A Unique and Great Opportunity

Today was Friday in Korea, which meant field trip day for many of the Ewha International Co-Ed Summer School students. This week's field trip was a very specail one, at least to me. Today we went to the House of Sharing, a home for the many "comfort women" who served as sex slaves to Japanese Soldiers during World War II.

There were many students who went to the field trip, which made me happy because it showed how interested everyone was and that we were all going to experience something for the first time all together. It took us about an hour and a half to get there from Seoul; it's located in a more country-type area, and the land was beautiful and peaceful. When we first got to the House of Sharing, we watched a 15-minute video that gave some background on the time during WWII for many young, Korean girls. The video focused on a woman who was one of the first "comfort women" to come out and confess what had happened to her. She was a strong fighter and only wanted the Japanese government to apologize for what they'd done. She passed away, however her strong will and cause still lives on through her friends and those who supported her.

After watching the movie, we had the chance to meet and talk with a former "comfort woman." I was so grateful that this woman took the time to speak to us and share some of her experiences with us because we had heard that many of the women were sick and probably would not be able to speak with us. This woman was so cute and although quiet, we could all tell she was very strong. She spoke to us through a translator and gave inspirational words. She told us to be appreciative of our educations because she was not able to go to school, which was something she cried about when she was little. She was kidnapped at the age of 7 and taken to China. There, she worked as a housekeeper for a family she would later call her own. At 16, she was then put into sex slavery. It wasn't until 2000 when she returned to Korea. She did not have any identification stating she was Korean, though, and her return was very difficult. Although born in Korea, she lived in China for 50 plus years. It was a really great opportunity to be able to see and meet with her. We took a picture at the end of the session and I was right near her. She even pulled another girl and I closer to her so we would be closer to her in the picture. After the picture, I shook her hand and said, "Halmoni, kamsahamnida." (Grandmother, thank you). Everyone loved listening to her and I'm sure everyone was thankful for the experience as much as I was. (If you'd like to read a little about her, click this link: http://nanum.org/eng/index.html On the right, it has the women's names and pictures, click: Lee, Oak-Sun)

After the session, we went through the museum that is located at the House of Sharing. There were so many artifacts and pictures and my favorite, paintings. Many of the "Halmonis" painted when they were living at the House of Sharing so they could get their emotions and feelings out. There was even a replica of a room that was supposed to be like a "comfort room."

In case you're wondering why I'm using quotes when using the term, "comfort women," it's because our tour guide told us this fact: The "comfort women" were comfort to the Japanese soldiers, but paradoxically and obviously not comfortable with their forcement of living. The Japanese government has denied that all of this ever happened, which has caused many of the comfort women to go to the Japanese office located in Seoul every Wednesday to protest. They have continually been going there since 1992.

Many of these women were kidnapped at such young ages. They were forced into sex slavery and were abused every single day. There are few survivors and even fewer who will come out and admit what happened. The only thing these survivors want is to be believed and apologized to. They don't want people saying they were prostitutes; they don't want to be forgotten.

This experience was one that I am very glad to have had the opportunity. It was definitely something different and something that I could only experience in Korea, and maybe only through this program.

I hope this has allowed some of you to learn as much as I did today.
Some pictures will be posted later on.
Allie