This year’s Chuseok, combined with KAIST’s decision to allocate a few extra days off for COVID safety measures, was the longest holiday that KAIST had in years. Expats in Korea usually use this time to travel to different parts of the country and take breaks from their normal routine. However, international students prove the exception, as they often prioritize their coursework and research. Financial capability is also a factor. As Koreans reunite with their families for one of the biggest holidays, Chuseok can also unfortunately bring homesickness to international students as they are reminded of beloved families living halfway across the world. The KAIST Herald interviewed some international students on how their Chuseok break was.

What did you do during this year’s Chuseok holidays?

Taufik: This year’s Chuseok was quite special. The weekend before the holiday began, I participated in a special program from the Daejeon Support Center for Foreign Residents and had the chance to learn how to make songpyeon, the Korean traditional rice cake made during Chuseok. The center also organized for us to watch baseball games in the VIP lounge of the Daejeon Hanbat Baseball Stadium. Watching my very first baseball game from a stadium’s VIP lounge was an amazing experience. I spent the actual holiday with my Korean teacher from KI House. We went picnicking in Daejeon and then went on vacation to Gongju. It was a memorable experience.

Taha: I used the holiday period to cycle around Korea with a group of my friends. We biked 170 km in total to the small coastal city of Gunsan. There are two tracks to get to Gunsan. We chose to take the longer track to get all the stamps on our bicycle passports. Taking the longer route meant I had the chance to see more of Korea, which is such a beautiful country. I usually compare it to my home country, Pakistan, which is also as beautiful. I also saw how Korea has absolutely mastered incorporating nature with modern architecture. The fantastic views and the company of my friends was truly memorable. In the absence of my family, my friends were the ones who made my Chuseok.

Assem: For this year’s Chuseok, I had plans to spend the extended vacation traveling with friends, visiting sites and maybe trying out new activities such as paragliding. However, my friends decided to cancel the plan at the last minute, which meant I was in Daejeon for the whole Chuseok. So, I instead used that time to catch up on my coursework. Of course, I took some much needed break but it didn’t last long as I had to come to our lab [which was empty and had no air conditioning] to do my research. I also used the time to plan for my graduate school application and by then, without realizing, Chuseok was already over.

Dawit: I did not do much. I spent most of my time in my lab or dorm doing what I normally do as a graduate student. 

How has COVID affected your Chuseok celebrations?

Taufik: Actually, I came to Korea after COVID so I don’t know what pre-COVID Chuseok was like. However, last year during my first Chuseok, there were high recommendations to minimize travel during the holidays which made it hard to go anywhere. I was just catching up with the language classes I was attending at the time. This year, however, felt like a holiday and I actually enjoyed it.

Taha: The main difference I notice is that we used to have a lot of Chuseok events before COVID. I miss the free food. But right now, everything on campus is mostly limited because of the current restrictions.

Assem: The first Chuseok after COVID was quite strange because I was back home in Kazakhstan and it didn’t really feel like a holiday. Besides that, I have not actually felt COVID’s impact on how I spend my Chuseok.

Dawit: For me, it felt pretty much the same given that I was on campus during the whole holiday. [It was] quiet as usual since students went back home and most facilities were closed. 

Does Chuseok remind you of similar famous holidays in your home country?

Taufik: Chuseok reminds me of Eid al-Fitr celebrations in my home country of Indonesia. The Eid celebrations can extend up to a week where families gather, have quality time, and pay respect to the late family members. In a way, these two holidays are quite similar for me. Fortunately, here I have a new family to spend holidays with so I am grateful for that. 

Taha: Of course! Back home we have our big holiday, Eid! And whenever I see Koreans going back home for Chuseok, it's kind of natural of me to be a little envious. I wish I could go back home. I spent all my Eid festivals in Korea since I came and, unfortunately, all of them were near the midterms or finals! It's almost impossible to enjoy with that kind of pressure weighing down on your shoulders. Chuseok is definitely a reminder of holidays back home. I also sometimes wish to have a proper Korean Chuseok experience. However, it has so far been hard to find that opportunity.

Assem: My country has similar holidays that last for several days and I am used to spending them in huge family gatherings. I miss these gatherings and would love to spend some quality time with my family as people do here during Chuseok. In addition, I am always curious how ordinary Korean families celebrate Chuseok and would love to experience that sometime. My Korean teacher from KI House has invited me to spend holidays with her and I plan to fully experience the holiday vibes with her next time.

Dawit: We have a lot of holidays back in my home country, Ethiopia. However, most of them are one-day holidays, and not long holidays like Chuseok. I think a lot about these holidays and miss spending time with my family when Chuseok is around. However, it is not Chuseok itself, but rather the fact that I usually have a lot of free time at hand with much less to do during [those holiday periods that makes me] feel somehow lonely and wish I was back home spending time with my family.