The World at Gordon: Finding a New Culture

Finding a New Culture: Siblings Go to College

By Christopher O’Connell

6,794 miles, 11 time zones and one International Date Line separate siblings John and Yong Yoon and Peter and Rebekah Kang from their home country of South Korea. And even though their journeys took different routes, their final destination is surprisingly similar.

For third culture kids like the Yoons, and fourth culture kids like the Kangs, identifying themselves culturally has been a difficult task. But the Yoons have fully realized the unique culture they’ve grown into, while the Kangs are just starting to feel the pull of the many cultures they have experienced.

Twins John (Jang) 21, and Yong Yoon 21, were born in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. At the age of 12, their mother moved them to Belmont, Mass. in the hopes of providing them a better education.

“Our mom was ambitious when it came to education. She made an almost reckless move coming here,” said Yong. “She was banking on an American dream kind of thing,” said John.

Yong was the first to go to college. Due to financial concerns, John had to stay behind a year but when he was able, he followed Yong to Gordon College.

Peter (Eunsung) 20, and Rebekah (Eunyong) Kang 21, were also born in Seoul. South Korea has the world’s second largest missionary base and Peter and Rebekah’s parents are counted among them. When Rebekah was in seventh grade and Peter was in fifth, they moved to the Philippines. But while the Yoon brothers were in an American classroom learning about their new culture, the Kangs were attending a small Korean missionary school.

“It was the same as being in Korea,” said Peter.

The Kangs did not assimilate into their new country well.

 “I didn’t like the Philippines. We saw terrible pictures of the Philippines at first.” said Rebekah. “I don’t have any Philippino culture.”

Rebekah applied to colleges in the U.S. when she was old enough. She came to Gordon College for one reason.

“They gave me a scholarship,” said Rebekah, “They gave me the most out of all the schools I applied to.”

When Peter applied to colleges, Gordon also gave him the most scholarships. To ease the financial burden on his parents Peter followed his sister to college. According to Arlyne Sargent, advisor to international students, the Kangs join over 30 Korean students on visas at gordon. The transition to the U.S. has been a better experience on the Kangs than the Philippines.

“I was really quiet and very shy but after a year I realized that in American culture it’s not weird to be active. Westerners are more friendly than Asians are,” said Rebekah. “I like America a lot.”

“I feel like people here (Gordon) are more friendly than back home,” said Peter.

The Yoons have now been in the U.S. for nine of the 21 years they have been alive. Although they were born in Korea and raised in a Korean household, both brothers said they identify more with American culture.

“I went through the middle school and high school years here learning, reading, watching, eating, and (doing) everything surrounded by American culture,” said Yong. “I think it’s just the number of crucially influential years I’ve spent here in the U.S.”

But their Korean upbringing is always in the back of their conscience, combining with their new American experience to form something unique.

“I view (my culture) as more like a mix of both, not just some for Korean and the rest for American,” said John. “It’s hard to distinguish which part of me is from Korean or American culture, but it’s more like all aspects are from Korean-American culture. It’s (an) inseparable entity together, I believe.”

“I really am stuck in both places, both for good and bad. I cannot connect 100 percent with either culture because I am missing pieces of cultural knowledge and experience,” said Yong.

While the Yoons have been growing and adapting to this new culture, the Kangs are discovering that their cultural identity is changing in a similar fashion. Both Peter and Rebekah identify with Korean culture but a Korean-American mindset has started to influence them.

“It’s because we have Korean citizenship and a passport, we feel the most comfortable and safe in Korea,” said Peter. “Culture wise, I don’t think I’m fully Korean. This summer I went back to Korea. I tried to associate with my friends and it was sometimes difficult.”

Rebekah also noticed changes since coming to the U.S. and the differences between Korean and American culture.

“There are some cultural conflicts I have with Koreans in Korea because I have a mixed culture in me,” said Rebekah. “I used to be very shy and reserved because many (Koreans) prefer reserved girls than outgoing ones. However, due to my exposure to American culture which has less stereotypes on women, I am more outgoing.”

The Kangs have been in the U.S. for a little over two years. But already the effects of being a multicultural student have shaped the way they act and think. The Yoons are already children of two countries but they see in themselves something more; a culture for all people that isn’t defined by differences but similarities.

“I really want to see myself more as a citizen of the kingdom of God where there is no separation,” said Yong. “But only genuine interest to know and love one another, and form our cultures and traditions according to God’s will for us. Now, that is a real challenge to me.”

Christopher O’Connell is a junior studying Communication Arts at Gordon College. He is from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and plans to be a writer after graduation.

Peter (left) and Rebekah (right) Kang

Yong (left) and Jang (right) Yoon