Nowadays, TV programs in which foreigners appear have been becoming popular. The most important reason why these TV shows became popular is that these programs show viewers diverse ideas from different people. If people had to choose the most popular TV show in Korea, most people would choose the JTBC TV show ‘Non-summit’. There is a person who became popular after appearing on ‘Non-summit’. Therefore, a CBT reporter met Greek Andreas Varsakopoulos to listen to his story in more detail. -Ed.



  A young Greek came to Cheong-ju
  When I was young, I went to a university which is located in the United States, and then I took a class about oriental cultures. After taking the class, I became interested in going to the East. Therefore, I enthusiastically looked for a way to live in the East. At a moment, I was ready to go to any country in the East. There was a chance to become an English teacher in Korea because the school where I’m working now was looking for a native speaker. Therefore, I came to Cheong-ju. I was so positive about living in Cheong-ju because I thought I could learn Korean traditions better than other big cities. Moreover, big city people look too busy. Therefore, I’m really satisfied with living in Cheong-ju now. Sometimes, many people ask me, “How long will you live in Korea?” Every time, I say, “I want to live in Korea as long as I can.”
  
   Learning the Korean language
  When I first came to Korea, I couldn’t speak Korean at all. I thought I could never learn Korean. Therefore, I didn’t study Korean for several months. However, after becoming a member of a soccer team in Korea, I was given motivation to learn Korean. I couldn’t communicate with my teammates. It made me feel heavy, so I decided to learn Korean. Additionally, I really wanted to get close to my teammates. I thought learning Korean was the fastest way I could get close to them. Therefore, I learned Korean slowly, and my teammates gave me so much help. If I heard unknown words when I talked with my teammates, I wrote them down in my diary to memorize them in my house. Also, if I wanted to say something, I wrote it in English and I translated it into Korean myself by using the Naver English dictionary. After that, I used the new words when we met again. Thanks to this, I could learn Korean so naturally without regular classes. I think the most important thing in Korean is honorifics, but I didn’t know the importance of honorifics at first. Because of this, I used improper words to older people, like the principal and vice principal. I had to learn honorifics very well because most people I meet are older than me. In my opinion, honorifics make Korean hard to learn. On the contrary, I can follow swear words by understanding the context. In addition, I’m the worst Korean speaker among the ‘Non-summit’ members because it’s been only three years since I came to Korea. Also, I have bad language habits because I didn’t take regular classes unlike the other members. It is hard to correct those habits. If I can give tips to Korean students who are traveling to other countries to learn a language, I recommend going there alone because when you go abroad with your friends, your conversation may lean toward Korean. Without friends, you must learn a language to talk with other people. Therefore, you should go abroad alone and make friends with people who have the same hobby as you.
  
  Teacher Andreas
  In the past, I was a football coach. It was so pleasant teaching students, and I felt really great. Since then, I had a dream to be a teacher, and thanks to learning English very naturally, I could be an English teacher because my father and I are Greek, but my mother is American. Therefore, English is not a foreign language for me although I’m Greek. Moreover, I went to a university which is located in the United States. Thus, I could learn English in more detail there. What I feel as a teacher in Korea is that Korean students and Greek students have many things in common because Greek students also take the College Scholastic Ability Test, just like Korean students. Many students in Greece also have stress about university entrance competition and then go to private educational institutes to prepare for the test. However, it looks like Korean students have more stress. Maybe, they are likely to have more passion than Greek students. The difference is that even if Greek students get low grades, they can go to a university, and the college tuition is free in Greece. Because of this, I know Greece has more graduates than any other European nation.
  
  TV show ‘Non-summit’
  I applied for ‘Non-summit’ because I thought this TV show is really fun, but there was no notification for six months after I applied. However, one day, the JTBC broadcasting station called me to ask whether I could meet for an interview, and I answered, “Yes!” without hesitation. Also, I really want to become a representative of Greece, and the chance to introduce Greek culture made me eager to appear on the TV show. After appearing on the broadcast, people recognize me sometimes. It is amazing to me because I also never had an experience like that. I still can’t believe I appear on a TV show. After appearing on the show, many people give special considerations to me, especially when I speak Korean. I have become close to all the members who appear on ‘Non-summit’, but the Italian Alberto is especially closer to me because Greece and Italy are Mediterranean nations. We have a lot of things in common, and he and I both like sports like soccer and cycling. A good thing about appearing on ‘Non-summit’ is that it is a good chance to change my life. Another good thing is that I can introduce Greek culture to Korea.
 
  I am Greek
  Like other people, Greek people also have tremendous pride about their country and culture. I’m not different. Alexander the great is especially my favorite person, so I have a tattoo related to Alexander on my left arm. The image is a symbol of the Macedonia kingdom and a phrase that is my favorite expression. It means ‘trust yourself’ in English. The reason I like Alexander is that he conquered all the nations which Greece came in contact with, and he built the Macedonian kingdom. His military power was so strong. Also, he was very intelligent because he was a disciple of Aristotle, so Greek people call him Magnus Alexander. Magnus means ‘the great’ in English.

  Things I want to say
  As I live in Korea, I can introduce Greece to Korean people. I think it is the most worthwhile thing from my life in Korea because Korea and Greece don’t know about each other. However, I think that learning about each other will be good for both nations. The story that Korea overcame the IMF bailout will especially be good for Greek people. A last message I want to say to Korean students is, “Don’t lose your passion, and follow your dream.” I think confidence is the most important thing. I want to convey this message to Korean students.

By Yoo Han-bin
hb36@cbnu.ac.kr
By Choi Ji-su
js36@cbnu.ac.kr