Fr. Seil Oh, S.J., the Vice-President of International Affairs from Sogang University, South Korea, visited The Beijing Center (TBC) on January 6th, 2025. During his visit, he met with TBC’s Executive Director, Simon Koo, to discuss strategies for enhancing the collaboration between their respective institutions.
Fr. Oh reviewed TBC’s educational programs, including the “Study Abroad” semester exchange and the “ChinaContact” short-term program. He commended these initiatives for their role in expanding students’ global perspectives and stressed the increasing importance of international exchanges, especially in a post-pandemic world. He expressed hope that Sogang University and TBC would deepen their partnership and find innovative ways to strengthen their international educational ties.
During his tour of the TBC facilities, Fr. Oh was particularly captivated by the Terracotta Warrior statue in the Hutong, a reminder of his recent trip to Xi’an. In the library, he was impressed by the extensive collection of books and artifacts, notably the “Tibet Corner” and “Yunnan Corner.” These areas showcase unique cultural items collected by TBC faculty and students during their Excursion Trips to Yunnan in the spring and along the Silk Road in the fall. Fr. Oh expressed a keen interest in the cultural richness of these displays and shared his enthusiasm for the culture of Dunhuang, a significant site along the Silk Road. He hopes that Sogang University students will have the opportunity to participate in these valuable programs and develop a deeper appreciation of China’s rich cultural heritage.
Reflecting on his visit, Fr. Oh recalled his last trip to Beijing 35 years ago. He marveled at the city’s dramatic transformation and the rapid development of China, urging Sogang University students to engage in exchange programs to directly experience the vibrancy and dynamism of this rapidly evolving country.
For the first time for one of these blogs, I’m taking on a new challenge: exploring without the involvement of The Beijing Center! This past weekend, I took the chance to take a pre-finals breath of fresh air and vacation for the first time in China, to the city of Tianjin.
I’ve written about my cultural exchange experiences in Beijing and at Minzu University before, but recently, I added something new to my roster: introducing my own culture to others.
If there’s any historical landmark related to China someone remembers learning about as a young child, odds are it’s the Great Wall of China. I have distinct memories of sitting in my third-grade social studies class, learning about this ancient marvel of engineering that was large it could be seen from space.
Beijing’s Temple of Heaven may be one of, if not, the most iconic tourist sites in Beijing. Constructed starting back in 1406, around the same time as the Forbidden City and the other respective temples of the Sun, Earth and Moon.