Sanikiluaq (Aug 11/03) - Sarah Kudluarok is still searching for words to describe her recent trip to Korea.

The 15-year old from Sanikiluaq returned home Monday from a 10-day South Korean pilgrimage as part of a youth delegation with Veteran Affairs Canada.

"I didn't know where Korea was," the teen admitted, speaking from her home on Monday.

When she pulled out the map, she thought "it looked really far," especially considering she would be travelling without her family or friends.

But Kudluarok is getting used to these trips where she represents Nunavut.

After taking part in Encounters with Canada in Ottawa in the fall of 2002, she was approached about the Korean pilgrimage.

Kudluarok credits her teachers with inspiring her to be so involved.

She has since become something of a role model for youth in the community, said Zach Novalinga at the hamlet office.

"It's always good to get young people involved in activities like this," he said, "especially the national activities. We need good, young role models for the whole community if not the whole country."

Kudluarok had not travelled that far in her life, and says she "felt like crying," sometimes.

During the ceremony on July 27 she was nervous laying a wreath on a statue while representatives from 21 nations stood in silence.

But she made friends with other youth delegates from every province and territory, and went shopping, buying souvenirs including mugs and Korean dolls.

Kudluarok, who speaks Inuktitut at home, was also awed by the Korean language, and says she would like to return, "but with people next time," she said.

Novalinga said Kudluarok is impressive for her age.

"If we can a few more young people like that it would make a big difference."

More than 26,000 Canadians participated in the Korean War which began June 25, 1950 and ended in ceasefire following the signing of an armistice agreement July 27, 1953.

More than 1,200 Canadians were wounded in the war, and the names of 516 war dead are inscribed in Canada's Korean War Book.