There are many foreign students on campus. It is not easy for both foreign students and Korean students to be close to each other. But here are two students who became best friends even though their nationalities are different. The two who became best friends are Kim Hoon Ae and Su Haiyun. Su Haiyun is a Chinese international student. They do not have a one-way relationship where only the Korean student helps the international student. They are in a mutual friendship that helps each other.

 1. How Did They Meet?

 Their major is the same. But it is not easy for both Korean student and international student to be close. Their age and nationalities are different. So how did they become friends? 

 Su Haiyun, the Chinese international student, tried to get close to Kim Hoon Ae, the Korean student and her friends first. Kim Hoon Ae felt uncomfortable and unfamiliar talking with Su haiyun because she couldn’t speak even a word of Chinese. But they got closer by talking about Chinese dramas, their common interest, as Su Haiyun knew about the Chinese dramas that Kim Hoon Ae was interested in. Su Haiyun also could know more about Korea dramas which is one of her purposes for coming to Korea. Su Haiyun works part-time to pay for tuition and living expenses so she can be independent from her parents. It is hard to be independent with money in a foreign country, so Kim Hoon Ae thought that Su Haiyun was very diligent even though Su Haiyun is younger than her. After meeting Su haiyun, Kim Hoon Ae helped her to do her tasks and talked about Korean culture, so they became best friends.

 2. What Is the Most Valuable Memory In Your Relationship?

 Kim Hoon Ae has once visited to Su Haiyun’s apartment. Su Haiyun cooked Chinese food for herself and for Kim Hoon Ae. They said that it was a very good time to share their culture eating Chinese food. After that, Kim Hoon Ae sometimes visits Su Haiyun’s apartment.

 3. What Do They Mean to Each Other?

 Kim Hoon Ae : Of course I became a guide and helper to Su Haiyun because she came to a foreign country. Also, Su Haiyun became a friend and a helper to me because I planned to travel to China and she gave me many tips for traveling there. Su Haiyun not only taught me Chinese but also taught me about Chinese culture. Like this, we are not in one-way relation where only one person helps the other person. We are in a mutual relationship where we help each other.

 4. What Part of The Other’s Culture Is Most Attractive to Each Other?

 Kim Hoon Ae : I think Chinese food is one of the most attractive qualities of Chinese culture. Especially stinky tofu and fried scorpion are still vivid in my memory. In China, people usually cook every day for each meal. They scarcely make side dishes beforehand. So they always cook when their guests visit their house, such as the time I ate Chinese food at Su Haiyun‘s house. Also I think China is famous for dumplings. So I thought that making dumplings is a common food in every Chinese area. But not all people in China make dumpling by themselves. In Beijing, people make dumpling by themselves and in Nanjing, Su Haiyun’s hometown, people just buy premade dumplings. Because of this, I could learn that there are different cultures even in the same country.

 Su Haiyun : Koreans brush their teeth really frequently. Chinese people brush their teeth only two times, in the morning and before going to bed. I was very surprised to see that Korean flight attendants brush their teeth standing in a row.

5. What Do They Want to Introduce About Their Culture?

 Kim Hoon Ae : Su Haiyun seems to know only about the modern days of Korea through Korean dramas, and she doesn’t know about our history. So I’d like to introduce her about the history of Korea, even though she already took a class about the history of Korea. I know that she is at least a little bit interested in it. So I’d like to introduce more about traditional culture and our history.

 Su Haiyun : I’d like to introduce more about the film and television culture of China, like Chinese dramas. It would be a crucial opportunity to be close with Kim Hoon Ae. So I’d like to introduce various China dramas and to share each other’s cultures.