Mingyu (Frank) Kim

As a small five year old Kindergartener wearing my Hanbok, I walked into the school gym and was awestruck. All around me were the different countries and cultures of my peers. I couldn’t help but stand and stare, too stunned to move my tiny feet. I looked over to my left and saw the Zimbabwe stand where my friend, Tapiwanashe, was helping his mother pass out Sadza and teaching words in his native tongue, Shona. I turned my head to the right and saw the huge China stand where kids of all ages were wearing their traditional Hanfu while pumping their arms to throw their chinese yo-yos up in the air. Looking out to the other 25 stands, I found the same happiness and pride that each person had in their country and culture. With my “passport” in hand, I embarked on my journey to visit every country that the culture fair had to offer.

Having events like this has enabled me to “explore the world” and experience the cultures of my classmates. With my one precious life, I hope to continue and learn more about the people around me. Whether it is by befriending people from different areas of the world or going there myself, I want to expand my knowledge and understand the differences and similarities in the cultures around me.