안녕하세요 여러분! (Ann-yeong-ha-se-yo yeo-reo-bun, or “Hello everyone!”)
My name is Hannah Vázquez, and I’m so glad you’re here! I'm Mexican-American, 20 years old, and a university student at Washington University in St. Louis who loves learning, creating, and exploring the world.
I was born in Texas and raised in Nuevo Laredo, a city in northern Mexico. The weather there is very hot, which means lots of sunny days and fun pool parties with friends! My hometown is full of music, bright colors, delicious food, and kind people. All my family lives there, so I love to go visit them on holidays.
I love LOTS of things, and let me tell you: you never have to choose just one! That's why I'm majoring in Global Studies and Design and minoring in Dance. I love drawing, painting, and creating illustrations, especially cartoons. As for dancing, I used to be part of a ballet company, and now I enjoy creating my own dances. Dancing and art are places where I can tell stories without words.
I also love to learn about different places, people, and languages around the world. Spanish is my native language, I learned English mostly during high school, and I am currently learning Korean. I like to know what makes cultures different and what brings us together. Learning about other people helps us understand one another better and live more kindly. I have explored these differences in Mexico and the United States, and now I am excited to continue that journey in South Korea.
South Korea is very different from what I already know. It uses a different alphabet (한글 or Hangul), has foods I’ve never tried before, and has unique traditions and ways of showing respect. In this journey I hope to learn about daily life, food, language, traditions, school, and art in South Korea.
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by visiting www.gilmanscholarship.org.
