Continuing the Celebration of Skills

WorldSkills International delegates turned divers!

Getting together for a WorldSkills International General Assembly meeting or Competition means long days of hard work by the WorldSkills Secretariat team to deliver a successful event. It is not all work and no play, though, as everyone knows that the most successful of events must embrace some down time where people can laugh and learn about each other on a more personal level.

This certainly happened to Michelle Turpin on a recent WorldSkills International event. As a Consilium consultant, Michelle plans and runs events, teaches online courses and uses her many other talents and depth of experience to support our clients. These skills moved to a whole new world on Jeju Island in Korea, where Michelle facilitated the WorldSkills Youth Forum for most of her stay - except for one where she embraced the persona of a Henyeo Diver.

The Henyeo, literally meaning 'sea women', are female divers in the  Korean province of Jeju. These women of the sea with superior diving abilities represent an ancient fishing tradition of holding their breath, diving under the water and coming up with creatures of the sea that they sell for the livelihood of themselves and their families.

So, how exactly did Michelle get to become a Henyeo diver for a day?

The story goes like this... the Youth Forum participants and delegates of the General Assembly were told they were being whisked away to the 'Jeju Mermaid' event - a cultural excursion and 'skills competition' at the beginning of the week of meetings. The Korean hosts requested volunteers - some to enter a kayaking competition, others to dress in traditional Korean clothing. "Dressing up?!" many of the Youth Forum participants yelled. "Awesome, sign us up!"

Arriving at the seaside, a young man asked the 12 of us to wait a few minutes - then we would be taken to the 'change room'. Anticipation hung in the air. How pretty would our costumes be? Did everyone have their cameras at the ready to capture our outfits to share with friends and family back home? With a nod from one of the young man's colleagues, we were taken to the 'change room'. And handed black rubber suits, masks, flippers, and told to change and get down to the waters edge. In a state of laughter, shock and disbelief, our group donned the suits of the Henyeo and went diving for abalone, fish, and squid.

As it turned out, it was an afternoon filled with laughter, bonding and an experience that none of us expected but certainly one that no one will never forget.

The expectation: traditional Korean dress (along with the mascot bear of the Shilla Hotel).

The reality: Women of the sea, the Henyeo diving experience.