Shrieks of laughter and the clanging of pots and pans emanate from the crowded kitchen in Penelope Murphy's Bed and Breakfast in Paxinos, as a small group of South Korean exchange students prepare a Japanese curry dinner.
Others lounge on the patio outside, joking with one another and sometimes bursting into song. The muggy weather doesn't dampen their spirits, nor does being half a world away from home for the summer.
Thanks to a work and travel program through Daegu University, where most of them attend college, 47 South Korean students decided in April to visit the United States this summer to work, learn English and experience American culture.
After initial plans to stay and work in Florida fell through, the students came to live in Central Pennsylvania and work at Knoebels Groves Amusement Resort.
"I am very happy to be here. After we go back home in a couple weeks, I'll miss my friends here, even our hotel," 25-year-old Juyoung Jang of Hadong, South Korea, says in English with a slight accent.
The men have been staying at the Wayside Inn, while the women have been boarding about two miles down the road at the bed and breakfast. They don't have rental cars, but the male students have had no problem trekking down Route 61 to visit the girls to have dinner and socialize.
And on Wednesday, their day off from work, they did just that. They've worked six days a week at Knoebels since they arrived for their American adventure.
"The students have expenses they need to pay for here, but what's really good is they're able to put on their resumes that they've worked in the U.S., studied English, practiced English," says Lydia Tobin, 22, of Paxinos.
Ms. Tobin befriended many of the South Koreans while also working at Knoebels.
"A lot of them are majoring in business and international trade, and knowing English will give them a leg up," she said.
When some of the students learned Ms. Tobin would be working as an elementary teacher this fall and had been trained to teach students whose second language is English, they immediately asked her to teach them the language.
"I tell them over and over again that they are improving so much," Ms. Tobin says, smiling at some of the South Korean men sitting around her on the patio of the bed and breakfast.
"I've only known them for a month and a half, but they've gone from knowing low basic to at least basic English.
"And they've taught me basic Korean phrases, some silly ones, like crazy chicken' or you smell.' They think it's so funny when I say them!"
Mr. Jang leans over to put his arm around Ms. Tobin and share a private joke, while Kichul Jang, 25, of Daegu, South Korea, and of no relation to Juyoung Jang, begins to sing music star Rihanna's song, "Umbrella."
Others plead for him to also show off his dance moves, since he's studied hip-hop in South Korea.
Not only do the students know songs that are popular in America, they also are familiar with American TV shows, chain restaurants and stores, and movies because they also have them at home in South Korea.
"We like ESPN, Prisonbreak,' CSI', Friends,' Sex and the City'. Kichul just bought High School Musical' on DVD!" Uk Hur, 23, of Seoul, South Korea, says with a laugh.
"So if you live in South Korea and don't go to America, you still know about the culture, but if you are American, you might not know much about South Korea if you don't go there."
The group's trip to the states wouldn't be complete without some sight-seeing. Many took bus trips, often planned by other workers at Knoebels, to New York City, Hershey Park, Dorney Park and Baltimore, where they saw the Yankees and Orioles play baseball. And which team did they root for?
"The Yankees -- they're more well-known," says Mr. Hur, as someone starts to chant "Let's go Yankees. Let's go Yankees!"
"No, we support both teams!" Juyoung Jang counters.
When they weren't working or traveling to other states, the group shopped at the Susquehanna Valley Mall, Hummels Wharf, and marveled at how inexpensive clothes were here compared to those in South Korea.
They went to the movies and had barbecues and bonfires at Ms. Tobin's house. And they still look forward to the weekly trips to Shamokin's Super Wal-Mart.
"I love Wal-Mart and shopping!" Juyoung Jang says. "Everything is cheap there!"
Soon, the curry dinner is done, and a few students begin to fill plates to pass out to everyone. Their hospitality is evident, despite being visitors to the country.
"I really admire them because they're so respectful and open and expressive," Ms. Tobin said. "They sing all the time, joke around, put their arms around each other. They don't worry about what other people think of them, and it's refreshing."
For most students, this was their first time to America, and some are already talking about returning and keeping up with friends like Ms. Tobin through e-mails.
"I don't want to go home!" Juyoung Jang said. "My friends here are very kind. I'm lucky because I met very good people and learned a lot from them."
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South Korean students love yankees, and the Yankees
Exchange students learn about America, attend ball games
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