I have learned a lot about Busan, the second largest city in South Korea and the center for international conventions such as APEC in 2005. I learned about the lifestyle, food, culture, people, landscape and the development of Korea itself.

The ASP program 2018 provided the opportunity for me to make new friends from diverse backgrounds, to learn in a cross-cultural environment with professors from Asia and beyond, to foster my knowledge and understanding of people as well as world trends, and to be a role model for the next generation.

While attending the classes at first, I felt like my understanding wasn’t good enough to catch up in the lessons, but my professors kept trying to explain very clearly with examples and activities until I understood. However, I might have lost some scores due to my lack of skill in editing the video my homework required me to create. I tried my best to find someone to help me and I also tried to learn how to edit the video myself as that’s all part of learning

Beside studying, the evening activities after afternoon classes led me to have more friends and to learn how to work with people in team building. I will never forget the moments when I had fun and challenges with those ASP friends. Moreover, I enjoyed the city tour and optional tour where I could explore so much more than I can possibly describe. I liked the refreshments on the bus that the ASP staff members provided. Also, the places where I visited were spectacularly amazing and it attracted my feeling to living there.

Last but not least, for the talent show performance, it was quite hard to form a team since everyone had their own obligations like the final exam, or was tired from school work. Although it was complicated, there were some members on the team who tried to make it happen. I think of all the great times I had as a part of this program. The whole three weeks was full of excitement because every day was a payoff for all of the work put into this experience. I believe that everyone in this program made great memories and experiences. Thanks ASP 2018!!

Tai Ngee Chia - Singapore University of Social Sciences (Singapore)

The Asia Summer Program (ASP) was amazing, and if I could have had the chance to extend it beyond 3 weeks, I would have. We were always busy and about, exploring Busan, talking with our new friends or simply learning or observing the nuances that occur when so many different people from across the world meet.

Dongseo University was very supportive and provided us with so much, from lodging to food. There was a city tour included which brought to us to many famous places in Busan; the places were beautiful, and everyone had a great time.

There were also many school activities organized by the staff, from challenges and sports to movie nights. These activities were just as fun as they were educational in teaching us about the games that Koreans play, which were very different from those in Singapore. They allowed everyone to bond closer to one another and meet new people. The staff made it amazing for everyone by keeping the atmosphere energetic and enthusiastic, which helped made it a truly enjoyable time. I liked that the ASP organizers didn’t make the activities compulsory as many of us often had different plans, exploring Busan, studying or simply hanging out with our new friends.

Being in the ASP program was also a real eye-opener for me in terms of people. Despite being close neighbours, I realized that everyone has their own special way of doing things, speaking and living. I’ve learnt about food in Lithuania, phrases in Korea and even tried unique snacks from China. Truly, I had an amazing time. I’ve met so many friends from so many places and though we have different cultures, we get along well. After all, everyone wants to make friends! Many of us are in contact with each other and have promised to visit each other in our native countries, creating not just a memory for today but for the future as well.

Classes during the ASP program were great in that our professors came from across Asia, as did our classmates. This gave us a chance to exchange ideas and ways of thinking with each other in the classes, which helped make it much more insightful and fun. The group projects also made classes more engaging and gave us a chance to get to know our classmates as friends.

In summary, the ASP was everything I had hoped the program would be and more. I have made many memories here and if I have but one complaint, it would be that three weeks is a little short to really explore Busan and connect with everyone.

CRIS ALLAN B. AGUSTIN - Tarlac State University (Philippines)

To be part of this year’s Asia Summer Program was really a wonderful experience! Back in the Philippines, we underwent different stages to be selected for the chance to take part in this year’s ASP. Luckily, I was one of the seven students who got the chance to be sponsored by my University. My heart at that moment was about to explode. One of my dream countries has always been South Korea. Then suddenly, I was going there for free!

I was so glad when I received the program guide! It stated that Asia Summer Program is a three-week summer program where students can earn up to four academic credits applicable at their home universities. And not just that, the program also includes activities and tours providing insights into the host country’s culture as well as promoting cooperation and a sense of international community.

A lot of my “first times” happened in the best place: Dongseo University, Busan, South Korea. It was my first time riding in an airplane, subway and Korean bus using a transportation card, my first time meeting students with different nationalities in one class, my first time trying Korea’s best dishes, my first time being away from my family for a long period of time, my first time experiencing cultural diversity, and my first time enjoying individual differences that created a relationship which will last forever.

Different groups of people all around the world have different cultures. Through culture, people and groups define themselves, conform to society’s shared values, and contribute to society. Without culture, a nation will have no identity. Culture is a symbol of a nation. That is one of the attributes which I will keep on enhancing, preserving culture.

To have been part of the success story of the Asia Summer Program 2018 will always be a great privilege for me. For this ASP will always remind me that no matter how far we are from each other, no matter what nationalities we have, no matter what happens, the relationships we have built will always be in our hearts. My deepest congratulations to the people who exerted their all-out efforts for this momentous event to happen. To all the participants of ASP 2018, kudos to all of us!

Sharifah Nazura Syed Sabeer Ali-University Malaysia Perlis (Malaysia)

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

Asia Summer Program 2018 has definitely been a life changing experience for me and for all the students who were involved. It allowed me to experience many different cultures from all around Asia. It became a platform where I met new friends, learnt with amazing teachers, took exciting courses and most of all, where I was able to build my confidence.

Coming from different countries and living together, we all had our own unique cultures and differences. This made each of us special and enabled us to learn and respect other people. ASP 2018 was mainly about living in harmony, creating memories and most importantly making new friends from different parts of the world.

Moreover, the courses that the program had to offer had a huge impact on me. All the teachers gave their full commitment to make sure that the students were able to gain knowledge and had an amazing time learning new things. The hospitality, kindness and love that the teachers showed made the learning process even more exciting. The excitement that was portrayed in the classroom made me feel more cheerful and contented.

I would like to show my huge appreciation to the management team of ASP 2018 at Dongseo University for hosting the program. The university provided amazing facilities and delicious food throughout the program. The staff and student volunteers were friendly, kind and were never hesitant to give guidance whenever there was a problem. Besides that, the schedule of the program was very well organized. This could not be achieved without hard work and amazing team work. So, I would like to thank Dongseo University for making this program a reality.

I will definitely cherish the experience and memories that were made this summer for the rest of my life.