Even though Seung Jun Lee left Aberdeen five years ago, the community has never really left him. Lee studied for one semester at Northern State University in spring 2008, and he enjoyed his time here somuch that he named his business back in his home country after the city. Lee and his wife, Claire, are owners of Aberdeen Story, a coffee shop in Seoul, South Korea. “He enjoyed NSU so much that he has always kept it close to his heart,” said Stacey Schmidt, NSU international student advisor, whom Lee calls his “American mother.” Indeed, Lee said he chose the name for his business because it keeps him connected to his past time in Aberdeen – his “precious memory.” He also has good memories of time spent studying in Northern’s Williams Library. Schmidt said his store has a large area that has study rooms for students to rent – a popular practice in South Korea. Schmidt has worked with employees of the NSU bookstore and post office to send Lee some Northern and Aberdeen materials to display at his business. The items from Aberdeen are perfect, Schmidt said, because they contain the city’s slogan: “Write your story.” Lee said he displays these souvenirs and brochures so his customers will know “the small and peaceful town in the Midwest.” He said he misses the lifestyle on the Northern campus, attending class wearing a hoodie and shopping for groceries at WalMart. He also enjoyed taking a bus tour of other cities, such as the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Lee, who works at a bank in Seoul, said NSU helped prepare him for his career as both a banker and a business owner. “The sense of self-confidence was the biggest asset that I learned at Aberdeen – not to mention the speaking English,” he said. “I am still proud of myself for having an NSU student ID card.” For more on Lee’s business, Aberdeen Story, visit: www.aberdeenstory.com 8 northern today News northern “The sense of self-confidence was the biggest asset that I learned at Aberdeen...,” Lee said. Sharing NSU and Aberdeen’s story in South Korea “He enjoyed NSU so much that he has always kept it close to his heart,” said Schmidt Alumni Event at the home of Mike and Barb Evans in Scottsdale, Ariz. Left to right: Carol Leach and Jim Leach.
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