Does Culture Shock Ever Disappear? pt. 2

By:

Stanysha Lowery

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Stanysha Lowery

<i>"Hello" in your host country's language:</i> Hello <i>Home Institution (your U.S. University/College):</i> University of North Carolina at Greensboro <i>Expected graduation year:</i> 2022 <i>Destination city & country:</i> Seoul, South Korea <i>Program provider:</i> Yonsei International Summer School <i>Major/minor:</i> Psychology / Human Development and Family Studies <i>Demographics:</i> African American/Black, First-Generation College Student <i>Future career aspirations:</i> My future career goals include me becoming either a Social or Developmental Psychologist serving and working with underepresented and often ignored communities and individuals. <i>Top 3 goals for your time abroad:</i> My top three goals for my time abroad are: Learn Korean and become a beginner in the language, become acquainted with other students and professors, and immerse myself in South Korean culture by trying new foods, going sightseeing, and learning through every experience that I encounter.

Originally I planned on going to Seoul Tower this week but plans changed and I went to the zoo instead. It was a really nice experience and I would definitely do it again on a cooler day. Being flexible when decision-making is a good skill to have in a new environment because it forces you to let go of expectations. To get to the zoo, I had to take the metro and it became very confusing when the driver began kicking everyone off midway between my destination. I was very confused, and if I were in the United States, I probably would have just called an Uber to take me home. Here, that is an option, but I still wanted to explore it. So I used the resources at my disposal to find a way to get to the zoo and I made it. If I had been impatient and given up when things became confusing or difficult (believe me they did) I would not have been able to see the beautiful view of the zoo. Slowly taking it day by day!