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Korean students add palm weaving to their bag of tricks
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Posted on Jan 19 2012
Korean students from Moon Deok Elementary School will be going back home with an added skill in tow: the art of palm weaving.
Fourteen students learned the skill from Saipan Mayor’s Office staffers Vinycia Seman, Rina Teuira, and volunteer Jay-R Marciano at the Sugar King Park yesterday.
Marciano said it was a bit difficult for the students to learn the skill initially. “But once they learned the hang of it, it became easier for them and they were able to weave on their own.”
The students were able to create headdress, fish, and other shapes and figures using palm fronds.
“I like making the Nemo fish,” said Han Hyung Keun, 11.
Cho Seo Young particularly liked making the crown for herself. “I put flowers in it to make it more beautiful,” she added.
Jung Su Min, meanwhile, plans to make woven palm fronds to give to families and friends. “I like weaving than any other activities we had.”
Staffer Teuira said weaving is the last activity that the students will have with the Saipan Mayor’s Office. On Tuesday, they learned about lei and bead making
“They were very eager to learn. They’re also very social and very active, which is why we’re going to miss them,” Teuira told Saipan Tribune.
Seman said the students’ length of stay allowed them to know more about the local culture by engaging in various activities.
“I hope they will be able to come back to Saipan because of the degree of interaction they had with our local people. I’m sure they’ve gained friendships and hopefully they have more personal reason to come back,” added Seman.
The students arrived last Dec. 26 for an English camp handled by Judy’s Academy on Saipan. They are scheduled to conclude their camp today by visiting their counterparts at Koblerville Elementary School.
The visiting group is scheduled to fly back to Seoul, Korea on Saturday.
