Three groups of students visiting from South Korea prepared to say farewell to ULM and Monroe as the end of their program approached.

The students of Geumgang University and Hanbat National University participated in intensive ESL courses or internships and presented their culture and experiences in America to friends and fellow Warhawks.

“I learned a lot about Korea, and their presentations were great. I didn’t know much about it before, only the negative things,” said Ben Edwards, a freshman business management major.

The presenting students each showcased a different subject, varying from the history of Korea to the fashion and similarities between South Korea and the United States. One student prepared a video, which included photos from their trip.

Yeonyu Lee, an ESL student from South Korea, described some of her favorite memories and experiences from her trip.

“Most of the people are very kind, they say hello to strangers. Sometimes people say hello to me, and it seems to be a part of American culture,” Lee said.

Exchange students visited New Orleans and experienced a Mardi Gras parade.

“New Orleans was very big and active and there were lots of different stores,” Lee said.

Lee enjoyed watching American television, mainly for the entertaining commercials. Compared to South Korean television, she believed the commercials were much more interesting and humorous.

“America is very diverse with many people from different countries. And I like that they respect each other even though they aren’t the same,” Lee said.

Lee’s American experience won’t end with Monroe and ULM. She plans to visit Los Angeles and Las Vegas before returning home.

Kioh Kim, assistant professor in the School of Education, announced the first ULM exchange student to visit Hanbat University in South Korea. Christopher Collins, a graduate student of experimental psychology, helped teach English to the most recent group of students.

“I’m nervous and excited, and I want to make sure I do well. But the presentations were great, they weren’t what I was expecting. The music video was definitely awesome,” Collins said.

Collins taught a small group of two to three students and hopes to continue their friendship during his stay in Korea.

“I’ll keep them around me so they can tell me where to go, and they all speak English very well so it’ll help me transition quite easily,” Collins said.

Certificates were awarded to each student who completed the exchange program, and plaques were given to businesses where students interned.