Global Immersion

Since I wasn't able to go to Greece with NCC in 2020, I will instead write about a global immersion experience that helped shape who I am today. In 2018 I went to South Korea with a close friend for just over two weeks. This trip had no special purpose - I mostly went to see all of the places I was fascinated with since 2014. I didn't go for an academic reason; yet, I learned a lot as if it were a school trip. It was my first trip abroad without my parents. I planned it all at the tender age of 17, which was awfully ambitious of me. So ambitious that it was a surprise to everyone I know that the trip went smoothly. That experience allowed me to practice my beginner Korean language skills, visit monuments and temples I had only ever read about, try food I've never heard of before, and be completely immersed in a culture that is very different than what I'm used to in America.

Although the trip went smoother than anticipated, I ran into challenges while I was there. For example, South Korea is known for its spicy food and I, unfortunately, cannot eat spicy food. This might not sound like a big obstacle but it was something constantly on my mind everywhere we went to eat. Before going, I knew to avoid certain food based on appearances (red food, dark green food, etc.), since they're known for being spicy, yet not all food conformed to my expectations. My life unexpectedly flashed before my eyes on a few occasions, but I took things one day at a time and didn't let those experiences scare me out of trying any new food. If I'm in another country trying all sorts of new things, naturally I have to try new food. It also helped me to learn the phrase "Is this spicy?" in Korean.

Two of the most important things I learned on my global immersion were that the world isn't as scary as the news and movies can make it seem and that I'm resilient and capable. Without taking the leap by going abroad without my parents, I would have never known that I, in fact, can plan a successful trip. I also wouldn't have known that two teenage girls can go across the world and trust random strangers to give them directions. Overall, learning those two things immensely heightens my confidence as a traveler and increases my faith in people I've never met.