Gwangju International Center

 

Last 21 DEC, the GIC held its annual GIC ADIOS to celebrate and reflect on the successes of 2013 and introduce what the GIC has in mind for 2014. With many of its members and friends in attendance, the Center blossomed with the holiday spirit. Want to feel it once again? Go! Go! Go!

 

 

 

The GIC ADIOS 2013 wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the many volunteers, coordinators, interns, and others who truly desired to commemorate the backbone of the Center:

its members and friends!  Once they stepped out of the elevator,

they were warmly greeted at registration and our raffle table. 

 

 

Thank you for all those who donated to the GIC during the ADIOS 2013.

You’re gracious donation will help support the moving cost from Jeon-il building to our new location this January. After registration, guests took photos with Santa at our Photo Zone!

 

 

We had the entire fifth floor covered in many holiday goodies, games, and fun for all ages

before you enter the actual Center.

After the elevator, you can see our button-making station, Christmas coin-toss, and Create & Gift booth!

 

 

Many people tried their luck at our Christmas Coin Toss. Were you lucky this year?

 

 

If so, all those who won received up to three gifts,

but if not, a consolation prize was just as rewarding. Thanks for playing!

 

 

Here we have our Create & Gift experience booth where our hosts helped guests exercise their creativity

by drawing and sharing their piece as a gift. 

 

 

Next up is our button-making station! It was a popular part of the ADIOS and

we got to see some very creative buttons!

 

 

As with our other events, or Flea Market boasted many types of products graciously

donated by the members of our community.

Everything from clothes, bags, books, and trinkets were provided at low prices. 

 

 

What do YOU wish for in 2014?

 

 

Lots of faces came by the GIC ADIOS. Onward to the Talk Room,

you can see many photos from the GIC pasted on our wall.

 

 

 But first off we have our Gwangju Souvenir table!

Buy some products and share Gwangju with everyone from our buttons, postcards, t-shirts, and more!

 

 

Next to our Souvenir booth is our general GIC table with all of our information on the Center.

 

 

This year we had our GIC Cafe to share drinks and snacks before the Potluck.

A huge thanks to our high school volunteer Sanghyuk Kim for making coookies., and Japanese volunteers Satsuki and the other volunteers for running the Cafe!

 

 

Did you receive stickers for our game to spell A.D.I.O.S.? Whoever spelled out the word got a prize!

 

 

The GIC was teeming with many people to share their stories,

try some of Warren Parson’s tea, or sit for a rest and meet new people. 

 

 

On to the brunt of the GIC ADIOS!

We were warmly introduced by Amy Daniels and Julian Warmington’s beautiful musical performances.

Director Shin also joined in to open our event with the GIC Story,

a platform for members to share their experiences with the GIC this year.

 

 

Dr. Shin also launched the plan for our move to the new building.

We are very excited to see and share what the new building has in store for us here at the GIC

and how we can better provide for our community. 

 

 

But all of the successes wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the people at the Center.

Dr. Shin congratulated many of the volunteers who supported us this year.

Thank you Joey Nunez, Kathlean Villadiego, Jon Ozelton,  Daniel Lister, Warren Parsons and Seonhwa Jeong.

 

 

 

Afterwards we had our Raffle!

The hosts, Coordinator Mira Kim and Exchange Student Senna Saraswati shared the gifts with many lucky winners. Did you collect a gift?

 

 

The GIC Interns performed their own rendition of the Cup Song

and switched to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You”.  

Did you enjoy their performance?

 

 

But the fun doesn’t stop there!

Coordinator Nana Kim and Chinese  and Japanese Teacher Yuku were surprised

when the GIC called them out for their birthday!

 

 

Our final performance was a volunteer-organized show of the popular Crayon Pop song, “Jumping!”

They organized this piece in 3 days and did a fantastic job!

 

 

The Potluck was our final event. We had quiche, fruit, bread, holiday cookies, and lots of dessert provided by our ADIOS attendees. It was a great time to share how the GIC was a part of our lives this year over delicious meals and meet new faces as we wrapped up the event and 2013. 

 

The entire event brought in many donations that will help us in the future. The souvenir sale allotted 229,000 won, donations of 52,100 won, coin-toss of 13,690 won, 146,000 won from the cafe, 218,000 won for the Flea Market, and 57,000 from the raffle for a total of 716,690원 from the ADIOS! A huge thanks for everyone who supported us that evening; it is an enormous help for us.

 

It is events like this make the GIC what it is: a place to share and engage with all members of the community of Gwangju. It was a fantastic event and great way to end 2013. We look forward to 2014 and all of the fun it has awaiting for all of us. Thanks once again for coming out!

 

See you next year and Happy New Year’s!