New bus tour helps new Kunsan Airmen see community

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  It was sort of confusing for Airman 1st Class Joel Rivera. The hongul written everywhere definitely didn't help him much. And trying to get to the bus station would be difficult, except this Airman had an invaluable resource to take advantage of.

  Airman Rivera, assigned to the 8th Communications Squadron, is one of the first Wolf Pack members to ride the Airman and Family Readiness Center's Newcomer Cultural Adaptation Trip. The trip gives newly-arrived members a first-hand look at Gunsan City as part of their inprocessing. By showing Airmen their community from the start, Mr. Sonny Park, AFRC director, said "they can culturally immerse themselves and enjoy their tour in Korea."
  
  "As Airmen come to Korea not knowing much, they want to confine themselves to the base," Mr. Park said. "That's not good ... they need to learn about the culture. We're here to introduce them to this wonderful, local culture. The mayor of Gunsan City offered us the buses [to take the Airmen into town] so it was a collaboration with the city. The Airmen were happy to see everything [Gunsan City has to offer]."

  The inprocessing bus tour opens the door for Airmen here to get familiarized with their surroundings the moment they set foot in Korea. Many times, Airmen new to the Air Force and arriving in a foreign land can easily stay on base, confining themselves to "little America," at the same time losing the chance to experience a foreign culture. The tour helps to ease the transition, all the while educating Airmen on how to get around easily while breaking the stigma of being "lost in a foreign land."

  "It was really good," Airman Rivera said. "The guy doing [the tour] knew everything and was able to answer every question we had. If you didn't have something like this at inprocessing, you're not getting to know the area the right way. If you didn't go out and see the city, you'd be on base all the time and you wouldn't have any idea about the culture. We're here in their country and it's important to get out and know what's around you."

  The tour also mimics earlier cultural trips sponsored by Gunsan City mayor Moon, Dong Shin. During those tours, which first ran on Saturdays and Sundays of each week, but was later curtailed to Saturdays due to lack of participation, was a direct result of December's junior-enlisted call at the fitness and sports center.

  There, Col. Jeff "Wolf" Lofgren, 8th Fighter Wing commander, wanted to hear first hand from junior-enlisted servicemembers on their concerns about being stationed at Kunsan. One of the main items was a perceived lack of off-base activities.

  "Anybody who hasn't already seen the city, they should definitely go," Airman Rivera added. "If you are getting here and haven't seen the city, the Airman and Family Readiness Center goes through how you can take the city bus and train and how to purchase tickets there. It was definitely a big help ... if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have any idea on how to get around."