"On Sunday 5th June 2011, students from Professor Jacqueline Siapno’s classes traveled to Ansan to meet East Timorese workers and members of the Philippine community. The trip was to enable students to better understand the lives of migrants from Southeast Asia in Korea.
Over lunch, East Timorese workers described the long hours that they have to work and the bad treatment which they often receive from employers as well as lack of support. In the afternoon, students met with Mrs Ana Maria Male, a Filipina who came to Korea over 10 years ago after marrying a Korean man. She vividly described the challenges she faced in her life here and the strategies she used to overcome them.
Students were touched by the warm hospitality of those whom they met in what was a fascinating and often moving visit. Professor Siapno runs classes in Southeast Asian studies and Feminism at GSIS and next semester plans to hold further field trips for her students."
- Claire O'Connell