KRISTIE PARK,
SENDING K-POPS LOVE FROM SEOUL
CURRENT POSITION: Master's Student in Korean Linguistics at Yonsei University
LOCATION: Seoul, South Korea
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DEGREE: BA in International Studies
GRADUATION YEAR: 2014
ACTIVITIES AT MICHIGAN: Michigan Pops Orchestra, Campus Symphony Orchestra, Popscappela, Sinboro (Korean Drumming Group), English Language Institute
MICHIGAN POPS ORCHESTRA INSTRUMENT: Flute
Listen to one of Kristie's favorite Pops pieces while you read about her Pops Life!
A CONVERSATION WITH KRISTIE
How far will we travel to seek out someone in the Pops Family? MPAC finds Kristie Park at the other end of the world in Seoul, South Korea, and she wants nothing more than to reminisce about Pops!
Kristie, tell us about your musical background before coming to Michigan!
KP: I started playing flute in third grade and took private lessons on the side since my school’s orchestra program didn’t challenge us enough. In high school I played flute in the pit orchestra for our school's musicals and was a member of the chamber music club. I continued to take private lessons, but this time I took lessons with Ervin Monroe who really challenged me. It was wonderful! I also joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s civic music programs in high school, competed in the solo and ensemble competitions yearly, and went to Interlochen Arts Camp in the summer!
What attracted you to the Michigan Pops?
KP: I knew I wanted to join an orchestra in college and had always wanted to try out playing other types of music. I remember going to the student club event in the beginning of the semester and seeing the Michigan Pops Orchestra’s stand. I knew this had to be what I was looking for and signed up to audition right then and there!
Tell us about some of your favorite Pops memoriesI
KP: I have so many, but I remember going camping at the Sleeping Bear Dunes! We jammed in the car on the way and bonded so much. My other favorite memory has to be all of our concerts. It was always so exciting and intense playing so many diverse and exciting pieces together.
What have you been up to since graduating, and how did the Pops influence your career path?
KP: After graduating, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to continue studying Korean. I decided to take a job teaching English to gain some work experience and be able to experience life in Korea, using Korean everyday.
But I realized that teaching English really isn’t where my interests lie, so I decided to study Korean more in depth and applied to graduate school. Pops is where I met many of my international friends and that helped push me to take the leap to move abroad! I am also still hoping to find an orchestra to join in Seoul thanks to the wonderful experience I had with Pops.
What interests you about Korean Linguistics? Or about languages in general?
KP: I feel like language and music have a strong connection seeing as how they both are methods of communicating, except what makes music stand out is how it can be universally understood! I actually started studying French in sixth grade and loved it so I decided to add another language in college.
I went to an international high school and most of my closest friends happened to be the international students from Korea. I often heard them speaking Korean to each other and thought it sounded so beautiful, so I decided just to try it out in college. I fell in love with it and am still studying Korean eight years later! The structure is so complex and different from English, and this made me want to focus on the linguistics of Korean specifically.
Kristie, tell us what life is like for you in Seoul. What are some of the biggest differences you've noticed between living in Korea and the US?
KP: Seoul has become my second home in the almost four years I have lived here. It is such a lively city and never seems to sleep! I love how it is encircled by beautiful mountains and how street food is cheap and always there for you if you end up hungry at 3 am! The subway is also insanely convenient and fast, it is truly incredible. I really love just how exciting the city is.
I didn’t experience a lot of culture shock since I had studied abroad there briefly before moving, but eating alone was considered odd for a long time and that always made me feel awkward about eating by myself. But now eating alone seems to be a trend!
Another difference has to be how few people have cars. Transportation is just too good to need them. There are so many more but I must’ve become numb to them after this much time haha. Also karaoke (noraebang in Korean) is really popular and common and so fun!
What does the Pops mean to you?
KP: Pops represents family for me! And passion, never have I met so many passionate, warm and immensely talented people in one room. I miss it everyday!
KRISTIE'S FAVORITES
FAVORITE MUSIC GROUP: Pops! Does that count? XD I have so so many but if I had to choose one besides Pops, I love Pentatonix (their harmony is INSANE) and Zion T (He’s a Korean R & B artist. His voice is so smooth and he has really unique songs)
FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN A2: Sushi.com (I practiced Korean here a lot and LOVE their kimchi stew!) and Teahaus (wonderful cute sandwiches and delicious tea, came here a lot with my mom)
FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN SEOUL: wonderful transportation, the FOOD (cheap and delicious), energy (at ALL hours), kind people
FAVORITE QUIRK YOU'VE NOTICED ABOUT SEOUL: unique food combos (potato and mayo on pizza)
FAVORITE THINGS YOU MISS ABOUT THE US: my family and friends, excellent macaroni & cheese, and Michigan’s lakes!
FAVORITE EXPERIENCES OVERSEAS: There are so many! Exploring other cities in Korea, taking my family around Seoul and going to the Olympics with my sister would have to be my favorites!
FAVORITE POPS PIECE: Star Trek End Credits, The Planets: Jupiter, Festive Overture! (and so many more)