#wsf2017

The Richmond District is unlike anything I've ever heard about San Francisco. I came to the city expecting days filled with walks under towers amid the hustle of the crowds. People so eager to live but too busy to exist. Yet, instead of being enamored with the wealthy banking towers looming over my commute or the pier where I work, I have fallen for this humble place where the tallest building is comparably small and is capped with onion domes. 

Somewhere not too ambitious in this city of wealth and somewhere not too vain in this city of pride. English may not be the primary language here, it seems to be Polish or Russian depending on the establishment, but I am fed all the same: with kielbasa, tarkhun, and a warm smile. 

Whether it be the happy old Polish man behind the deli counter or the pretty young Russian lady no older than me selling soda, the modest charm here is infectious and I keep finding myself walking down Geary to see Richmond one more time. 

When I signed up for Westmont in San Francisco, I assumed that the area of my cultural immersion would be with the city’s Latino community. As a Catholic I figured that my background would help give me more insight to the Latino community. God had other plans and instead showed me the heavy Eastern European presence that I have found in the Richmond District. 

I have found myself drawn Eastward and am intrigued by the faith of Eastern Christians. I have recently found and started attending a Russian Byzantine Catholic Church, something that not even two weeks ago I had no idea existed, perhaps because there are only four or five in the entire US. It celebrates the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom but is in full communion with Rome. 

From shortly before the time I arrived here, God has clearly guided me eastward, and I am eager to see how I will grow in a more Eastern European cultural context. 

by Karen M. Andrews

Welcome to our last set of “pop-up portraits” for Spring ‘17. This final entry features Cooper Sheard, Seoho (Daniel) Choi, and Maddie Wnorowski sharing highlights of what they’ve learned this semester. 

Enjoy!

Cooper Sheard, Westmont College

Photo credit, Jordan Bishop

Cooper works at The Box SF where he helps plan and organize “The Art of Active Networking” events.

Among my tasks are drafting emails, organizing food and beverages for the event, promoting the event through social media, and helping run events in person in both San Francisco and San Jose.

Cooper has also learned how important it is to work as a team:

When you are working towards the same goal, not blaming one another for mistakes, but instead focusing on finding ways in which you can accomplish your tasks in the best and most effective way... everyone benefits.

“Meeting the wide variety of people that the event attracts” has been Cooper’s favorite part:

I really enjoyed getting to know this community and plan on staying in touch with some of them even after I am done with my internship.

After he graduates, Cooper plans on moving back to the city, whether San Francisco or another urban area:

I really loved living in the city this past semester!

Seoho (Daniel) Choi, Gachon University

Photo credit, Jordan Bishop

Daniel works with an organization called Lumen & Middleton Consulting Group.

At Lumen Consulting, Daniel primarily manages the Web App, checking that “the app is working normally” in order to “find errors” and correct anything “inconvenient” to clients.

Additionally, Daniel has been researching “the consulting industry” in the fields of “Education and Health Care.”

It’s been helpful for Daniel to study more about the industry to gain deeper insights and expand his knowledge of business.

Daniel was a bit concerned before coming to San Francisco because “this is the first time” he has worked at a business. Thankfully, Daniel came to our program with several old friends and also “made new friends.”

What has been most valuable to Daniel?

Confidence!

What I [have been] really impressed about is [how] cultural mindset or values are totally different between west and east culture.

Sometimes I'm really confused about the difference, but after [getting used] to it, I [have] learned how to respect them.

Madelyn (Maddie) Wnorowski, Westmont College

Photo credit, Jordan Bishop

Maddie, like Melanie Boonstra, interns at Because Justice Matters, a nonprofit working to empower women and girls in the Tenderloin district.

Maddie has especially enjoyed being part of “Nail Day”:

It has been amazing to see something as simple as painting nails have an impact on the women of the community.

Every Monday, no matter how tiring it might be, is filled with laughter, joy, and lots of love. I have also had the opportunity to provide child care for women who are learning English. 

Maddie also has served “on the team that reaches out to local businesses and organizations for donations for our upcoming fundraising event” and has helped “with day to day operations.”

What are a few of Maddie’s key take-aways from this semester?

Learning how to practice self-care. Being an intern while being in school is hard enough, but being at a hands-on nonprofit has been extremely challenging. [Self-care] has been a very valuable lesson to learn.

There are so many things that I have learned and am still learning from this semester, but the greatest one has been that everyone has a story. No matter how invisible they may seem, they matter and are as deserving of love as you are.

by Karen M. Andrews

Our penultimate blog post featuring “pop-up portraits” coincides with our final week of classes for Spring 2017.

Enjoy hearing a few words from Tyler Bradford and Melanie Boonstra!

Tyler Bradford

Photo credit, Kristen Leichty

Tyler, an English major at Westmont, works as a “Publishing Intern” at the non-profit organization, 826 National.

Tyler’s role at his internship is tied to the publication they are working on this spring:

My primary responsibilities are to tend to the day to day edits, organization, and management and arrangement of the 15th Anniversary Anthology project.

Tyler has enjoyed reading “dozens of student essays, stories, and poems from around the country” for this project.

One of the more valuable aspects of Tyler’s internship has been the “friendliness and encouragement” of his supervisor and coworkers at 826 National.

What advice would Tyler give to other students coming to the WSF program?

If you have the opportunity, go for a run in Golden Gate Park. It's incredible!

Melanie Boonstra

Photo credit, Jordan Bishop

Melanie, a Westmont History major, works at  Because Justice Matters, a nonprofit organization “serving women and girls in the Tenderloin who are at higher risk of being exploited.”

Melanie has enjoyed the “opportunity to cultivate friendships with women from all different walks of life” and has found “listening to other's stories” most valuable: 

Every story has so much to give the world and those who are marginalized often get muted.

On Mondays, Because Justice Matters (BJM) hosts a manicure day, welcoming all women from the Tenderloin. I asked Melanie why she thinks the manicure outreach draws so many women to BJM:

Some come to sleep in a safe corner of the Ellis Room, eat more brownies than I can attempt to count, drink warm coffee, color, or simply talk to someone while they get their nails painted. It is often the only place where these women can come in, be themselves, with no questions asked.

Melanie has also helped teach dance classes to girls of the Tenderloin. It’s “a beautiful thing to watch young girls experience dance as a way to give glory to our Creator. “

Melanie has been studying the history of the Tenderloin, the role this district plays in the city of San Francisco, and she’s learned more about the people of the Tenderloin from their poignant stories:

Many of these women have experienced some type of abuse such as sexual or domestic harassment due to their ethnicity and so many other hardships due to being a low-income woman.

My biggest encouragements have come from women whom the world would deem as hopeless. ... I can no longer walk past a homeless child of God and not acknowledge that God is with them as much as He is with me. 

by Karen M. Andrews

Our Westmont and Gachon students delight in their daily cross-cultural exchanges. The occasional, inevitable misunderstanding often leads to warm-hearted laughter once students acknowledge the misinterpretation and take cultural differences into account. Both Gachon and Westmont students would agree that sharing life together has been a major highlight of their semester.

Our Spring ‘17 “pop-up portraits” continue with this post, which features four more of our Gachon University students:

Brian, Wayne, Philip, and Harry

Sang Jun (Brian) Kim

Photo credit, Jordan Bishop

Brian works as a marketer for Not For Sale, an organization that provides educational programs and employment opportunities for people who have been trafficked.

In addition to research and marketing, Brian attends conferences, contributes his ideas, and assists the organization in finding partners and donors.

Brian has also created flyers and other Public Relations materials:

I feel good when my work is used for the company's business. And I am proud when my ideas become the company's next business model.

What has Brian most enjoyed about living and working in San Francisco?

San Francisco is a place where you can meet many people. At a café, you can meet someone you do not know for the first time and talk for hours. This is a culture that respects the unique and diverse personality.

Brian also appreciates how “the city encourages people to ride bicycles” by providing bike lanes throughout the city.

Along with his Gachon classmates, Brian values the experience of attending “Meet-ups” with others in the city who share common interests:

If you want to quickly get to know and socialize with San Francisco and American culture, I recommend finding Meet-Ups.

Yet a significant question keeps coming up for Brian:

Why are there so many people begging in the most expensive land in the United States?

Wan Ho (Philip) Song

Photo credit, Jordan Bishop

Philip works with Just Business, a business investing in social change.

At Just Business, Philip networks with Korean start-up companies in San Francisco and also investigates new business models:

It’s exciting to network with a successful Korean entrepreneur in San Francisco and to enlarge my insights about IT business.

Reflecting on differences between working here and at home in Korea, Philip says:

San Francisco has a free atmosphere compared with a Korean Company.

In addition, racial diversity in the workplace is different from Korea.

As we are mostly only one race, diversity is not common to me.

What has been most fun for Philip this semester?

I will never forget my skydiving experience. It was really awesome.

Jae Ho (Wayne) Lee

Photo credit, Jordan Bishop

Wayne works with Outdoorsie, an organization that connects people to outdoor activities in the Bay Area.

At Outdoorsie, Wayne primarily helps with “Consumer Relationship Management.” He finds new customers and is “constantly striving to maintain a good relationship between our customers and our company.”

Wayne appreciates the responsibility he has been given at this flexible start-up, and he feels he’s been able to make a contribution:

Because it is a small start-up, one role is very important and it affects everything else.

Although he is still learning, Wayne confidently says:

 I can gain trust just by showing my effort.

What has Wayne most enjoyed about his semester in San Francisco?

I like the weather. People are friendly. Best of all, the peaceful atmosphere. This is something that is difficult to explain.

Jung Soo (Harry) Kim

Photo credit, Jordan Bishop

Harry works at Linden & Company, a web design and consulting company.

At L&C, Harry is “primarily responsible for providing creative design,” and he also helps with marketing.

A highlight for Harry has been learning how to create his own webpage.

It is a rewarding and interesting experience because it is a realization of my own ability.

Harry desires to learn how to do many things very well. He’s happy that “web design is one of them.”  

I am confident that the ability to create my own homepage will be of great help to me.

By observing the life of the start-up over the past four months, Harry has been learning what he might apply when he creates his own company:

Since I was young, my dream was to be a CEO.

Harry also appreciates our cross-cultural community here in San Francisco:  

I am happy to live with good people in such a good place.

by Karen M. Andrews

Nine students from Gachon University are studying with us in San Francisco this spring. Their perceptive observations of cultural differences and their curiosity about social customs in the U.S have added richness and depth to our community life. 

We’re also enjoying many tasty Korean meals together, thanks to the excellent cooking skills of our Gachon friends!

Enjoy the following portraits of three of our Spring ‘17 Gachon students:

Donny, Bimo, and Dean

Kidon (Donny) Kim

(Photo credit, Jordan Bishop)

Donny works as a marketer at the Invention Hub, a shared working space in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco.

As an experiential lab requirement of Professor David Batstone’s course, "Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation," Gachon students work with start-ups and other innovative organizations.

Donny has been inspired by working alongside the founders of many start-ups at the Invention Hub co-working space. I asked Donny to share some of his take-aways from studying entrepreneurship and working at the Invention Hub:

My primary task is to advertise and promote the Invention Hub through social media and to gather more tenants who work with us in the Invention Hub

First, I needed to understand what a co-working space is. So I visited and investigated other co-working spaces in San Francisco. I talked to people who work there, and I was able to set the direction for what I had to do in the future, and it has made me more professional.

Although he has travelled to many other countries, Donny had not previously visited the U.S. before this semester in San Francisco. 

Here’s what Donny has enjoyed most about being part of this program:

I have broadened my perspective this semester in San Francisco. For example, there are no “Meetups” in Korea, so I enjoyed going to some “Meetups” here, experiencing more of this new culture. 

As I’m planning on founding my own business, this experience has been very important to me.

Here’s Ji Um (Bimo) Ku.

(Photo credit, Jordan Bishop)

While most Gachon University students are working at the Invention Hub for their entrepreneurship lab hours, Bimo works with an organization called “Leadership Connection” that encourages ministry effectiveness.

Bimo primarily helps them with administrative tasks, such as organizing documents in their excel files, checking video subscriptions, and other needed office work.

She recognizes the importance of honing her computer skills, and she is learning to be more proactive, asking to take on additional projects.

I asked Bimo what she has been most enjoying this semester. One of her favorite activities so far has been visiting The Exploratorium at Pier 15. 

Bimo adds:

Living in a different country is really fun. I’m finding it easy to understand other cultures.

Here’s Hyun Si (Dean) Cho

(Photo credit, Jordan Bishop)

Dean works with an organization called BrandFlask at the Invention Hub. 

At BrandFlask, Dean helps with data processing, programming, writing, and contributing “market research and marketing proposals.”

BrandFlask’s intention is to provide people with a simple brand map to help them navigate their way through the complex world of online shopping.

I explore the lifestyle of women aged 25 to 34, the company’s main target. I’m helping brandFlask envision a new revenue model.

Dean enjoys pursuing market research for the company, and he’s excited to see his revenue model actually implemented. Dean also predicts that Artificial Intelligence will take over the fashion world sooner rather than later:

Based on consumer information, artificial intelligence will have a big influence on consumers' purchasing by grasping the economic condition of consumers, clothing consumption tendency and trends.

Experiencing this “different company culture” from Korea has been most valuable to Dean.

I can try new things and various ideas that I cannot easily do in Korea. Through this experience, I’m learning responsibility and efficiency in working.

I asked Dean what he has enjoyed about living and working here, and he shared how much he likes his work and has fun socializing with his supervisor and friends.

I’ll end this post with Dean describing his favorite experience, a lasting memory:

San Francisco has a relaxed atmosphere that I have not experienced in Korea.

The best thing was riding a bicycle to Golden Gate Park and Golden Gate Bridge. The beauty of Golden Gate Park and the magnificence of the Golden Gate Bridge are unforgettable.

by Karen M. Andrews

Happy Spring! Our newest portrait post features two of our Spring’17 WSF students.  

Enjoy hearing from Allison Strouss and Nicholas Swider as they reflect on interning at distinctly different organizations in the city.

Here’s Nicholas (Nic) Swider, a Kinesiology major interning at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center:

(Photo credit, Jordan Bishop)

Nic Swider describes working as a Volunteer Chaplain with the Sojourn Chaplaincy at Zuckerberg San Francisco General:

My main responsibilities are meeting with patients and serving as spiritual and emotional support to patients in the hospital. I also do some administrative work when needed.

What has been most enjoyable so far is being mentored by some truly incredible people who have been working as chaplains for years now.

Getting exposed to so much diversity of faith and culture and learning how to interact with that diversity has been the most valuable part of my internship.

Nic explains why he has appreciated these encounters with diverse people and communities at the hospital:

One of the great experiences and challenges of working at the hospital is interacting with people of all different cultures and learning how to navigate these differences. Diverse cultures interact differently, through simple things such as eye contact.

Learning how to meet people where they are religiously or spiritually and discovering how to pray with and for people of other traditions has been so valuable.

Nic has served many patients from San Francisco’s multilingual and multicultural population through his internship with the interfaith chaplaincy program. Located in Potrero Hill, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center provides medical care for anyone in need, regardless of their ability to pay.

Allison (Allie) Strouss, an Art History major, interns at CK Contemporary and Christopher Clark Fine Art galleries

(Photo credit, Jordan Bishop)

Contrasting with Nic’s internship site, Allie’s high-end galleries are located downtown near San Francisco’s Union Square:

CK Contemporary displays the work of geographically diverse living artists, from Spain to Canada, and the pieces range from photorealistic oil paintings to bronze sculptures. Christopher Clark Fine Art, the sister gallery, carries the prints, etchings, and paintings of renowned artists ranging from Rembrandt to Dali.

Allie describes her responsibilities at these galleries:

I float between the two galleries assisting with a wide array of tasks as needed, such as entering a particular work of art’s framing descriptions, the restoration details on a piece that has been aged, or prices into a database.

In the art sales department on the main floor of the galleries, I observe client interactions and then enter their information into the database as well as a mailing list.

What has Allie found most enjoyable so far?

Surprisingly, data entry of the artworks has been the most educational and rewarding. I’ve learned about all of the logistics and details that go into getting a particular piece into its most sellable form or to the wall of a client’s home.

It amazes me how a dead artist’s work can go for as much as $179,000, and I’ve been impressed by the geographically diverse clientele at both galleries.

Allie explains why her internship at these art galleries has been valuable:

Working alongside and handling artwork that I have recently learned about in my art history courses at Westmont has been so valuable. To see particular works of art in real life that I have spent hours analyzing and studying for midterms, to actually touch them and see the selling process has been extremely rewarding and enjoyable.

My coworkers have opened my eyes about their career paths and how they have drastically changed since they were my age. It has restored my hope that I will find a career that best suits my passions. Forming relationships and networking are extremely crucial in getting to where you need to be in life. The art world is extremely competitive and not always glamorous, but I am certain that I am here for a reason this semester!

Allie and Nic, along with other “Advanced Composition” students, also have written creative profiles of their organizations and regularly share colorful stories with our WSF community.