Stephens worked as an English teacher for two years at Yesan Middle School in South Chungcheong Province 33 years ago as a member of the Peace Corps. Once a twenty-something single American teacher who used a Korean name, “Shim Eun-kyung,” she returned to revive her memories -- this time not as a teacher but as U.S. ambassador to Korea.

When Stephens stepped into the school gate, some 1,000 teachers and students waved Korean and U.S. flags and cheered. Her former students, who later became teachers, came up to her and shook hands with their old teacher.

U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens dabs at her eyes as she watches slides recalling her days teaching at Yesan Middle School in South Chungchoneg Province, during her visit there on Wednesday. /Yonhap

Stephens watched a Taekwondo exhibition by students in the school’s stadium, and there was a showing of her slides of old photos with her former colleagues and pictures from the yearbook. Tears welled up in her eyes several times.

Kim Dong-kook, superintendent of the South Chungcheong Province’s Yesan Office of Education, gave Stephens an honorary teacher’s certificate, and the students gave a box full of thank you letters and flowers. She also shed tears when she was given a frame of old pictures.

“We wholeheartedly welcome Ambassador Stephens, who came to visit us despite her busy schedule. We ask her to make a great contribution to both Korea and the U.S.,” said Park Jong-wan, principal of Yesan Middle School. Stephens replied in Korean, “I learned more than I taught when I was here 33 years ago. I will do my best to enhance amicable Korea-U.S. relations and bring them to a higher level.”

Stephens later attended an English class taught by a native English teacher. She donated some 120 English books on history, philosophy and science, and planted a pine tree marking the long-held friendship.

(englishnews@chosun.com )