I’m lucky that Yonsei University has a very active community. During the beginning of each semester, numerous school organizations recruit students to join various activities. Though most of these organizations are for Koreans, a good number of clubs are directed at international students. Back in the U.S., I was a working student throughout my college life, so I never really had the opportunity to participate in extracurriculars. However, this time, even though I sometimes feel shy in large group settings, I made it a point to join several. Out of these clubs, I mot enjoyed the clubs that involve volunteer opportunities.
The first volunteer experience I had was at an animal shelter that rescued abused dogs and cats. Our leader mentioned that some animals might get put down after a period of time because the shelter doesn’t have the resources to take care of a large number of animals. It's a sad situation, but I’m glad these animals can live their remaining lives in a safe environment where they feel wanted. We cleaned and mopped a classroom that was used for their presentations and grooming training. We washed food bowls, dishes and the cats’ litter bins, and we folded and put away the laundry. After all the hard work, we finally got to walk the dogs! I was assigned to a dog named Dubu (Tofu)! He was very strong, so I felt like I was the one being walked!
My other volunteer work was distributing coal briquettes to the elderly. These are the people who cannot afford the regular underfloor heating.
