Life
Growing up in a home away from home
Busan is home to a vibrant global community, with nearly 70,000 international residents. Behind that figure are families and children who live and grow up in the city.
In this first installment of Meet Your Neighbors, we visit the International School of Busan (ISB), where students from diverse backgrounds build friendships and a sense of belonging.
■Olivia
Olivia, from Scotland, is an elementary student at ISB who moved to Busan with her family. Having grown up at the school, she has found her place on the yearbook committee, an activity she loves because "when we give it out, people smile and sign it so they can remember their friends."
Busan has given Olivia memories she will carry for life, from watching the Busan Fireworks Festival light up the sky from her home to a moment when a neighbor's scary dog turned into an unlikely source of comfort. The sound of kids playing outside makes her happy, she says, "because I know they are having fun." For a kid who crossed the world from Scotland, Busan has become something simple and profound. In one word: "Amazing."
■Ben
Ben moved to Busan from Canada and England, drawn by the city's incredible nature. At ISB, he has discovered new sports like volleyball and values the school's warm community, stating, "This school means welcoming and friendship to me."
Although new to Busan, Ben has already found joy in the green trees and river outside his home. The city's natural sounds have made a strong impression on him, and he looks forward to knowing his neighbors. For Ben, living and studying in Busan is "natural."
■Dave(left)
Dave is a high school student who chose ISB for its opportunities, facilities and the friends who were already there. The school helped him grow in ways he didn't expect - building confidence, discovering weightlifting, and developing a passion for making media.
Busan, to Dave, is "a melting pot of culture," a city that moves between old and new. From a football field nestled among apartment complexes near Gwanganlli to the sweeping sea and mountain views at Baegunpo, he has found beauty around every corner. "There is always something to do," he says. "It never sleeps."
■Enoch(right)
Enoch is an American high school student from Virginia who chose ISB for its IB program. Since arriving, he has joined the media team, taken up volleyball and pushed himself academically, studying until 2 a.m. every day. For Enoch, ISB is "a place of learning, a place to find new friends, and a place to discover yourself."
Coming from parts of Virginia that were not very developed, Enoch was struck by how modern and vibrant Busan is. "I've been to New York City, but New York City and Haeundae are very different, and I think I enjoy Haeundae more." For him, Busan and ISB share the same lesson: "It's good to recognize and consider other cultures instead of focusing only on ourselves."
■Taehee
Taehee is a lifelong Busanite and a graduating high school student at ISB, where her mother teaches. Though it "wasn't my choice at first," she stayed for the community, calling ISB a place that "feels like home." ISB introduced her to sports, and its family-like atmosphere mirrors what she loves about Busan itself.
Having spent her life in Busan, Taehee describes the city through the Korean concept of "jeong," a deep sense of belonging where "everyone is your aunt." From generous restaurant owners to her future goals, Busan shaped her. As she prepares to leave for university, she plans to return, "Because it is Busan."
■Ms. Amber Taylor
Ms. Taylor is an Early Years teacher at ISB who moved to Busan with her family seven months ago. The city's light reminds her of her childhood on the Canadian Prairies - a warmth she finds echoed in the school's bright spaces and nature trail, where children observe cicadas and seasonal change.
For Ms. Taylor, both Busan and ISB are "bustling and busy" with events and energy, yet full of calm moments like walking along the beach. She once ran into a former colleague from overseas, proof that Busan is "a place people want to come." Like the city itself, ISB is, in her words, "welcoming, open, active, busy, bright, and beautiful."
■Simon McCloskey(Head of School)
"At ISB, we are delighted to actively support Busan's efforts to be a global hub city by providing a world-class education for the internationally-minded community. With 43 nationalities from six continents represented, we are proud to be Busan's first and only internationally accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, dedicated to developing open-minded and principled global citizens."
ISB Website: https://www.isbusan.org/