A Fish out of Water
In my academic career, travel has become a common theme that accompanies my study. From a time of great turbulence in Egypt to a semester in South Korea, I have had the opportunity to experience diverse cultures that challenge the norms that I am accustomed to as an American citizen, from forms of political accountability to the challenges that come with personal and professional expectations.
Cairo, Egypt
January 2011
As an undergraduate student at Penn State, I dedicated my studies to the Middle East, including the Arabic language. A daunting task to be sure, I decided to study abroad at The American University in Cairo during my sophomore year in order to learn more effectively about the region and immerse myself in the language. This was also my first time spending an extended period of time outside the United States and I expected my worldview to drastically change over the course of four months. However, after less than one week in Cairo, massive demonstrations erupted in protest of the Mubarak regime. I had inadvertently found myself in a country that was about to undergo regime change, partially through violent upheaval. Realizing the historical importance of the events that were unfolding before my eyes, some colleagues and I made our way to Tahrir Square, the central square in Cairo, to observe the protests. As the situation across the country, and entire region, quickly began to descend into chaos, I was advised to leave Egypt for safety reasons. As our van raced toward the airport, I witnessed tanks lining the highway as though they were preparing to lay siege to the city. After arriving at the airport and sitting on the tarmac for more than five hours, our plane finally lifted into the sky, leaving behind a country that would never be the same. Despite the perceived danger, the opportunity to witness history is not something that I regret. This experience laid bare the relative safety that I take for granted in a country where violent protest is rare, as well as the methods in which the United States keeps our elected officials accountable through nonviolent protest and elections for peaceful transitions of power.
Seoul, South Korea
May – December 2019
During my time at the Bush School, I chose to participate in a reciprocal exchange program with Seoul National University in South Korea after completing my language immersion program during the summer of 2019. For almost seven months, I strove to strengthen my Korean language skills while immersing myself in Korean culture and history, making special effort to enroll in courses that explored Korean history, society, and politics. This opportunity allowed me to meet other students not only from Korea, but from an array of other countries as well, from Western Europe to Central Asia and Africa. Through this experience I learned how students from different parts of the world approach education, with particular emphasis on the notoriously stressful educational environment in South Korea. I found that this stressful norm deprives students of much of their social lives due to family and societal pressures to do well in school, far outweighing the educational stress that I experience in the United States. Outside the classroom, I was able to integrate myself deeper into Korean society through hiking and running clubs. These experiences helped to form a bond and understand the collective mentality that is so prevalent in Korea, in addition to discovering the challenges that Korean citizens face once they enter the workforce and adulthood, from a hierarchical work culture to family pressures to get married. These two examples seem to align with norms in the United States, but Confucian influence over Korean culture amplifies the hierarchical structures of work as well as the emphasis on bringing honor to one’s family, altering my perspective on very personal matters in Korean society.