Even after the long, agonizing midterm week was over, some groups of students still continued to stay up late at night. Starting in mid-November, a series of concerts, performances, and exhibits is hosted by various student clubs. These clubs boast their skills across different genres with high-quality performances. Despite the lack of sleep, they work hard with sweat running down in beads every night for several hours out of sheer passion and love for what they do. Perhaps this is what people would call the pinnacle of the college life.
How would the chemistry change if another factor is thrown in, such as international students? As international student population is growing in POSTECH, and because these activities are definitely common around the world, more foreign students would want to join the clubs. POSTECH Times asked the presidents of the dance club CTRL-D, a guitar club GT Love, and classics club HanUlRim about what they think about this. All three clubs already had some kind of experience with students from other countries. HanUlRim still has active, non-Korean members that recently performed at the concert last month. Even though the other two clubs do not currently have foreign students as active members, they did have a few foreigners in the club at some point in the past.
When it comes to communication, all three said in chorus that it is hardly a problem. Moon Sook Jin (Life ’10), the president of CTRL-D said, “It is not burdensome at all to communicate in English. It’s actually more fun to practice together.” Hee Min Lee (Phys ’10) added, “Musical terms are in English anyway so the conductor does not have to use complicated English to give instructions.” In Hwan Do (MSE ’09) further commented that “it would actually be a good opportunity for them to join clubs like ours because a lot of songs we perform are in English.”
While there seems to be no hurdles during practices or performances, there still exists a cultural barrier. CTRL-D is traditionally known for a very rigorous practice schedule, and requires some sacrifices in terms of academics and sleep from the members. Moon explained it was difficult to ask them to devote more time as she does to other members because they are graduate students and are busy with research. Do of GT Love spoke out of concern that “it would not be that easy to get along in regular get-togethers.” Only HanUlRim did not have such a problem, however. “They came to the wrap-up party after a concert, and had a lot of fun both in rehearsals and social events like this,” said Lee, the president of HanUlRim.
Despite such concerns, the main reason the students take time out of their busy schedules is that they love what they do. If you are an international student reading this article and love dancing, singing, or playing an instrument, you should knock on these clubs’ doors and join them, as they will welcome you without prejudice.
