▲ Students sharing food and listening to others during the Lunch Box Talk program

    Some people say that the essence of social interaction is both a value exchange and a resource exchange. Don't you think that a lunch box along with information sharing and relationship coexistence will be a valuable use of time? Yes, information plus relationships by taking a lunch box to a meeting is the program named “Lunch Box Talk”! It is a great opportunity for international and Korean students to get involved in a global exchange and community development program on campus.
    The lunch box talk started in 2019 as a global communication program for international students organized by the Job Center of the Institute for Adaptable Interdisciplinary Education at CNU; whether you are an international student or a Korean student, you can join in. The event was lively for two semesters in 2019. You can enjoy language exchange, cross cultural understanding for global career opportunities, and information sharing about global jobs, start-ups, etc.
    As the name implies, it always starts at lunchtime between 12-2 p.m. One hour for lunch and one hour for activities afterwards. The activities range from job related to recreational, such as personality test analysis lectures, international students' employment experience sharing, pre-employment tests and dress preparation, tabletop games like chess and cards, real-time job placement information and advertising.
    What makes it special is that it offers a warm, homelike atmosphere. There are many angel volunteers from Korean churches, who can always help turn this simple lunch into a feast. Volunteers include cooks, Korean teachers, doctors, professors, and others who have experienced life overseas. Because of their dedication and help, everyone can directly eat the fruits, vegetables, and other delicious food that is directly picked from the orchard.
    These activities provide students with two major advantages. First of all, they give a warm atmosphere for many international students who are away from home all year round; they also play a positive role in improving students’ studies. Due to their heavy schedules, students are often too busy with textbooks and seldom expose themselves to a colorful life. The variety of activities that were offered provides opportunities for them to relax and enrich their minds with knowledge. In addition, the activities also serve students who are living in an “ivory tower” who have little chance to get in touch with society. It also provides guidance for students who are more likely to overlook job readiness. Everything that this special program offers is an important means for students to broaden their horizons. They believe that with the right kind of guidance and help, LBT activities will continue to grow and flourish.
    Finally, the biggest feeling for me is that the atmosphere of this event is very positive. All the activities are flexible and keep improving for the better. I feel that the people here are full of love, help others while getting help and bring warmth to others while getting care.
 

By Wu Xianhui, Master’s Student,
Interdisciplinary Program in Teaching Korean as a Foreign Language, Graduate School

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