Global Citizen
As the world is getting more and more interconnected with technology, it is becoming increasingly important to have a global vision and a global sense of citizenship. To do this, I believe that you must interact with those from other countries, get to know them, and share in both of your perspectives. Both participants will grow from standing in another's shoes, and in doing so learn more about themselves.
Study Abroad — Invisible Cities in Taipei, Taiwan and Tokyo, Japan:
In the summer before my junior year, I went on my first study abroad. The program took us to Taipei, Taiwan and Tokyo, Japan to study “invisible cities”. This concept encapsulates the “unseen” communities that are usually hidden from the eyes of most of society. We explore unused and re-purposed lands, low income communities, artists spaces, and more. This exploration seminar taught me how life was like in a city outside of my home in Seattle and that I could depend on myself to navigate another country. It was a learning experience about the world and about myself.
A photo taken in Democracy Memorial Park Taipei, Taiwan
Functioning independently: Up to this point in my life, I have had hard limits on what I can and cannot do. Where I can and cannot go, how long can I stay. While everyone has this limit imposed on them through some form of power, my limits were uncomfortably shorter than the rest of my peers. By going on this study abroad, I pushed them back farther than I ever thought I would be able to. Abroad I was my own person who made my own choices by myself and for myself only. I was truly functioning independently, and I did well.
Self-development: This trip forced me to get out of my comfort zone, operate independently, and even take care of some of my peers in Japan. This did wonders not only to boost myself esteem, but to also expand what I thought my limits were. It changed my thinking in so many ways. Academically, I now understand that there are more ways to learn and get an education than just sitting in a classroom. You can learn by getting up, visiting places, and talking to people. Culturally, I saw how daily life is and can be outside of the urban setting of Seattle. I saw how people lived and survived, even when the odds are stacked up against them. Personally, I saw that I can be independent and that I should step out of my comfort zone more often.
Decision making: This entire trip was made up of decisions. Final projects, where to explore after the class had ended, how to get back to the hotel, what to eat, who to hang out with. When listed out like that it doesn’t sound like much, but to someone with very little experiences or opportunity to choose what they want to eat for dinner, this was revolutionary. That said, there were decisions that I made that really shaped the tone of my experience. The biggest one (and the one that I regret) is not thinking ahead and exploring Japan after the program was over. Instead, I came home straight away. With this experience behind me now, in the future I will know better.
Diversity: This experience helped me get out of my American-centric world view. The countries themselves all had their own way of operating, their own cultures, customs, and way of living. Seeing all of these differences and being taught the history showed me that so much more is possible. While America is often held up as innovative, as a world leader, we need to look further and learn from other countries now more than ever. An example of an idea that I encountered abroad is the concept of having community repair shops, here volunteers will teach local community members how to fix their household appliances rather than just throwing them away.
Problem solving: The biggest problem that happened on this trip was my getting a fever the day after arriving in Taipei. I tried to keep up with the group but due to the high temperatures, high humidity, and high temperature, I decided to go back to the hotel early. From there, I had to remember how to get back to the hotel alone, I had to rest, wake up and realized that I needed to eat and get medication, find a map, locate a pharmacy, and a doctor’s office. Luckily, I knew basic Mandarin and had the help of my smart phone. That said, I navigated the city and its obstacles with only a little confusion even when I was barely able to think.