The Office of International Affairs (OIA) hosted its biannual I Love SNU event with the help of SNU Student Ambassadors (SSA).

The theme for this year was `Summer Nerds United`.
Last year`s theme was `The 70s`. This time, we wanted to give foreign students a glimpse of what a Korean summer is like, claims Jenie Son (06, Department of English Language and Literature).

Busily taking pictures of beaming students at the Polaroid photo stand, Hye-Ryung Chung (?07, College of Business Administration) says, our initial goal was to give all of the students the chance to meet each other; a majority of the foreign students at SNU don`t have the chance to become friends with the Korean students. We wanted to change that. That`s exactly what they did.

From a makgeolri (Korean traditional rice wine) drinking contest, an OX quiz, and fun on the dance floor, the students enjoyed spending time together and building new friendships regardless of where they were from.

The OIA, as host of the event, offered its office building for the event. I Love SNU T-shirts hung from the ceiling, a `Love Pond` had been put together for wish making, and vibrant colors could be seen everywhere. The water balloon-throw on the balcony and a hot dog grill at the entrance all added up to the perfect place for a summer party at SNU.

It was a refreshing experience for me. As a graduate student, I usually don`t have the chance to meet new people -- international or Korean. Here, I could meet both and enjoy a great party at the same time, Liu Yihuan (07, Department of Architecture) says loudly over the enthusiastic shouts and laughter coming from the dance floor.

Joon Ha Ki (08, College of Business Administration), while taking a break after missing a question in the OX quiz, said, It was a little awkward at first, but after the contests and dancing, I feel at home with everyone here. I can see international students and Korean students bonding with each other, as well as within their groups.

The I Love SNU event will take place again this year during the second semester with another fresh theme. But whatever that theme is, the overall goal will be the same -- building new friendships. After all, as the MC of the event, Hun-Min Kim (03, Department of Economics) stressed, Friendship lasts forever.

June 4, 2008
SNU PR Office
Written by Sooyeon Oh and Brett Johnson (SNU English Editors)