Articles from the August 1997 Unification News

In this article I hope to convey to you the value of this "study in Korea" program. In the March issue of the Unification News was a reprint of a speech Father gave to Blessed children in 1986. In this speech Father states what his goals are for the program and the children who attend it. It is very clear.

Until now parents have had the idea or impression that this is only a one year study in Korea program. And for some students it is. But also it is a very competitive program. Students compete for the highest grade in order to be able to continue their studies in Korea.

The top 10 students of each GOP class (the General Orientation Program) has the opportunity to be chosen to continue on into the prep. program for attending Middle School at Sun Hwa Junior High (known in America as "The Little Angels School, founded by Father") It is one of the best Art schools in Korea and there is great competition among Koreans to be able to attend it. They even have a waiting list for their Elementary school. For the middle school a special and very difficult written test must be passed as well as an Art test (whatever the major might be, music, drawing, dancing etc.)

Our students only qualifications are that they are in the top 10 of their GOP class and that their Korean grade is over 80% and that they set a good standard of a life of faith and action. Until now, some parents (most parents) have been shocked and surprised when their child has called them and said, "Dad, Mom, I want to continue to study in Korea. I really feel like this is where Heavenly Father wants me to be, if I make the top 10 will you let me stay?" This has happened. If you plan to send your child to this program, (Which I hope you do), it would help you to avoid such a shock if you were to read Father's speech together with your child and talk about the possibility of such a idea happening.

The lifestyle that is created here in our program is based on our church traditions handed to us by our Father. The following is an outline of one typical week day here in our dorm.

6:00 AM Morning Service (given by either Dorm parents or students)

6:30 AM Breakfast

7:00 AM First 2 buses leave for school.

7:45 AM GOP and Yebi (Japanese GOP) bus leaves for school

9:10 AM First class begins

3:20 PM School Finishes

3:40 PM GOP an Yebi Bus leaves school

4:10 PM Students arrive at dorm

4:30 to 6:00 is free time, usually unscheduled time.

6:00 PM Dinner

7:00 PM to 8:00 PM mandatory study time (sometimes teachers make it two hours depending on the study needs of the students.)

8:00 PM to 9:00 PM free time

9:00 PM Evening service. This time is used for Divine Principle study, internal guidance, birthday parties, song practice, and group meetings.

Groups consist of a leader (an elder student) and about 9-10 students. These groups are held for the elder student to give internal or practical guidance of dorm life or Principle life education based on his or her personal experiences or based on the internal guidance elder students receive from the Teachers. It is also a format students use to take turns giving Divine Principle lectures and honing their public speech abilities. Group meetings are held once a week and the students look forward to them.

Also evening service may consist of group play outdoors especially in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday the teachers give internal guidance or Principle life education. As well the students are set up by trinity, and they do have trinity meetings at least twice a week.

10:00 PM to 11:00 PM is free time, and bed preparation time. All GOP's must be in bed at 11:00PM and all lights are out at that time. Older students are allowed to stay up longer for study purposes, or as permission is granted.

It's a pretty full schedule and of course Saturdays and Sundays have a slightly different schedule but this can give you a general idea of how time is spent here. By the way, students do go to school half days on Saturday. Of course all Holy days are celebrated and attended by everyone. As well as weekly and monthly pledge. We celebrate birthdays individually and also once a month the students have a birthday party day where they spend 3 hours playing games and celebrating all the students birthdays for that month. Often on Korean Holidays and especially Holy days we play traditional Korean games and or attend entertainment when True Parents are here.

Another very important part of our dorm life is that we have the blessing to also live, study and work with blessed children and teachers from Japan. The students share their rooms together, of course they eat and attend school together. Although classes are held separately because of language differences, they're just across the hall from each other. We have pledge together, we attend our Sagam Sun Sang nim's (Dormitory Supervisor) speeches together. We celebrate Holy days, Holidays, and birthdays together. We study and play together.

Their is one very big difference between our western program and the Japanese program. That difference is, the Japanese who attend this program have no option to return home after one year. They come with the built in plan that they attend Middle School, High School and University in Korea. As is Father's original plan for this program. Personally I'm a bit jealous of the Japanese program, because since 1986 they have graduated at least up to 18 students into High School and since 1989 have graduated that many into Universities every year. Thus far we have one western student graduating into University this year, another one going into twelfth grade and two presently in 10th grade High School. This year we will have 4 ninth grade graduates who will stay and attend Korean High School.

This has been an extra ordinary year for us here at Sun Hwa dorm. One reason for this has been the Chungpyung providence. This year we were able to attend three weekend workshops at Chungpyung. One in November and one in April and one in July. It truly helped set the pace for this years students to have a most remarkable and memorable year. Not to mention the Dorm parents too. We are of course are hoping to have the chance to attend the Chungpyung workshop again with the new class this year. Dae Mo Nim spoke directly to our students and they most assuredly reaped the benefits of a good cleansing and liberation. It has been a most exciting year. Of course the Chungpyung workshop is not a part of our school curriculum, so students had to receive special permission from their parents to attend and the workshop fee is an extra cost of $20.00 a weekend for our first year students.

One year here would be an amazing year for your child. One of great discoveries. About themselves, about Heavenly Father, about True Parents and about you. Most every child who comes here will begin to discover their value and purpose and most of all their personal relationship to Heaven. I am most sure that this could be the best year of your child's life and one he/she would always remember.

For answers to any of your questions you may contact Tom and Carolynn Burkholder: by mail: 1245 Jackson Street, Peekskill, New York 10566; by phone: 914- 734-7009; by fax: 914-734-1678; by E-mail: GOPKSSF@aol.com

The Korean address and numbers are as above and you are welcome to write directly to Steve and Jeri Tamayo Head Teacher and dorm Parents for the Study in Korea Program, if you wish.

E-mail: sjtam@shinbiro.com

The Sun Moon Educational Foundation , Inc.

( Institute of Korean Studies for Foreign Students )

25 Nung Dong, Kwang-Jin-Ku, SEOUL 143-180, KOREA

Phone 822-204-1124 Fax 822-456-5744

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