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MinJung Jin, a 16-year-old exchange student from South Korea, is ready to celebrate her first American Christmas. She’ll head home to Seoul on Monday.
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Korean student experiences American culture, Christmas
For one Am-Po sophomore, this Christmas will be her first with a new family.
In fact, the holiday season brings about the culmination of a semester full of firsts for MinJung Jin, a 16-year-old South Korean exchange student who has lived most of this school semester with Jim and Charlotte Dyer of Pocasset.
Min witnessed her first rock concert, cheered for the first time at a football game, played in a softball game for the first time, and donned a Halloween costume for the first time.
And tomorrow, she'll witness an American Christmas first-hand for the first time.
She said Christmas is not as big of a holiday in Korea. She said she gets the day off from school on Christmas, but instead of spending time with family, she hangs out with friends. This Christmas will be the first time she has had a tree with so many presents under it.
Min has experienced a whirlwind of American culture since she arrived in January. She said she was able to focus on learning English and American culture, but she learned a lot about who she is more than anything else.
"I think I really get more active...more independence, kind of brave," she said. "I hope [my family] can see me as a different person."
She said that, early in her trip, she would sometimes feel overwhelmed and stressed out, but as she packs her bags and readies to fly across the Pacific she wishes a year was longer.
On Monday, she will head home to Seoul, the South Korean capital city. Even though she is ready to see her biological family, Min said she will never forget the bonds she has formed with her host families.
"When I first got here, I was like, 'How can I get through it?,' " she said. "Now, I hope I could stay longer."
In Korea there is a much greater focus on work, which decreases the time families spend together, she said.
She said she enjoys the closeness of American families.
Min first lived with Angela Freeman and her children in Chickasha, but after a few months Min decided she wanted to attend a smaller school. Min soon found herself living in Pocasset with the Dyer family and attending Am-Po High School. Jim, Charlotte and their two children, Danielle and Dylan, accepted Min into their home with open arms.
Charlotte said she had always wanted to host an exchange student but her husband always stalled.
"But once there was a name to it and not just an exchange student, he couldn't say no," she said.
Dylan, 18, said he too was against it at first but ended up enjoying Min's stay.
"I've had the most fun with it," he said.
He took it upon himself to teach his new sister how to have attitude and dish out sarcasm.
"The first thing the kids taught her was 'bring it on sucka,' " Charlotte said.
Sunday the Dyer's will host a farewell party for Min. Danielle said they expect most of the sophomore, junior and senior classes to attend to send Min on her way.
Even though Min was not at Am-Po long, she has left an impact on the school.
She was the first exchange student to take agriculture classes and the first to be named the school carnival's princess.
She was extremely popular among her peers, and teachers said she was their best student.
Min returns to South Korea for three remaining years of high school. She, like most high school sophomores, does not know what she wants to do.
She does not know where the future will take her, but she said she will return to visit someday.
Both Min and her host family will be forever changed by the experiences they shared.
"This has been amazing," Charlotte said.
Some tears have been shed in preparing for Min's departure, and many more are expected.
"Both of you are going to be puddles that Dad and I have to mop up off the floor," Dylan said to his mother and sister.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
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STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
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Transformations
