Packaged by SARA GOODIE – Web Writer
Packaged by WHITNEY LETMAN – Web Writer
Packaged by MARY MERRITT – Features Writer
Packaged by NATASHA MADDOX – Web Writer
Sophomore Ahyun Bae shares her experiences of moving from her hometown, a small city in Korea, to Athens, Georgia.
Ahyun Bae was born in the small city of Suncheon, South Korea and came to the United States in May 2013 with her family because her father works in a foreign exchange program. She is currently a sophomore at Clarke Central High School.
Q: How difficult was the transition from Korea to here?
A: Language was the main problem for me because I didn’t speak English (very) well, and then the different culture… Different friends, different kids, different language. Language was the first problem.
Q: Was it easy for you to make friends coming here?
A: Actually, not really. I’m a really shy person and I couldn’t speak English very well. So (at) first it was hard, but (everyone) was being nice and now I’m used to it. I’m still making friends.
Q: How is school in Korea different than school here?
A: I think school here is kind of better… Korean high school starts at the same time, but it ends at 10 p.m. I never experienced it because I just came (to America) when I graduated middle school. My friends are all jealous.
Q: What is it like being around so many different cultures within CCHS?
A: In Korea, I think in capital cities there are some foreigners, but in my city, there are (almost) none. So I was really surprised because there are lots of people from all other countries. (Coming here) was kind of easier because there are lots of people in the same situation as me.
Q: What do you miss most about Korea?
A: I think it’s probably going to be friends, and food… If we go to Atlanta, there is a Korean H- Mart and Mega Mart. We buy food from there and my mom cooks it. So I eat Korean food everyday at home.
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