Niki
Hello!
My name is Niki and I'm from Hungary. I'm doing my PhD at Sungkyunkwan University majoring in Confucian Studies. My major previously (both bachelor’s and master’s) was Korean Studies where I was introduced to Korean history, culture, literature, and language which led me to come to Korea to do my PhD. My main research area is focused on Joseon Confucianism, especially the scholar called Jeong Dojeon. However, I'm deeply interested in Korean Buddhism, Taoism and Shamanism in general too. My plan is to introduce Korean Philosophy to a wider audience in Europe and teach about Confucianism to students majoring in philosophy and Korean Studies.
I have several hobbies; I love doing sports very frequently. I enjoy working out with weights, but I also like aerobics and running. I’m very good at makeup, so I often do not just mine but my friends’ makeup too. I enjoy hiking, travelling with my friends, so whenever I have a bit of free time I try to spend it with something fun.
안녕하세요?
저는 헝가리에서 온 니키입니다. 저는 성균관대학교에서 박사과정을 하고 있고, 전공은 유학(儒學)입니다. 저의 전공은 원래 한국학이었는데 한국철학, 특히 유교에 관심이 많았으니 박사과정을 할 때 꼭 유학에 대해서 공부하고 싶었습니다. 제 연구분야는 한국 유학인데 그 중에서도 제가 너무 즐겁게 연구하고 있는 인물은 삼봉 정도전(三峰 鄭道傳)이라는 학자입니다. 저는 졸업하고 나서 유럽에 돌아가고자 하고, 거기에서 철학, 한국학 등을 전공하는 학생들에게 한국 철학에 대한 강의를 하고 싶습니다.
저는 취미가 많이 있는데요. 저는 운동을 너무 좋아하고, 역도이든 에어로빅이든 다 즐깁니다. 그뿐만 아니라, 저는 메이크업도 매우 재미있다고 생각하고 재능도 좀 있어서 시간이 있을 때 친구들의 화장까지 합니다. 또한 친구들과 등산하고 여행가는 것도 아주 좋습니다.
Olga
I was born in Moscow, Russia, have lived in 3 different countries since then and traveled to about 30. I love exploring new places in a relaxed way: rather then seeing twenty different landmarks in a day, I prefer concentrating on one or two locations, but actually experiencing them. I love people-watching and reading a book in a cozy cafe, catching sunset on an empty beach, walking in a forest and taking multiple pictures of some random weirdly shaped leaf.
Ondo
My name is Gerardo Ondo, from Equatorial Guinea. I hold a bachelor degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, a bachelor degree in Mining Engineering, MBA in Project Management and currently completing a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. I speak more than five languages (Spanish, French, English Fang and I am still in the process of mastering the Korean language) I am passionate about travelling, meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. I love cultural diversity and this passion has taken me to different countries such as Spain, France, Belgium, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, etc and I am currently studying in Korea. I love cooking, long evening walks, meeting friends and definite, hiking. Another passion of mine is reading, it helped me write my first book (Becoming a Developed Nation: Secret to Nations’ Success) which is available on Amazon. I see myself as a relentless fun and thirsty for new adventures, and I’m always looking for a new challenge.
저는 적도 기니에서 온 온도입니다. 저는 전기 및 전자 공학 학사 학위, 광업 공학 학사 학위, 프로젝트 관리 MBA 학위를 받았으며 현재 전기 및 컴퓨터 공학 석사 학위를 취득했습니다. 나는 5 개 이상의 언어 (스페인어, 프랑스어, 영어 팡)를 구사하며 아직 한국어를 마스터하는 과정에 있습니다. 나는 여행, 새로운 사람들을 만나고 다른 문화를 경험하는 것에 열정적입니다. 저는 문화적 다양성을 사랑하고 이러한 열정이 저를 스페인, 프랑스, 벨기에, 말레이시아, 싱가포르, 인도네시아, 태국, 필리핀 등과 같은 여러 나라로 데려 갔고 현재 한국에서 공부하고 있습니다. 나는 요리, 긴 저녁 산책, 친구 만나고 확실히, 하이킹을 좋아합니다. 저의 또 다른 열정은 읽기입니다.이 책은 Amazon에서 구할 수있는 첫 번째 책 (선진국이되기 : 국가의 성공의 비결)을 쓰는 데 도움이되었습니다. 저는 제 자신을 새로운 모험에 대한 끊임없는 재미와 목마름으로 여기며 항상 새로운 도전을 찾고 있습니다.
Mari
My name is Marianne Chang but you can just call me Mari (마리). I come from the beautiful country of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) where I earned my Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Physics and minoring in Electronics, Bioengineering and Medical Physics at the University of the West Indies (UWI). I am now pursuing a M.Sc. in Bioengineering at Seoul National University as a KGSP scholar and expect to graduate next year August. Presently, my research interests lie in the bio-MEMS (biomedical microelectromechanical systems) field, regarding the making of wearable devices for long-term monitoring to improve diagnostic techniques. Therefore, I would ideally like to work for a company specialising in making these diagnostic devices after graduating.
Outside of the academic sphere, I enjoy playing a wide variety of sports such as football, cricket and volleyball, but in Korea, I have mainly engaged in hiking as there are many beautiful landscapes to enjoy in four equally beautiful seasons. However, there are still many mountains and landscapes that I still wish to see in Korea. As I am uncertain of my future in Korea after my studies are completed, I would like to see as much of Korea as possible with my remaining time. Not only through hiking, but via a wide range of activities as possible so that I can truly say that I have experienced all that South Korea has to offer. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I also really enjoyed seeing different parts of the country by attending different festivals like the Boryeong Mud Festival, Seoul Global Sports Festival and the Boseong Tea Festival. In order to fulfil this goal, I have recently joined tours related to Korean intangible culture in Jeonju and a social media influencer tour highlighting the city of Yeoncheon through cooking classes, soap making, kayaking, archery and hiking. Thus, I wish to continue exploring Korea so that I can make even more memorable moments like these.
I have always been a lover of outdoor activities and travelling. Among the Philippines, Colombia, South Korea and my home, I have done wakeboarding, white water rafting, paragliding, ziplining, surfing, sailing, kayaking, archery, skiing, paintball, hash running and 5-10K races and have many more items waiting on the bucket list.
Olya
My name is Olga Kim. I am from Kazakhstan, Almaty. The city where I was born is surrounded by mountains that is why from the childhood I did hike a lot. Since the winters in my home town are long almost everyone skiing, snowboarding and skating. I am personally preferring snowboard.
I came to South Korea in 2016. Firstly I studied Korean language and later I entered SKKU to study marketing. I like to be here in South Korea very much. I traveled around the country a lot. My favorite places are Jeju island because I love the sea and Seoul for it’s lively energy. I admire the coexistence of the traditional and modern sides of Korea.
겨울은 길고 추운 카자흐스탄에서 온 김올가입니다. 고향에서 산이 많아서 어렸을 때부터 등산과 스노보드를 탔습니다.
한국에 2016년에 왔습니다. 먼저 한국어를 배우다가 성균관대학교 들어와서 마케팅을 배우게 됐습니다. 전국 여행도 많이 가보고 한국에 있는 것이 즐겁습니다. 제주도와 서울 가장 좋아합니다.
Dama
Hi!
My name is Dama and I am from Mexico. Before coming to Korea, I traveled and lived in Australia and the United States, where are did also part of my undergraduate degree. Currently, I am a full-time PhD student at Pusan National University.
Every time I visit a new place I like to learn about their history and culture, and that’s something that I really enjoy about Korea, that their rich cultural heritage is present everywhere and it’s a window to learn more about it, for that reason I enjoy travelling here and getting to know new places.
안녕하세요!
제 이름은 다마이고 멕시코 사람입니다. 한국에 오기 전에 저는 호주와 미국에서 여행하고 살았습니다. 현재 저는 부산대학교에 박사 재학생입니다.
새로운 곳을 방문할 때마다 나는 그들의 역사와 문화에 대해 배우고 싶습니다. 그것은 제가 한국에 대해 정말 좋아하는 것입니다.
한국의 풍부한 문화 유산은 어디에나 존재합니다. 그렇기 때문에 저는 한국에서 주변의 새로운 장소와 여행하는 것을 좋아합니다.
Ceci
Hi, I am CECIlia TOrres QUIroz (@cecitoqui) and I am 31years old. I came from a wonderful country in South America, Peru. I’ve arrived to South Korea 2years ago. My first year here, I studied Korean language, and the second year I started my master course in the field of Geotechnical and GeoEnvironmental Engineering. I decide to come to South Korea because it is a country with a great technology development and has many things from where I can learn. But also, I knew part of Korean culture by watching dramas, and listening KPop, so when I got the opportunity to come here, I’ve just come. My nature is being an explorer, so as part of KoreaWanderers I will explore as much as I can in South Korea. In my free time I enjoy trekking, hiking, biking or activities outdoors that allow me to relax and left my stress out. Fortunately, South Korea has an integrated system of transport, wherever that I want to go it is easy to find my track. Also, to do biking, the rent by bike per hour it is cheap, and you don't need to return the bike to the initial point.
I also enjoy indoor activities, such as reading, watch movies or has a moment of self-esteem. One of my favorite books is the travel to the center of the earth oof the author Verner, it motivated me to be geotechnical engineer. Even if COVIC-19 changes our life's, we must be able to find ways to enjoy our lives.
Jyoti
Art without engineering is dreaming, engineering without art is calculating “.And Korea is a perfect blend of both art and engineering together. And this is the reason why I chose Korea as my destination for the higher studies .Talking about myself, I am Jyoti Mahato from Nepal. I am a graduate student at Seoul National University in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. My current research interest is improving the strength of the concrete using ecofriendly materials. As a civil engineer, I always dream of serving the world for better and safer world of construction. My hobbies are to play sports, public speaking, debate and travelling. Being in Korea, I have realized that the tradition and cultural values always should be preserved .I strongly believe in “It’s never too late to start again “.
