SNU, Seoul National University, is lauded as the top university in Korea. For those outside of East Asia, it’s hard to convey the intensity of competition here. Students spend their entire lives trying to get into SNU, and if not, Korea University or Yonsei. With the name of a SKY university behind them, they can earn a spot at one of the huge conglomerates with a guaranteed high salary or they can even become president. The perceived gap between SKY and other universities is so large, however, that many employers won’t even look at a resume if it’s not from SKY. Going to a fifth-ranked school is about the same…

In a CU near downtown Ulsan as I was juggling a protein drink and several granola bars, a preschool boy ran past the floor to ceiling windows. He stopped and looked at me on one side of the glass. I stopped and looked at him from the other. After a moment, I smiled at him with an over-exaggerated, teeth-revealing, silly expression. He did the same back to me and then ran away. I stood laughing to myself in between packets of crackers and bags of chips. After purchasing my breakfast items, I exited through the side door, curious as to where my little friend went. I assumed that he was…