A group of Adventist university students from South Korea traveled to Oman this spring—not just to serve, but to connect.
By Gureni Lukwaro
A group of Adventist university students from South Korea traveled to Oman this spring — not just to serve, but to connect.
Students from Sahmyook Health University in South Korea visited Muscat, the capital city of Oman, for a seven-day trip to connect with fellow students and build friendships.
The Korean students used the opportunity to conduct educational health programs to secondary and university students from various educational institutions in Oman's capital.
The team of 15 male and female students, which was accompanied by four faculty and staff members of the college, took advantage of the trip to also showcase Korean culture, which has become increasingly popular in Oman and other Gulf countries.
"Korean culture is very popular in this region and young people from around the Middle East watch Korean movies, listen to K-Pop, eat Korean food and some even strive to learn Korean language," said Jon Park, Executive Secretary of the Gulf Field.
The Korean team was able to visit several institutions and places including the Ministry of Higher Education, the German University of Technology in Oman, Sultan Qaboos University Nursing College, Barka Private School, University of Nizwa as well as engaging with the community through community cultural exchange, which culminated with a visit to a local Omani family.
"The popularity of Korean culture here makes it possible for Koreans, like these students, to travel freely in the region and engage with young people in these countries to make meaningful and impactful connections with their counterparts here," said Youngsik Ham, a Korean national living in Muscat, Oman, and the host of the student group.
While in Muscat, the Korean students performed various health, educational, traditional and recreational activities including traditional Korean games, sampling various Korean foods, teaching some basic expressions of Korean language and introducing the Korean alphabet by teaching people to write their names in Korean, just to name a few.
The students also took time to highlight the Korean healthcare system and nursing education, especially as offered by their university, as well as sharing free samples of Korean-made healthcare tools and cosmetic products.
The trip was also an opportunity for cultural exchange, as the Korean students also had a chance to learn more about Arabic and Omani culture and traditions as they met people and visited various places in Oman.
As part of their learning requirement, Sahmyook Health University students are required to do volunteer community service during university holiday periods, so the trip helped fulfill this requirement. The requirement aims to help students learn the spirit of service and giving, broaden their humanitarian perspective, and broaden their awareness of other cultures, traditions, faiths, and ways of life.
"We praise God for the success of this service trip. Opportunities like this highlight our institutional efforts to serve communities around us and leave a positive impact," said Marc Coleman, President of the Gulf Field.
Oman is part of the Gulf Field, an Adventist regional administrative office comprising seven countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Sahmyook Health University was founded in 1936 and is one of the leading higher educational institutions in South Korea.