| Members of the Friendship Force International (FF) prepare rice cakes with heavy mallets at Yongsan Family Park, Seoul, Saturday. / Courtesy of John Redmond |
By John Redmond
British, American and Australians members of the Friendship Force International (FF) enjoyed a weeklong homestay in Korea as part of a program to promote intercultural ties.
During their visit, members of the international cultural exchange program visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Gyeongbok Palace, the Korean Folk Village, the Museum of Modern Art in Anyang, the National Museum of Korea and the War Memorial of Korea as well as Seoul's Insa-dong for sightseeing and shopping.
The group of 18 FF members including representatives of the Tamworth FF, Hobart FF leaders, two Americans and two from the U.K., also hiked Mt. Nam with their host families, watched a taekwondo demonstration and visited Olympic Park.
Team leader Annette Watson commented on how language was not a barrier during the visit.
"Some hosts and day hosts were worried they had little English and probably could not understand that for visitors who live in a totally English-speaking country half the fun is trying to communicate," wrote Watson on the group Facebook page. "A smile, a warm handshake or a hug and lots of gestures is enough. For me learning any words in a different language is a big challenge."
Joined by members of the Korea Australia Friendship Society (KAFS) and international exchange students, the group enjoyed a picnic and the chance to play traditional Korean games and make rice cakes at Yongsan Family Park on Saturday.
Leaving Monday, Watson had high praise for the hospitality shown by her Korean hosts.
"Our week with our new friends in Korea has ended," she wrote. "It has been an absolute joy to stay in the homes of these very warm, welcoming and generous people. They laugh a lot, dance and party. The pace is hectic. We walked a lot and talked a lot and did not have much time to sleep."
Founded by Wayne Smith and introduced by U.S. President Jimmy Carter in March 1977 at a White House gathering of state governors, FF provides an opportunity to bring people together through home hospitality, where visitors share in meals, conversation and the routines of daily life. The nonprofit has chapters in 377 communities in 56 countries.
For more information, visit www.thefriendshipforce.org.