KOREA FOUNDATION

The World Activity Class introduced the cultures of Turkey and Armenia to students at the Serve Community Child Center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, on October 21. Darigi Ezgi of Turkey and Hasmik Tshagharyan of Armenia led the class.
  Darigi explained how Turkey came to be known as a “brother” of Korea, charting the two nations’ special friendship over the ages. She shared her knowledge of Turkish ice cream, maraş dondurması; the famous desserts baklava and lokma; the traditional nazar bonjuk amulet; and the fasting month of Ramadan. She also taught the class how to exchange greetings in her native language. After listening to the teacher, the children made nazar bonjuk bracelets of their own, believed to protect the wearer from evil spirits.
  Hasmik gave the children a quick geography lesson, and taught them how to say hello in Armenian. She also talked about her country’s traditional food and the Barekendan festival, even helping the students make intricately patterned Armenian masks to take home to their families.
  As the class was conducted just 10 days before Halloween, it was organized under the theme “Festival of the World.” With their folk crafts a great success, all the participants enjoyed the festive mood, practicing their newly-learned words of greeting and eating kebab, pide, and baklava.

KFVN Reporter 유아림