SKK

This week was hectic but fun as I and my five classmates taught our problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum to medical students from Sungkyunkwan (SKK) University in South Korea. For the past couple of years, the school has been sending their third year students to my school for this program because those students also will begin using PBL for their medical training. When I say third year, it is sort of comparable to first year of medical school in the U.S. After high school, Korean students have two years of pre-med classes and then four years of education equivalent to medical school here in the States.

We met each other at orientation this past Sunday. At first, the students were shy, and it was a little hard for us to speak to them. But as the week wore on, we, the tutors, learned to speak slowly, gesticulate more, and curb our "pidgin", and the students grew more comfortable with us and the culture here. We had classes everyday, but there were some fun "cultural" activites like the beach, Waimea Park, and a luau.

These students are amazing. I learned that they mostly use medical books that are written in English. I have a hard enough time reading some books, but imagine having to translate English and medical terminology. It was an awesome week, and a lot of friendships were made in such a short time.

A couple of more interesting tidbits: one of my dormmates in Donner freshman year is now a popular rapper/actor in Korea! Also, did you know that sohju comes in containers that look like innocent juice boxes?

Kyle and I being role models for the students

The best SKK PBL group!

Traci jumping off the rock at Waimea Beach

The class at Waimea Park

Da girl tutors: Erika, Traci, Sera, K-Lo, and me

At Zippys

At Zippys

Of course we studied VERY hard

At graduation dinner

Sera and I with SKK staff

The gang