I am Korean: started studying abroad at the age of 13

Author: [Korean] Shin Se-young
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: A study abroad experience that began at the age of 13, from a fight-loving troublemaker to an Oxford student. At 13, the Korean boy Shin Se-young had a passionate dream of studying in the United States. After persistently persuading his parents, they reluctantly sent him to America. His mother deliberately chose a military academy far from the city, remote, isolated, and demanding, hoping to make Shin Se-young reconsider and return to Korea. In the unfamiliar and cold new environment, his illusory dreams of America shattered instantly. But with his stubborn nature, Shin Se-young decided to swallow the bitter fruit of his own choice. Faced with the huge language barrier, severe racial discrimination, strong lifestyle differences, and piles of "problem children" in America, Shin Se-young honed his skills—self-respect, self-defense, and self-reliance. He was both a feared "fighting king" and a hardworking, self-disciplined "outstanding student," and ultimately was admitted to the University of Oxford in the UK. Although the writing is slightly naive, it is vivid and unpretentious. It became one of the few bestsellers in Korea with over a million copies sold. At 13, the Korean boy Shin Se-young had a passionate dream of studying in the United States. After persistently persuading his parents, they reluctantly sent him to America. His mother deliberately chose a military academy far from the city, remote, isolated, and demanding, hoping to make Shin Se-young reconsider and return to Korea. In the unfamiliar and cold new environment, his illusory dreams of America shattered instantly. But with his stubborn nature, Shin Se-young decided to swallow the bitter fruit of his own choice. Faced with the huge language barrier, severe racial discrimination, strong lifestyle differences, and piles of "problem children" in America, Shin Se-young honed his skills—self-respect, self-defense, and self-reliance. He was both a feared "fighting king" and a hardworking, self-disciplined "outstanding student," and ultimately was admitted to the University of Oxford in the UK. Although the writing is slightly naive, it is vivid and unpretentious. It became one of the few bestsellers in Korea with over a million copies sold.