By Matthew Jellick
Having lived in Korea for almost three years, I have been enamored with the culture which surrounds me on a daily basis.
From the dedication displayed by the students I teach to the kindness of the generations which have come before them; from the innovation which infects the social landscape to the tranquil serenity found in the numerous mountains, Korea for its part has welcomed me, accepting my past and shaping my future.
Yet living far from home in California, and the cultural heritage which is attached to my mother's Mexican roots, there are undoubtedly times when I find myself for want of a mariachi band (Mexican folk band), carne asada (traditional grilled meat), or even the colors created when the sun sets over the Mar de Cortes, painting the hills of Baja a hue which mere words here cannot adequately describe.
Keeping both a keen eye, as well as trained nose out for any semblance of "Mexicanism" I was able to find a burrito here, and some baile folklorico (Latin American dance) there, during my early days in Korea.
Created with passion through authenticity, although sometimes at a loss for the logistics of ingredients, these things sufficed, filling that void created with a distance so far across the Pacific.
But as 2009 slowly transitioned its way across the threshold of the decade, and into 2012, I began to notice an increase in the opportunities presented to me, with regards to experiences from Mexico here on the Korean Peninsula!
In March, I was able to visit Sookmyung Women's University and stand meters from an original Diego Rivera painting, visualized by the artist in the 20th century, while this month, I was likewise able to attend the National Museum of Korea, and gaze in awe at artifacts created by the Mayans sometime during the 7th century.
Spanning not just a lengthy course of time, but also enormous cultural divides, it continues to amaze me that even here, in the Land of the Morning Calm, there is access to the historical objects from Los Estados Unidos Mexicanos!
As the Mexican Ambassador to Seoul, Sra. Martha Ortiz de Rosas points out beautifully in her article "Traveled road ― 50 years of Mexico-Korea ties" (Sept. 12) the reason for the increase in cultural opportunities as they pertain to Mexico, is due to the silver celebration of diplomatic ties between these two incredible nations.
With underlying economic motives setting the framework for the ideological exchanges taking place, there are benefits to be had respectively on each end. While increased trade and tourism may indeed lead to reformed financial advantages, it is my belief that the essence of this strong relationship lies in the sharing of cultural values, as they pertain to the mutual respect shown towards our ancestors, our lands and our customs.
This is clearly understood within the words transcribed by the ambassador in this same newspaper, where she recognizes the past, and uses that as a directive for the future. Promising in the details she shares, it lends itself to hope, where the possibilities are endless with what can be achieved with cooperation between these two historical societies.
While I did undergraduate studies in the Mexican cities of Nogales and Oaxaca, never in my mind did I think that years later I would be living and teaching in Korea.
Yet that same desire to learn about varying cultures has brought me to Asia, where daily, I find myself amazed by the beautiful complexities which surround me here.
With the distances of countries being bridged by government cohesiveness, it is my wish to see the strategic partnership of Mexico and Korea continue to blossom, not only increasing for the sake of prosperity, but moreover, for the splendor which lies in the sharing of these two beautiful and distant cultures.
The writer is an English teacher at St. Pauls' Girls' High School, in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. He is of Mexican descent, hailing from California, and has been in Korea teaching for three years, His email address is ellickkorea@gmail.com.