In 1960s, Koreans went to Germany in a hope of financially stable-life. Men and Women worked as miners and nurses respectively. Their life was not juicy at all; in fact, miners had to work in 40 degrees hot and 3000m deep underground. However, their influence to Korean economy was massive – they earned 30% of Korea’s national export. 
     Despite Korea’s huge economic improvement, people still visit Germany. Some wish to achieve their goals, look for refreshment, and to challenge. While I was on my two-week long backpacking in Germany, I met three Korean ladies who visited Germany for different purposes. (Two of them were cousins of my travel roommates, and the other was random backpacking college student.)


Granny Nana in Kassel


     Nana (the second from the left in the image) first stepped on Germany at her age of 20 because she wanted to study industrial design at university in Kassel. When she arrived at Germany, she had only studied German during 3 years of her high school life. Despite the language barrier she decided to study in Germany to achieve her dream. (She commented she used to dream of becoming a world renowned designer.) According to her, she was the only Korean in the university. In other words, she had to be strong and independent to survive in foreign land. While attending the university she decided to open a small organic toy store for babies. She named her store Nanchen after her name. And her store which began as a flagship store now became successful toy company with forty years history.
      I asked two cliché questions to her: What does Germany and Korea means to you, respectively? She answered without a doubt. If Korea mentally supported her, Germany physically assisted her dream. Her family in Korea encouraged her, and people in Germany gave her an opportunity to challenge.
      She also commented, “I never regretted my coming to Germany. True. It was difficult to adjust to completely new environment alone. However even such hardships helped me achieve my goal. Never stop but challenge; then, there will be a way.”



Aunt Lina in Berlin

     Lina (the first from the left of upper image) has lived in Germany for three years. Before, she had lived and worked in Korea for about a decade. She used to work as music department marketer in S company. Though she was living financially successful and stable life at Korea, she was dissatisfied with her life. She found repetitive and routine office work tired. Thus she decided to come to Germany – since she majored German language at the university – and refresh her life. Until now, she seems to enjoy her life in Germany.
     I asked the same question as I did to Nana, and Lina’s reply was very different from Nana’s. Her answer was simple: “Korea is closed and Germany is open.” She believed despite much globalization, Korean society is still conservative and closed minded. She continued that average life of an adult is too busy to rest. “Koreans work for the company and family rather than themselves. I think they should know how to work and play just like Germans or any other Europeans.”
     During the weekends she practices piano which she have always wanted to learn. And she attends German class at the university nearby. She advised us not to spend time merely studying and working; she wanted us three to try what we like.



Anonymous Backpacking Student at ICE (IntetCity Express)

     While heading to Berlin by night train, I met Korean backpacker. She 23-year-old student was traveling Germany alone. According to her she had traveled Swiss and Austria with her friend, and they separated at Germany.
     She was taking time off university for a year and travel around Europe. I asked, “Why did you decide to travel for so long?” Just like previous two ladies, anonymous backpacker wanted some change. “Having lived as a typical Korean university student for few years, I forgot what I wanted to do. I cannot grasp what I would like to do in the future. I needed some time to meet people, get advices, and learn more about ‘life.’”
     She added, “I think traveling around Europe gives me a lot of time to ponder. Why do not you try imagining your future while traveling? It might give you an insight.”


     Traveling around Germany, I could not see many Koreans among Asians. Though short chats with three ladies gave me a lesson which I could not have learned from other travels: to try and challenge. Wish we continue questioning for our future.


/MIZY Youth Reporters Yeong-ran Ahn






 

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