As a Global Studies major, I study languages, culture, history and politics. I mainly focus on the Middle East. One of the main spoken languages in the Middle East is Arabic, so I decided to study Arabic at UCSB. I loved Arabic and Middle Eastern culture so much, that I decided to study abroad in Amman, Jordan during my third year at school. It was so much fun travelling and seeing such a different region of the world. I got to visit the Dead Sea (a lake where you automatically float because of the high concentration of salt), I visited one of the seven wonders in the world, the rock city of Petra, and I lived with a Jordanian family. When I came back to UCSB for my fourth year, I started studying Korean, and focusing on East Asia.
I decided to hold off on graduating, so that I could study in South Korea during my fifth year. I decided to come to South Korea because I am academically interested in East Asia, but also because I am part Korean. I am half-Korean and half-American. My mom was born near Seoul and was adopted to an American family when she was 13. So, I grew up with both American and Korean cultures. Being half-Korean and half-American is partly why I love travelling and learning about different cultures.
I have already spent one semester in Seoul, South Korea, studying at Yonsei University. Currently I’m studying Korean, and next semester I hope to find an internship. Another aspect that I wanted to explore while in Korea, is what it means to be American. As an American who is both connected to American culture and Korean culture, I enjoy exploring both sides of myself while I am in Korea.
