Cristian Gonzalez

"This is Bedford Park Boulevard.
The next stop is Moshulu Parkway.
Stand clear the closing doors please."

Each morning, after waking up reluctantly at five o'clock, jumping onto an overcrowded subway car, and traveling through three New York City boroughs, I arrive at my awaited destination. Everyday, while groaning about their AP Physics or AP Calculus tests, the diverse students of The Bronx High School of Science come together and migrate from every corner of the city to the welcoming steps of our beloved building. When walking through the biology, chemistry or physics wings of Bronx Science, one can sense the intellectual atmosphere and the competitive ambiance that makes Bronx Science what it is. Whether it is dissecting a fetal pig, determining the molecular volume of butane gas or using ripple tanks to analyze water waves, the students at Bronx Science are constantly involved in scientific movement.
After hearing about a normal day at my scientific school, you probably think I am a science lover and that I aspire to be a rocket scientist. Ha! Surprisingly, one of the things that I learned from Bronx Science and its students is that I do not want to be any type of science major, but instead, I learned that my true passion is languages. I discovered that the intricacies and benefits of foreign tongues and dialects excite and motivate me. As a student of Spanish and French, I have been exposed to different cultures and customs and have grown as a person as a result. Being Guatemalan myself, and by comparing my culture to other Latin American and Spanish-Speaking cultures-such as Peruvian, Argentine, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Spaniard, Mexican and Colombian-I have learned to appreciate other backgrounds and ethnicities. Additionally, the fact that I go to a school where virtually every single nationality and culture is represented has also had a great impact on my understanding and respect for others and their customs.

Rachel Graham Kagan

My name is Rachel Graham Kagan. I've lived in New York City all my life and gone to one school for almost that long. I started Hunter College Elementary School in Kindergarten and have kept on to Hunter College High School, where I am currently a senior. My parents are from opposite ends of the earth; my mom is from a tiny town in Texas that has fewer people than my apartment building, and my dad is from the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I have a brother, Gordon, who is four years younger than me and eccentric, to say the least. At school I especially love English and social studies, but I've had the chance to take interesting courses in math, science, and foreign languages that I hope to continue in college. Social studies is probably my favorite because it involves looking at complex events from every angle, and there is never a right answer. I've been involved in political work during high school, and hopefully I'll be able to continue on through college. My goal is to go into politics¡¦ Maybe someday I'll be president.

Christal Louison

What is imagination?  Imagination is a combination of things. It can be interpreted different ways, and it is what you make of it. Most importantly, imagination is a part of who I am.
Hi, my name is Christal Michelle Louison. I am sixteen, and with imagination I am able to live my life to the fullest. You see I grew up in a sheltered lifestyle. My parents really cared about my sibs and me, and because of the hard times they endured as youngsters in the Caribbean, they strived to give us the best in life and to keep us away from things they thought my sisters and I weren't ready for. So what do sheltered children do to have fun, and not feel like their missing out on something, when all their friends are doing something and they aren't allowed to? We used our imaginations; we acted, did improvisation, put on our little performances for our parents, built fortresses out of our beds and covers, and pretended to go on wild safari adventures in our house. We even wrote plays and stories to keep ourselves from ever being bored.
Over the years, as I grow into a young adult, I use my Imagination as a part of everyday life. You see, I attend the Professional Performing Arts High School in Manhattan, and I major in vocal music. In vocal we use tools often associated with imagination, like creativity, when we interpret different songs so we can evoke something inside of people and perhaps change them for the better. When we sang Randall Thompson's Alleluia, I interpreted the song as the wind howling for change for the better, or the wind when it creeps onto you and almost scares you, or when the wind swirls around you making you marvel at its power. This was the way we sang the song and it was one of the songs we sang at Carnegie Hall, where we received a standing ovation.
In school, I am an active participant in student government, and am the Treasurer of my school. I am part of the Advanced Ensemble, called Songs of Solomon, where we sing all types of gospel and classical music. We are always performing and giving a part of ourselves to people when we sing. I am also part of the Service Club where we perform community service throughout the city, and, on Tuesdays after school, I sing, dance, act, create art activities, and tutor 2 classrooms full of children. Doing all these things, and now being part of Project Bridge, makes me thrilled to be alive, and happy to know that I'm making a difference in peoples lives. I love different cultures and love helping people and seeing different people's cultures, views on different matters, and beliefs.
I fell honored to be part of Project Bridge and to be given a chance to get to know its participants and the adults in charge who help shape our experience. I know that after all of this, I will never forget the times I shared with everyone, the friendships I've built and the experiences I'll never forget.

Joshua Salim

My name is Joshua Salim and I am a student at the New York City Museum School. As an individual who loves to be exposed to different cultures and to create art, I would like to combine these interests into my future profession.
Every bit of ink or lead I put on a piece of paper expresses my emotions, accomplishments, goals, and situations I have faced. Not knowing at first what I have drawn, I later interpret the image I created. Even if it is a still life, I may exaggerate its proportions or colors to symbolize a specific mood.
When I was 15 years old I won a full scholarship to study abroad in Germany. "The German American Solidarity Fund" is a full scholarship program that selected the top ten students from the three areas most affected on September 11, 2001: Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and New York. We were sent to study across the globe to build international relationships and promote cultural understanding. We were exposed to different cultures from other students around the world, and especially students with Muslim background. We participated in a conversation called ¡°Islamic Dialogue¡± and discussed religion, differences between Iraq and Iran, different tribes/societies in Iraq and the population of Turkish people who live in Germany.
I believe that I have already changed the face of America for many Germans through the friendships I have built. As for the Project Bridge, I will bring my experience with the variety cultures I have been exposed to into a totally different environment with the same goal of building a bridge between two nations, creating an understanding of racial profiling and clarifying misconceptions between the two different cultures.

Alexandra Spencer

Awesome! That's how I'd like to start every poem, every essay, every blank sheet of paper I ever touch. I want to spread enthusiasm to everyone I know; I want to counter all the cynics in New York City. Little things excite me-things like pink soup (oh man BORSCHT!), rearranged desks in a classroom, a white T-shirt paired with jeans and red shoes, tubes of paint (and toothpaste, for that matter), young children (get it? They're little)-so one can only imagine how off-the-wall I am about this program.
I've lived in the same Manhattan apartment my whole life, and have spoken both Lithuanian and English just as long. My mother is Lithuanian by way of England, where she was born after her parents fled the imminent Soviet occupation, and my father's English-English-was born there, but now lives here, and retains his accent. As the first child in my immediate family, and the first person on either parent's side to be born an American, I've had some issues with identity, and have ultimately wound up equally proud of each country. Through both finding my sense of self and a lifetime attending New York City public schools (Hunter College High School)-and loving the subject of social studies-I feel that I've got a pretty good sense of the barriers between people, be they economic, racial, lingual, geographic, or anything else. It's with that sense that I plan to champion a new, non-exclusive but realistic wave of environmentalism, with the better good of the entire world in mind. Sometimes I feel far too idealistic, but then I figure, maybe all the world needs is a little positive enthusiasm. 
P.S. My favorite food is potatoes.

Cyrus Washington

My name is Cyrus Washington and I was born in Brooklyn, New York. To my mother's comfort, we ended up moving to a small semi-isolated island about an hour away called Staten Island. It must have been a huge change for my parents, moving from a place where you can catch a train on each corner to where only one train ran through the island. Luckily, I was too young to be affected by this change.
My mother is British born while my dad was born in Brooklyn. For the most part my household was normal-I grew up with my older brother. My drive to succeed comes directly from what my mother instilled in me when I was younger. I like to actively take part in activities such as sports, school clubs, and community service. Last year I ran for S.O. (student organization) President and won. This experience was enriching but also made me realize that I would never want to major in political science. Throughout my high school career I have challenged myself by taking on as much as I can. Now I am S.O. President, cocaptain of my tennis team, a part-time photo lab technician at CVS, and first trumpet in my school's jazz, symphonic and concert bands. I was always taught that if you push yourself, and have the desire to succeed, then you would.
As my high school career comes to an end, and my college career begins, I hope to major in Bioengineering. I aspire to open my own medical office and sell prosthetics for a fair price, as well as conduct stem cell research in search of a cure for some of today's deadly diseases. As well as my mother, my desire to succeed comes from a quote by Mahatma Gandhi, who said, "You must be the change you see in the world." Everyday I realize how much this means to me as I try my best to be part of the change.

Taiyyab Zaman

Hey E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y. My name's Taiyyab Zaman, but you can call me Ty (tie). I am 16 years old and go to Curtis High School in Staten Island, New York. I was born in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and that's always where my heart and soul will be. I am of Pakistani descent, which I find real unique. This one time me and my best friend got into a cab-you might know how a lot of the yellow cab drivers in NYC are Pakistani-well, I told the driver where we had to go and he looked back at me and my friend and said, "Why don't you have your own cab?" That was one of the funniest things I ever heard a Pakistani say.
I'm the captain of my basketball team on Staten Island. I take great honor in being the leader of the sport that I play with great passion. Also, I like to cook Pakistani food, because it tastes GREAT! I am a dean at the local mosque, where I help get the kids in order when it comes to prayer time, and where I make sure the kids stay in order.
As a part of the Project Bridge group, I don't have the highest average, but I do believe I have a lot of awareness. Every year, I either travel or my cousins come from abroad. I have been to England about six times and to Pakistan twice. All these things make me who I am today, because I have seen life from almost every point of view. I have seen things from a wealthy standpoint and also from a poor standpoint. I have been through hardships that other people have not, and I have been on emotional roller coasters that many people can¡¯t understand. That's why I like to joke about many things. I'm a person who appreciates everything I have. I don't ask for much from my parents, just that they be there for me. I am grateful for everything I have and couldn't ask for anything more.

Ying Ying Zhang

My name is Ying Ying and I attend Baurch College Campus High School, New York. I was born and raised in Canton, China. When I was 10 years old, my parent decided to move to America, a decision that changes my life forever. After living in American for more than 6 years, I've come to realize that America is not as perfect as it seems. New York City is portrayed as a place full of economic opportunities.
However, under the city's glittery layer, there lies evil. New York City is well known for its diversity in population. Yet, living under the same roof with all these different people can also cause problems such as racism. As an immigrant and a Chinese, I was shocked by all the racist acts I've experienced here in America. A lot of people have misconceptions about Chinese immigrants. Some think that Chinese are unable to speak English fluently. Racism is an issue that people have been struggling with for centuries. I believe that the best way to eliminate racism is by studying other cultures. Learning the cultural practices or behavior of another people can help eliminate possible misconceptions. Seeing the truth with your own eyes can help to create bonds of between different ethnic groups.
The Korea Society is exactly the place where I can find that experience. I believe that this program will open my eyes to Korean culture. I am ready for the exploration of a different ethnic group. The Korea Society serves as a bridge between the students from both Korea and the U.S. It is a bridge that gives us the opportunity to build a stronger and better relationship between the two countries.

Kevin Cheng

"Be the change that you want to see in the world," is a line that I, Kevin Cheng, a junior at Temple City High School, live by. I challenge myself in everything I encounter-varsity volleyball team, classes, the ASB, the newspaper, and even in my relationships with close friends.
School, family, friends and my past experiences, combine to define who I am today. I have learned from Project Bridge, that, just because individuals come from different backgrounds, they are not necessarily exceptions. Visiting the Korean American Museum, the Japanese American Museum and the Museum of Tolerance has provided me with insight on how many in our country have suffered. As a result, my own views on history and racial diversity have changed dramatically. We should strive to build bridges within our community so that history will not repeat itself.
In light of my experience with Project Bridge, I am confident that there is nothing we, Youth Ambassadors from diverse backgrounds, cannot achieve together as a team. When in Korea, I am certain that we will be able to build bridges as Americans and overcome any language and cultural barriers. Most importantly, I am fortunate to have connected with the people in Project Bridge that I would not have otherwise met. They have added to who I am.

Joe Fernicola

My name is Joe Fernicola III. I am a junior and attend Torrance High School in Torrance, California. At Torrance High I am active in the theater department, the school newspaper (The News Torch), and the ROCK Christian Club. I am also taking my third year of Korean. This is one of my favorite classes because I have the best Korean teacher, Ms. Lee. Outside of school, I am highly involved with the Technical Ministries at Rolling Hills Covenant Church. There I am a sound technician for the main Worship Center and am the technical director for High School Ministries.         I look forward to the 2005 Project Bridge trip to Korea and enjoy everything Project Bridge teaches about bridging gaps between cultures. The experiences I have had with Project Bridge have helped me to broaden my understanding of the world and its many different cultures. With this better understanding of the world I hope to become a better human being.

Richard Fishel

Hello, my name is Richard (Ricky) Fishel and I am from Yorba Linda, California. I am a 17-year-old junior at Lutheran High School. I enjoy watching and playing sports. My favorite sport is golf and my handicap is around fourteen or fifteen. Being on the school golf team has been one of the greatest joys of high school so far. I am also a big fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Anaheim Angels. Besides my sports interests, certain aspects of academics are also very enticing. As far as my future, I hope to get into a career involving either international relations or science. Stanford is my dream college, but I am trying very hard to keep my options open.
So far, Project Bridge has provided me with many tools that I feel will be very important to me in the future. Living in Orange County, I have grown up in pretty much in a Republican-dominated school and neighborhood. Project Bridge has enabled me to meet and interact with people from diverse backgrounds throughout southern California and has opened my mind a little. I have learned important qualities that will help me in my professional life, such as personal introductions, listening skills, and other basic people skills. Project Bridge has opened up a different world to me that I would have never experienced.
In short, Project Bridge will be valuable not only for the trip to Korea, but also for the rest of our lives. All of us will put these valuable tools to use in college, our professional lives-in a way that will increase our contributions to society. This wonderful opportunity has given us all the responsibility to share all of the experiences and lessons we have learned to enhance all the lives we come across during our journey through life. This sharing of experiences and lessons is what I hope to achieve most coming out of the Project Bridge program.

Tessa Mooney

An amalgamation of an ounce of infectious energy, a sprinkle of insight, a dash of open mindedness, a pound of leadership and a passion for the arts. That is me-Tessa Mooney, junior at Lutheran High School and aspiring architect of change in our global community. I am an acting student service coordinator and a member of the varsity tennis squad. I have come to realize that for the past 17 years I have been interacting primarily with a homogeneous student body. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Beyond the school bell, my life is engulfed by my passion for the visual arts, pursued through studio art courses and life drawing, not to mention a mentorship in the fashion industry. The ability to understand and interact with diverse cultures, both personally and professionally, is indispensable in the arts. Accordingly, Project Bridge has enabled me to foster the development of a global perspective in a hands-on environment. As I embark on my life aspirations, Project Bridge has started me on a journey from cultural ignorance to intercultural outreach and understanding.
Leadership is a cornerstone in my life-I feel called to be an illustration to my community of the vitality of building bridges between differing cultures. As an apprentice of change, I have been exposed to global perspectives by interacting with ambassadors, touring of museums and landmarks, and relating with mentors who have stretched my cultural boundaries and beliefs. Through the expedition of Project Bridge, my mentors have instilled in me the importance of leaders using the power they have to mold the environment so that people engage in collaborative relationships, develop the ability to adapt and unite around shared visions. If that is the potential of one person, Project Bridge has shown me that when we work together in unison, we hold the power to shape the world. As an architect of change, I aspire to build a bridge of compassion and understanding that will cross all borders, enabling our world to meet on common ground.

Jennifer Mae Robles

My name is Jennifer Mae Robles-you can call me J¡¯me for short. I am 17 years old, was born in Los Angeles and am a junior at Bravo Medical Magnet High. In school, I am a member of five different clubs: KIWINs, Kiros Christian Club, California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and Academic Decathlon. Outside of school, I am passionate about Church as an altar server, choir member, and a confirmation leader. I also enjoy doing volunteer work like feeding the homeless, and mentoring teenagers younger than myself. Most of all, I value spending time with my family and friends.
Through workshops, meetings and the retreat, Project Bridge has provided me the opportunity to develop friendships with diverse people of whom I had never known. We, as a group, have read about Korean history, walked the halls of the Korean American Museum, watched videos about the DMZ, worked on leadership skills together and even hiked up a mountain. The next step will be to visit Korea. I am excited about experiencing first hand the people, culture, history, the DMZ and religion so that I can determine for myself the truth from the myth. I am blessed to have this opportunity to represent America as a Youth Ambassador and build bridges with Korea.

Mindy Tadai

Welcome to yet another Project Bridge biography. Population: Mindy Tadai. By my name alone you might have already guessed-yes, I am Japanese-but also a quarter Korean. I am currently a junior at West High School, which is located in lovely Torrance, California. At school, I absolutely love learning about English and history. I'm a student by day and a swimmer by night. After school, I quickly trade my books and pencils for a swimsuit and a pair of goggles. Throughout the year I swim for San Pedro Peninsula YMCA (SPPY), and I am a member of my school's varsity swim team as well. My versatile lifestyle also includes a few volunteer projects. On Sundays, I volunteer at the Little Company of Mary hospital from 9 AM to 1 PM. I also provide my companionship and services to a woman named Ann, who has a disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), through a program called Extra Hands.
Project Bridge is not just an activity, a hobby or even a job. It has been my obsession for the past year. It's a surreal, once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm so in love with this program, I'm willing to commit myself to meetings, create friendships, and open my heart and mind to things beyond my knowledge. While reading the seven other finalist's names one by one, I kept thinking: if this isn't the finest representation of America's youth, I don't know what is. My personality allows me to turn strangers into life-long friends and ultimately form one big Project Bridge family. I feel it's essential to verbalize my ideas and opinions to the group, but my number one goal is to learn as much as I can from what others contribute. As a youth ambassador, I want to try to seek the similarities in our cultures, rather than focus on how different we are. A clever mnemonic Spencer Kim taught us seems to brilliantly summarize my goals as a Project Bridge member: (S) start now, (T) think tall, (R) reach over the wall, (I) invest everything, (V) visualize, (E) expect the unexpected. I live for the things I love, and I love Project Bridge.

Joanne Tran

My name is Joanne Tran, and I am currently a student at Gabrielino High School in San Gabriel. I am an active member of our school's speech and debate team. I also volunteer for a nonprofit organization called the Lotus Foundation. The Lotus Foundation mission is to reconnect folks of Asian decent with their roots by performances that enable them to experience traditional lifestyles.
I enjoy learning new things (and am open to new concepts and ideas), even at the expense of bruises and hard work. For example, I have been learning to break dance. Yes, after 10 months of sweating profusely and bruising, "like a grape," I am on the verge of being a break dancer. I am excited about my trip to Korea because it will open my eyes to a new culture. My contributions likely will be lots of speaking (and listening), a little debating and perhaps a lesson or two in break dancing. Project Bridge has given me the knowledge that everyone is different, nevertheless the same. However, the differences that we find give us the chance to learn from each other, and the similarities provide a place to meet on common ground. At the end of the day, I am certain that we can work together as a team to successfully bridge American and Korean cultures.

Mike Wehbe

Hi my name is Mike Wehbe and I am a junior at Marshall Fundamental in Pasadena, California. I love basketball and currently play on the Junior Varsity basketball team for my high school. When I am not running around on the court, I can be spotted socializing with my friends and family. Every now and then when I need to relax and escape from all the activities -- Asian Club, Key Club, work and basketball, I slip on my headphones and lose myself in music.
Although I have traveled with my family to Lebanon in the past to visit my grandmother and uncles, I was born in the United States and have lived in California for my entire life. Project Bridge is a great program. I recommend it to anyone who is really interested in traveling and learning about another country and culture -- Korea. The Youth Ambassadors and Group Leaders from Project Bridge are like another family to me. I really appreciate and enjoy interacting with students from diverse backgrounds and schools learning about 4/29, the Museum of Tolerance, the DMZ and Korean food. Project Bridge provided me with a new prespective on the world. I am actually considering a career in diplomacy as I would like to represent America as an Ambassador in build bridges with different countries. I am excited to visit Korea and to experience first hand the cultures, peoples and customs because people can tell you about a place but you won't really know until you actually experience it.

Francisco Uceda

Born and raised in the sunny shores of the Spanish Mediterrean, Francisco spent much of his early years on the water. Like most people his age, he allotted his time between his main passions: school, friends, movies and books.
Due to his father's influence, Francisco developed a great appreciation for traveling and art. At the age of 5, he took his first photograph; he started seriously studying photography as an art at age 17. After high school, he studied Economics at St. Louis University in Madrid. However, after realizing that his true passion was art, he obtained a scholarship to study photography and anthropology in the U.S. at Bard College in upstate New York.
Upon graduation, duty brought him back to Spain, where he chose alternative social service instead of joining the military. After completing his social service at a hospital, where he worked as a translator, Francisco went back to school and received his masters in Spanish, English Literature and Linguistics from the University of Almeria in Spain. While in school he juggled different jobs-director of a hotel, free-lance translator, commercial photographer-until he moved into teaching full time. His photographs have been exhibited throughout Europe in places such as Cologne, Lisbon, and Madrid. However, at the age of 30, he desired a bigger pond and came back to New York, where he continues his work as a foreign language teacher.

Fernando Cardenas

Fernando Cardenas has spent a majority of his life in Southern California. He originally came to Los Angeles from Peru at the age of 10 with his family. He earned a B.A. in Psychology at UC Riverside and is currently completing his M.A. in Psychology at Cal State University, Los Angeles.         Fernando is working as a health disparities researcher at Charles R. Drew University, exploring such issues as telemedicine, school-based vision screening, glaucoma screening and how to increase community involvement in research programs. He is planning to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology and hopes to pursue a career in Psychology research. He plans to focus his studies on American ethnic minorities and the development of ethnic identity.
This is Fernando's first year as a group leader, and he is very excited to be a part of Project Bridge. He feels very fortunate to work with such a talented and dedicated group of people. He feels this will be a great opportunity to learn more about the role of ethnicity in the way people interact, and to see how young people push themselves to face and overcome the challenges that a culturally diverse society poses.

Lisa T. Sueki

By day, Lisa is an organizational development consultant who has been providing training and consulting services to the public and private sectors. Eleven years ago, she started her own consulting business that specializes in organization development and assessment, with emphasis on human relations, social justice, leadership, teambuilding, workplace diversity and strategic planning.
Prior to her consulting practice, Lisa worked in the field of clinical psychology for various hospitals and mental health agencies. She served as a researcher and counselor for both adults and youth. Her clinical experience includes: Cancer Support Groups, Crisis Intervention, Suicide and Drug Abuse Intervention, and AIDS/HIV Support.
By night, Lisa is a dedicated volunteer who has been designing and facilitating youth development programs throughout California for over 12 years. Last year, Lisa had the pleasure of serving as a group leader for Project Bridge. She is truly grateful for the opportunity to support youth in their journey to build bridges both domestically and abroad.
Lisa received her Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Alliant International University. She earned her M.A. in Psychology from Pepperdine University and her B.S. in Biology from Santa Clara University. Currently, Lisa serves on the boards of the Asian Business Association of L.A. and the Go For Broke Educational Foundation.

Rebecca Brabant

Rebecca Brabant joined The Korea Society in 2003 after graduating from Scripps College. Rebecca received a B.A. in anthropology and Asian studies with a focus on China. She has an extensive background in East Asia, having traveled in the region for over 16 years and resided in Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Harbin, China. During 2002, Rebecca took a yearlong leave of absence from college to pursue an academic scholarship at Hei Long Jiang University in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin. She is proficient in Mandarin Chinese, Korean and Spanish.

Jungho Kwak

Jungho Kwak was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. After moving to New York City in 1983, he completed his undergraduate work at the Parsons School of Design in New York. He received a B.F.A. in 1991. In recent years, he has worked as a freelance photographer and has exhibited his photographs in Indonesia and The Netherlands. Jungho has accompanied groups of students and teachers on study tours to Korea under the auspices of The Korea Society for the last several years.

Orientation
December 2, 2004

Project Bridge's first meeting of the year included student introductions, icebreaker exercises, role-playing activities and information regarding the program's activities and requirements. The students shared Korean snacks while they were getting to know each other. Although initially shy, the students began to share their thoughts about the program as they became better acquainted. The meeting also included an introduction to basic Korean phrases and a discussion about how to behave as an American abroad.

Workshop 1
December 16, 2004

The Korea Society's chairman and president, Ambassador Donald P. Gregg, who started Project Bridge, began the workshop with a brief account of Project Bridge's 12-year history. He then asked the students to introduce themselves, describe their interests and state their reasons for taking part in Project Bridge. Gregg then talked about his hopes for the program and shared many stories about his experiences as an American living abroad. He also shared his insights on the future role the United States in Korea.

Workshop 2
January 6, 2005

This workshop introduced the participants to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, a racially-fueled episode that became central to the identity of many Korean Americans. Participants were assigned several articles to read for this session, including actual news coverage from 1992 and a retrospective article from 2002. Sa-I-Gu (4.29, a reference to the date the riots began), a documentary by Dai Sil Kim-Gibson, was shown during the meeting. Sa-I-Gu covers the immediate repercussions of the L.A. riots on Korean American women in the Los Angeles area.

Workshop 3: Retreat 
January 28-30, 2005

This year's retreat was held at YMCA Camp Bernie in northeastern New Jersey. On Saturday, Fred Carriere, Homer Williams and Shin-hark Suk arrived to deliver guest lectures. Suk began the session with a Korean language lesson. Participants learned the Korean alphabet and how to read and write basic words. They then learned a Korean song, "Springtime in My Hometown," which they practiced so they would have a song to sing during the study tour. During the next session, Carriere outlined the evolution and current status of relations between the U.S., North Korea and South Korea. Participants also learned about the goals of the six countries in the Six-Party Talks and areas of current media interest in North Korea. Williams gave the participants an overview of Korean history.

Workshop 4
February 17, 2005

This workshop covered examples of traditional Korean architecture drawn from sites the participants would be visiting. The group watched a slide show on the architecture of Kyongbok palace, Changdok palace, Haein temple, Sokkuram grotto and Pulguk Temple. There was also a focus on traditional features of Korean architecture, such as the ondol heating system, geomancy, Buddhist symbolism and the influence of modernization.

Workshop 5
March 3, 2005

This workshop was a follow up to the Sa-I-Gu workshop in January. Charles Kim, from the Korean American Center in Los Angeles, visited The Korea Society to speak to the group. Mr. Kim began with an outline of the Korean American community before the 1992 riots, describing the social and economic characteristics of the recent immigrants who made up most of the community. He also noted the strained and uncommunicative relationship between Korean American and African American communities, which he identified as one of the significant causes for the disturbance.

Workshop 6
March 17, 2005

Storyteller Cathy Spagnioli presented her experiences as a storyteller and spoke about her participation in The Korea Society's fellowship program. After sharing international folktales from Korea, India and Japan, she explained how she came to learn Korean folktales and showed a variety of props acquired during her travels to different countries. She also encouraged students to keep an open mind while in Korea by explaining how her relationship with Korea had evolved. After Spagnioli's presentation, the participants told the stories they had prepared for the meeting. The stories they shared gave them a chance to learn more about each other.

Workshop 7
March 31, 2005

The goal of this workshop was to prepare participants for the logistical aspects of the study tour to Korea. Group members discussed what to expect during their home stay with a Korean family. The group also was told about the differences with regard to exams and expectations between the United States' and Korean education systems. They learned about the impressions that Koreans sometimes have of Americans and what degree of influence they could reasonably expect to have on the Koreans they would meet. Finally the group discussed what they hoped to learn from the study tour.

Workshop 8
April 14, 2005

This was the first opportunity for the entire staff of The Korea Society to meet the Project Bridge participants. The meeting started with a brief introduction from Ambassador Gregg, followed by introductions from The Korea Society staff and Project Bridge participants. The workshop gave the staff a chance to get to know the participants. Following the introductions, everyone had a Korean meal, giving the participants more time to socialize in a business-like setting. The participants also learned more about The Korea Society's work.

Parent Information Session
April 16, 2005

Project Bridge participants and their parents came to The Korea Society to learn more about the study tour. The Korea Society's vice president and executive director, Fred Carriere, spoke about the Project Bridge program and The Korea Society's goals for it. Following Carriere's presentation there was a review of the itinerary of the study tour, including a question and answer session with parents where they aired their concerns about the trip.

2004 - 2005 Project Bridge Study Tour 
April 21 - May 1, 2005

Workshop 9
May 16, 2005

This was the first post-study tour meeting for the group. Participants had been back in New York for more than two weeks. During the meeting, they discussed their thoughts and experiences since their return. Discussion began with the reactions of their families and schools. Many participants had given class presentations and had spoken at school assemblies to share their experiences with their classmates. Many had also shared their photos and memorabilia from Korea with their families. The students also commented on their new perspectives of people, the world and New York. Many wished they could return to Korea, as they missed the country, people and unique experiences they had encountered on a regular basis during their stay.

Workshop 10
May 26, 2005

This workshop was spent preparing for the group's final presentation. Participants decided who would present on each specific topic; many had difficulty limiting the breadth of their subject. The coordinators and group leader prepared a slide show of the participants' photographs.

Final Presentation
June 2, 2005

Participants gave their final presentation on their experiences in Korea. The presentation started with a pop quiz and was followed by individual presentations. Topics included Korea’s technology and accommodations, Banpo High School and the home stay, Seoul city tour, the Haja center, the Demilitarized Zone, the Korean Folk Village, Tongdo temple, Jagalchi fish market, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Motor Company, Kyongju (including Pulguk temple and Sokkuram), Pohang Iron and Steel Company, the National Assembly, Korea International Trade Association, the Institute for Research of Royal Cuisine, Changdok palace and the Museum of Modern Art. Guests included participants’ families, classmates, teachers, mentors and Project Bridge alumni/ae. The presentation concluded with a slide show and a question and answer session.

THE PROJECT BRIDGE PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED BY:

THE KOREA SOCIETY is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corportate members that is dedicated soley to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of The United States and Korea.

The Pacific Century Institute was founded in 1992 as a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster education, policy dialogue and research concerning the whole Pacific Rim region.

THE PROJECT BRIDGE STUDY TOUR IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS:

American Chamber of Commerce
Banpo High School
Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government
Haja Center
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
Hyundai Motor Company
Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine
Korea Air Lines
The Korea Foundation
Korea International Trade Association (KITA)
Korea Securities Dealers Association (KSDA)
Korean-American Educational (Fulbright) Commission
Law Firm of Kim and Chang
The National Assembly
Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO)
Poongsan Corporation
Samsung Electronics
Seoul Metropolitan Government
United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission
United States Eighth Army