U.S. Department of State
Korean
A Mother’s Sacrifice
Caroline is an alum of the 2021 Korean summer program. This story was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. “It would’ve been nice if I kept working. But for Kyung, I couldn’t. It was a mother’s sacrifice.” Muted summer moonlight shimmered across the Han River… Read More
Korean
여름날 – Summer Days
Michelle is an alum of the 2021 Korean summer program. This poem was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. Skipping down the apartment stairs 하나 (1)둘 (2)셋 (3)넷 (4),onto the streetI see the neighborhood ajummas.They are makingfermented kimchi. Read More
Korean
Lights, Camera, Action!
Javon is an alum of the 2021 Korean summer program. This story was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. In this video submission, Javon gives a glimpse into the time he was interviewed on Korean television. Read More
Russian
A Summer that Never Ended
Paul is an alum of the 2010 Russian summer program. This story was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. One early October morning, as maple leaves scurried into the sodden gutters of Tacoma Washington, I stumbled upon a flyer hanging by a single staple on… Read More
Korean
Seeing Korea Live
Kelly is an alum of the 2021 Korean summer program. This story was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. “Ready? 하나, 둘,셋—안녕하세요, 미국 학생입니다! ” One, two, three—Hello, we areAmerican students! My mind blanked after bowing. The sight of a professional camera setup caught… Read More
Chinese (Mandarin)
Connecting Over Zoom through Literature
Samuel is an alum of the 2021 Chinese (Mandarin) summer program. This story was submitted as an entry to the NSLI-Y 15th Anniversary Storytelling Competition. It was nine o’clock on Saturday morning on the U.S. East Coast, the same time in the evening in China. The three other American students… Read More
