Reflection


1. How has your impression of South Korea changed in the last few days?
South Korea is just like Singapore a well-developed country. With that thought in mind, i had always imagine South Korea as a country that has many skyscrapers and high rise building, a very urbanized country just like Singapore. However upon spending a few days in South Korea, i was proven wrong. Tall buildings are rare, instead, mountains and hills can be seen everywhere in South Korea.

2. In your opinion, provides 2 similarities and differences between Singapore and South Korea.
Both Singapore and South Korea have a very stressful education system. In Singapore as we all know, we have national exams like PSLE and 'O' levels etc. We also have test and exams regularly in addition to the supplementary lessons given. In South Korea, they are also tested regularly. Their curriculum hours starts at 8 am and ends at 11/ 12 pm depending on their grade. Moreover, their library have a very special system. The usage of the library depends on their results. Those with better results will get a better place in the library and vice versa.
Another similarity is that both Singapore and South Korea are facing ageing population, and both are preparing for it. For example,  South Korea set up the Senior Experience Centre. They not only produce items for the convenience of the aged, they also allow people to experience how it feels to be old and restricted in their movement. This will allow people to put themselves in the elderly shoes, encouraging them to be considerate and help the elderly.
One difference between Singapore and South Korea would be in terms of their language. Due to the fact that South Korea is a one race country, the people in South Korea mainly speak Korean. Which is very different from Singapore, a multi racial country where people have to speak English as a common language to communicate with other races.
Another difference between Singapore and South Korea is their building. Look around Singapore and all we can see is high rise building. However in South Korea we are not able to see that. As South Korea have sufficient land space, it is not necessary for them to build tall buildings.

3. List and explain three of your most memorable experiences.
First would be the Daegu safety park. In the theme park, i was able to learn what to do in the case of an emergency.What is interesting is that i was able to experience and practice the actions to be carried when an emergency happen. I will not be able to experience this in Singapore as Singapore is a natural disaster free country and does not have practices like this.
Secondly, the Senior Experience Centre. I was volunteered to become an old lady. Things were strapped on my joints and back, special spectacles were also given to me to experience blurred vision. I was brought around in the centre and did simple daily activities like siting on a couch, reaching for the lowest part of the shelf and getting into the bathtub etc. All these are very simple things that i could have done easily but with the restrictions on me, all these became impossible to do. This allow me to experience old age, and i will never wan to experience it again. However, it is indeed a very memorable experience and not everybody have a chance to become old when he/she is only 15 years old.
Lastly, the interaction with the students in POSCO high school. It is a very rare chance to visit the top school in South Korea and to even make friends with the student there. Meeting the students there and to walk within the school boundary is definitely a once in a lifetime chance.

4. List and explain three things you have learnt about yourself and your life as a student.
I have learnt that i should not be taking my school holidays for granted as students from the other places on the planet do not even have school holidays.
I am glad that i am in Singapore, exposed to different kind of people due to the different races and of course exposed to different variety of food, having a wide variety of food to choose from.
I am also grateful that i live in Singapore as it is natural disaster free!

shiya :D
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