EUSI -EU Studies institute-

SNU Summer Program: The report from a participant(3)

Tsuda College, YUKA SAITO

Looking back now, it is great experience for me to participate the First Euro-Asian Summer School on “Regional Integration in Comparative Perspective”. I could see the countless things I have experienced and learned a long the summer school.

Summer School was well organized, first week we studied at Universitat Pompeu Fabra　in Barcelona, Spain and second week was taken place at Seoul National University in Seoul, South-Korea.

At first, my purpose of applying to the summer school are to achieve my objectives of better understanding of the regional integration in Europe, and examine how the EU’s enlargement affect its member states. However, through the lectures and an active discussion with other students, I have deepened my knowledge and thoughts in many spheres. I came to be interested in not only the European Union but also the issue of separation which Spain and Belgium have, the civic identity of Europe and the economic integration in Asia.

During lectures there was always an active discussion and many questions. I especially liked to feel welcome and appreciated for our opinions and questions. Lectures were very professionals, and most of them were Jean Monnet professor in Spain. Their lectures were very interesting and high level. In particular, I would like to say thank you Professor Caterina Garcia. She answered my questions which related my academic interest. Also Professor Fernando Guirao who planed this summer school was very friendly and kind to us. He was always smiling and helping us to understand Catalonian history and tradition. I remember he enjoyed the game which Korean students taught to us very much at a Spanish restaurant!

In Seoul, I had lectures from Korean and Japanese researchers about the integration in both Europe and Asia. Lectures covered not only economic aspects of Asian integration but also energy and political cooperation. I learned the dynamic and difficulties of Asian integration and the EU from Asian point of view, and also compared the regional integration of Europe and Asia. This program gave me more knowledge what European countries learned after their integration and some expectations of the integration in East Asia, drawing lessons from the EU. Sharing the experience of Europe will positively influence Asian policy making.

Besides lectures, short trips were organized in both Barcelona and Seoul. In Barcelona, we visited the Parliament of Catalonia and in South-Korea we went to HYNDAI motor industry. These short trips made me close to Catalonian history, tradition, culture and people and also close to Korean company which is enjoying global economy and developing itself. It is an advantage point of this summer school, you can visit places where usually you have no chance to get to in.

On private level, I think I gained significant experiences. I was able to learn a lot about myself and grow as a person while spending time with 31 students from Spain, South-Korea, Belgian, Italy, China and Japan. They have various cultural backgrounds. I discovered the cultural differences between us, but I enjoyed the differences very much not comparing the cultural differences. We were interested not only in regional integration in both Europe and Asia but also in own culture and history, so we discussed various topics such as student’s life in each country, popular music and the international situation. Therefore we were able to make very good relations just in two weeks. I would also like to talk about the hospitality of Spanish and Korean students in their home country. They were very helpful to show us around their university and the city. They also taught me some useful Spanish and Korean. It helped me to survive. One week passed since I left Seoul, I have already been missing my friends who I met in the summer school. In the summer school, of course I acquired various knowledge and opinions in many spheres especially regional integration. Moreover I met many good friends there.

For students who want to participate this summer school following years, I think, the key to success is to be OPEN to everything. I wish you good luck!

Thank you for the First Euro-Asian Summer School especially the EUSI to contact us and organized the orientation in Japan and stuff in Barcelona and Seoul to care about foreign students, to be friendly with us and to organized short trips and other events for entertainment.