junior program summer site : conversations : first session



	Jiwan from South Korea (7/16) While Jiwan was a bit apprehensive about going away from home for the first time, she's had a great time and found no trouble making friends. A two-square champion and Explo law student, Jiwan is having a great time at the Program. Tell me about what you did yesterday. Yesterday we had a lot of fun. I love to play two-square at Explo, and there are a lot of people who play two-square, so I did that a lot before assembly. And also yesterday I got to play wallball with my friends. It was really fun. Also, yesterday was the Voyager talent show. I loved it. We got to dance the "Numa;" it was awesome. Very cool. So what workshops are you in? My workshop courses are yoga and cheerleading. I like yoga a lot. Today we did something called yoga tree, where we had to use all the poses that we learned and we made a story and a yoga handbook. It was really fun. Cheerleading is one of my favorites too. We learn how to do different cheers and gymnastics things. What about your regular, daily courses? My first course is “I Want to be a Superstar” and it's really fun. We're doing a play and we're learning to speak really loud in front of everyone and also to express ourselves without talking, but with our bodies. It can be really easy and fun. We play some games that help with learning to be comfortable in front of people, like we do the “Umm” game, where we have to act but we're not allowed to say “umm . . .” and we can't pause for a long time. I loved it a lot. There's another game where Darien (our teacher) will tell us what to show the other students, and we make a line and we tap on their shoulders and relay the message -- it's like telephone but with your body. I really like that game. Wow, that “Umm” game sounds tough. What's your other class? It's called “Objection Overruled.” Julia teaches it. We're doing a mock trial about Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy is on trial for murdering the two witches, and we have to decide whether she has to go to jail. I'm on the defense. How's the defense shaping up? I told the prosecutor that it was all a mistake and that Dorothy actually did a good thing by getting rid of the witches, because they were mean to the people. Also that Dorothy didn't really “steal” the ruby slippers because Glenda gave them to her. Sounds like a solid argument. Is there anything you're really looking forward to at Explo? I'm looking forward to the final party, and our hall party today, and going out to see the movie Up. What has been your favorite part of Explo? Making friends. It's my first time at a sleepover program, so I was a bit worried about whether I would sleep well or that I would miss my mom, and sometimes I do, but I have a lot of friends here, so it doesn't really bother me. What's it like being away from home for the first time? When I first came here I was really shy, so I didn't talk a lot and hung out by myself. But I started to talk with the girls on my hall and started playing two-square, and I made a lot of friends. And I also met a lot of people in my courses and workshops. I love my friends. My hall friends are really kind too. Was it easy to make friends? For me, I was shy at first because I didn't know what they liked and what the other girls like to play. But then we just started to hang out and play lots of two-square, and then my hall friends, and my roommate Alice and I all hung out a lot. Plus it's different here. You get to do new things. Like, at my school in Korea, girls like to play with makeup, but here girls like to play sports, and I like that a lot. What has your experience as a first-year, residential student been like? Well, it's amazing. I mean, I've never experienced anything like it. I get to meet so many new people and experience so many new activities, I feel like I'm getting so much out of it. Plus, it's easy to meet people. Everyone is so nice and friendly here. People will come up and talk to you -- it's just amazing. How are your RA's and your hall? My RA's are Jen and Julia. They're really kind and creative and nice. It's funny, they won't tell us how old they are. We always ask them but they won't tell us. It's sort of a joke now. What does the word “Explo” mean to you? “Explo” means to be fun and enjoyable, and to make friends and be happy. If Explo was a type of dessert, what would it be and why? Ice cream, because ice cream is soft and it melts and makes us feel good when it's hot, like Explo. more conversations > first session \| second session