Hi everyone,

This is Kened ... At the moment I am in the beautiful city of Daegu in the Southern part of South Korea as a team member of the Group Study Exchange Program of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International . The basic idea behind the program is to foster International understanding ,love And peace and for us team members to be ambasssadors of Goodwill.

This is a one month program till the 23rd of April but the beginning is already an eye opener. The amount of love and affection the people of Daegu bestows upon us is mind boggling. They have a Daegu Citizens'Charter to keep their City clean and to preserve their cultural identity amidst progress which We can see them following to the hilt. In the field of Information technology they are second to none. The city is really beautiful with a lot of parks and greenery and the people seem to be really health conscious and they never litter their city.

One striking feature is their bowing to one another whereever and whenever they meet uttering the words "Annyong Haseyo" meaning Good morning/afternoon/evening and "Khamsamnida" - Thank you. The calm in the city is surprising given the number of cars on the road as we dont get to hear a honk from any of them. They are so courteous enough to stop their cars and let us pedestrians pass by or cross the road when they could have easily neglected it.

As of now I am seeing a very responsible and dutiful people in the people of Daegu and the amount of respect the youngers give the elders is very heart warming. The soberness in their personality is also evident in their favourite colours, black and shades of grey and white. Even the girls and ladies do not wear any sparkling or bright colourful dresses and each and every person on the streets are very well dressed mainly in formals.

The family system is well engrained in them as we can see them personally as we are staying with host Rotarian families and living with them. Amma and Abujee are Mother and Father similar to our Mama or Ima and Babujee or Baji. Their Cha is our Chai(tea), Their Ju (drinks) is our Yu(in Manipuri).

Their Rice Beer is the same as ours. Their Rice is the same Starchy Manipuri Rice. But they live mainly in flats in big Apartment Buildings. Ultimately as human beings it comes down to the fact that they also value family system, social responsibilities and believe in a peaceful life.

I am looking forward to learn and share my experience with you as the mystery that is South Korea unfolds before me as the days go by.

Let us sow the seeds of Love with the manure of care and understanding so that it sprouts and blooms into a beautiful flower of PEACE :
Peace in the family,
Peace in the Society ,
Peace in the World.