For my STEP Signature Project, I did a study abroad in South Korea at Korea University from June to August. I attended classes that were related to my major of Political Science, and participated in activities held through the school and with local students. I also had the opportunity to travel around Korea and explore new cities. 

As someone who is on the shy side and nervous being around new people, I had a tendency to limit the things that I did or the places that I went to. I really tried to get myself out there but my anxieties would hold me back from experiencing many new things. Having been studying South Korea for many years and being interested in its culture, I always knew I wanted to visit and learn more about the country I have only been able to see through a screen. When I learned about the STEP Program, I knew right away that I wanted to use the opportunity to study abroad there and immerse myself in the culture in a whole new way rather than just a vacation. 

I did not know exactly what I was getting myself into the moment I stepped out of the plane and onto the Korea University bound bus. However, I would have never guessed that the things I would see, the friendships I would make, and a change in my perspective of life was what was waiting for me throughout those six weeks. I learned to open up to those who were around me and embrace the unexpected. I became more comfortable in my own skin and who I was, and shared that with my fellow students. I was surrounded not only by locals of South Korea, but hundreds of other people from different parts of the world, who just so happened to choose the same school I did. I accepted the fact that things happen for a reason based on what I experienced, whether it was good or bad, and I have taken this approach with me even after leaving. 

When I say I miss Korea, I’m not just referring to the amazing places I visited and the tasty food I ate, although they are things I find myself missing a lot. I mainly am referring to the amazing friend group I found at Korea University. The university had a “Buddy Program” for their summer campus, in which multiple international students were paired with an assigned local Korea University student, to teach us more about their culture on a personal level and take us around the immense city of Seoul. I could not have been more lucky to be paired with Jaemin, as well as the other buddies that tagged along with us Sunguk, Jehyun, and Gahyun. These four buddies came together to create one big group with their students, and did so many things together. Not only did they go above and beyond for weekly activities, but they spent so much extra time just being with us and helping us check items off our list of things we wanted to do before leaving. From going to a waterpark, to late night karaoke, to staying at restaurants until five in the morning. My best memories, and funniest, are with them. 

Our group has stayed heavily in contact since we came home in August. We look back at all the things we did, all the inside jokes we have, and what we miss most about our summer on the other side of the world. None of us expected that by the end of those six weeks, we would be yearning to see each other again so badly, and relive all those moments. We also have regrets about not making the absolute most of our time, which just gives us another reason to go back. Now that I am back into my daily routine as a student at Ohio State, my buddies are also learning more about American culture in real time through social media. They ask me many questions about the things I’m up to and norms in my society that are strange to them. The exchange between the students and buddies was very rewarding, and continues to be. 

Not only did I open up to new people through this study abroad, but I also grew more comfortable in being alone and getting past the obstacles I thought would prevent me seeing all Korea has to offer. I was worried that the way I looked, the way I did certain things, and obviously being a foreigner would make me stand out in a bad way. However, people were so welcoming and helped me with many things in all the places I went to. Whether it was asking for directions or learning about their cultural norms, I pushed myself to not be afraid of not knowing things. I was there to learn, inside the classroom and outside. I even signed up for a tour on my own at the Demilitarized Zone at the border of North and South Korea, which is probably one of my favorite things I did. My biggest fear when I decided to study abroad was not making friends to do things with, because I knew I would not be able to do those things alone. However while I did make friends, I did so many things alone so I could see the world and I am very proud of myself for growing in that aspect. I learned to enjoy the company of new people, but also of myself. 

Coming back to campus as a fourth year student, I have brought back with me a new perspective that is already improving my way of life. Confidence was something I really struggled with in the past, however Korea has fixed that immensely. I see myself in a new light now and have realized everyone’s journey in life is different. I bonded with people over our similar life experiences which really opened my eyes, but I also realized the many other experiences people have in life. My mind has been opened from places to people, and I am much more knowledgeable now about the world. I have been able to share with people the things I learned and have changed their narratives as well. I cannot wait to explore more parts of the world, whether through another study abroad or vacation, alone or with company. 

Alexa Jamet

STEPIMAGE

I decided to spend 10 weeks in Valencia through International Studies Abroad (ISA) for my STEP Project. I spent the first half of my week attending class, doing homework, and exploring Valencia. On the weekends, I took advantage of the cheaper flights and train rides to travel around Europe.

I expected this to be a transformational experience, but I didn’t expect the intense amount of self-reflection I would do during the trip. I had never been into journaling, but I brought a journal to remember this experience. The journal allowed me to express my thoughts and feelings when I was feeling overwhelmed, lonely, or homesick. I’m proud to say that journaling is now a part of my nightly routine. Exploring other cultures and cities made me realize how little I have explored my own city. I have challenged myself to find more restaurants, activities, and groups to feed my adventurous side. Although my schedule is busier while school is in session, I use my time management skills to stay active in my community. These skills result from balancing classwork, socialization, and mental and physical health.

Being immersed in a completely different culture was overwhelming in the best way. There was so much to do and so much to learn. I enjoyed the challenge of navigating a new city in a different language. I felt so accomplished when I finally knew my way around the city. However, culture shock also had its downsides. I was extremely anxious and lonely during some parts of the trip. During those times I would remind myself that hardships help you grow. I made little videos for myself during the highs to help me get through the lows. Looking back on those videos makes me feel like I have grown so much from this experience, and I am incredibly proud of myself for making the best of my 10 weeks.

There were so many notable events that made my trip special. One of the first was my weekend trip around Northern Italy with other people from the program. This trip took a lot of planning because we wanted to go to 3 different cities in only 3 days (more like 2.5). I was recovering from my ailment that was caused by my tobacco allergy. I had to take this awful-tasting medicine three times a day. While this medicine did dry up my sinuses, it also caused many long bloody noses. I dealt with them during meals, bus rides, and clubs. It was embarrassing, but I decided to laugh it off. This trip was one of my favorites despite the constant worry and bloodshed.

Towards the end of the first session, our whole group celebrated the night of San Juan together. Valencians celebrate San Juan by building fire pits along the beach, leaping over fires, and jumping over seven waves at midnight. We didn’t know how to start one of these fires, so we hung out on big blankets and towels between other groups. We spent the night reminiscing about the trip so far, meeting new people, and participating in the traditions. The night of San Juan was undeniably the best night of my trip. I felt connected to the culture, my new friends, and myself.

Finally, I found some amazing friends during one of the program events during the second session. I missed the watersports event during the first session because I took a trip to Mallorca. However, it looked so fun that I decided to come home from Madrid early to participate. Balance has never been my forte, so it isn’t surprising that I couldn’t figure out how to surf. The current was so strong that no one could get out far enough before leaving the small reserved zone. The instructors decided to call it off. Although this was disappointing, I got to chat with people from other ISA programs. Many of the friends I made abroad left after the first session, so I felt more lonely during the second one. Spending the day, and then the rest of the trip, with these people boosted my mood when I was having a hard time.

This transformational experience has changed how I live my day-to-day life. It has pushed me to be more adventurous, confident, and outgoing. Academically, I took challenging courses to finish my minor, but my Spanish improved more through talking with locals. Personally, I have learned how to balance extremely busy weeks with my physical and mental health. These skills will also help me professionally as I plan to be a neuropsychologist. I will need to manage many different tasks through graduate school and my job while also prioritizing my own health. I hope I can use what I learned from this experience to reach more people professionally and personally.

This past summer, I was very fortunate to conduct my STEP Signature Project in a study abroad program in Aix-en-Provence, France. This program lasted three weeks through the Institute for American Universities (IAU). During this program, I took Advanced French II, which was a course that not only focused on grammar and more advanced language rules but also on understanding the culture and daily life and the gastronomy, in France. Each day we had class from 2:30-6:00 PM with Fridays off to explore the city.

During my time in Aix-en-Provence, I experienced a significant shift in how I perceive cultural differences, particularly when comparing French, American, and my Moroccan heritage. I realized that cultural nuances deeply influence daily interactions and social norms. For example, I observed that the French tend to be more private and reserved, which contrasted with the more open and service-oriented nature of American culture. This made me reflect on my own approach to relationships and social interactions, leading me to appreciate the value of building connections over time rather than expecting immediate friendliness. This transformation helped me become less emotional in my interactions, as I learned to respect the French way opening up to others only when truly forming a connection with each other. Additionally, my French class was a group of 10 kids each from different universities in the U.S. which was crucial in my learning in France as I didn’t just learn from the French people and culture I was exposed to, but from the students that I was now very close with, each coming from a different background and coming with unique perspectives.

Several everyday interactions contributed to this transformation. For instance, I frequently visited local vendors, coffee shops (constantly attempting to perfect an iced coffee order somewhere), and movie theaters. Unlike the immediate warmth I’m accustomed to in American service, the French approach was more reserved, often forcing me to adapt my expectations and understand that friendliness in France is often earned rather than freely given. This was surprising because I feel like when you are a paying customer you are deserving of that customer service and hospitality but often felt like we were faced with swift and conventional responses and behaviors. This may also have been because some French people don’t like tourists. Nonetheless, my classmates and I tried to look past some of the interactions we encountered as they weren’t all bad but it still to me, was worth noting about my experience.

Traveling to different cities within France (Paris and Marseille) further highlighted these cultural distinctions. In each city, I noticed subtle yet significant differences in how people interacted, even within the same country. The train stations and marketplaces were amazing and taught me a lot about the economy of France. Buying from these markets were great, as they exposed me to the varying degrees of formality, politeness, and openness among the French. Sometimes, my classmates and I would want to practice our French and the vendor would see that we are not France and respond in English which was often frustrating Overtime, I felt more accomplished if I could go on with my interactions without them sensing my true nationality.  These experiences collectively taught me the importance of patience because it’s frustrating at times to be in a different society and try to immerse yourself.

This transformation is significant because it has broadened my perspective on interpersonal relationships and social interactions. It’s valuable both personally and professionally, as it allows me to approach new environments and cultures with a more open mind and a better understanding of the importance of cultural context. Academically, this experience has deepened my appreciation for language studies, as I’ve seen firsthand how language and culture are intertwined. I have been able to improve my French and use it with patients I work with at a free clinic. Professionally, especially in a field like healthcare, this experience will help me better navigate cultural differences with patients and colleagues, fostering more respectful and effective communication. I am very grateful to STEP for this opportunity as it would not have been possible without STEP.

The STEP project I completed was a year long study abroad experience at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. From September of 2023 until August of 2024, I experienced complete immersion as a full time college student in Tokyo.

Prior to going to Japan, I had never left the United States. I came to OSU with ambitions of learning much more about the world and expanding my views through study abroad. My majors of International Studies and Japanese created solid foundations, but going abroad had been a priority before I even started my first semester at OSU. My time in Japan was incredibly helpful in achieving those goals. I would not say I underwent a drastic transformation or that my worldview completely shifted as a result of studying abroad, but it certainly gave me a lot of new perspectives. I learned to appreciate many things about the United States that I had never thought about before, such as the immense diversity of people and food. At the same time I discovered a host of things I felt could be improved in the United States, such as collective efforts towards cleanliness and safety. My time in Japan really solidified for me the notion that there is no “best” country to live in. Waseda University is an incredibly international school and I was exposed to so many students from across the world and realized that everyone has different priorities with regards to where they want to live. As an American, you often grow up entrenched in a sentiment that the world revolves around the U.S.. It was refreshing to be removed from this environment and gain insight from people that are not Americans.

The events that predominantly influenced my development were the relationships I formed with other students and the classes I took at Waseda University. As an International Studies student, specifically focusing on International Relations and Diplomacy, my classes at OSU have naturally had an incredibly strong U.S. influence on how they are taught. For my time at Waseda, I really wanted to take international relations classes, so I could gain a new perspective. Two classes at Waseda in particular were key in providing new perspectives for me. I took “International Law” and “Global Environmental Politics and Policies”. “International Law” was a fantastic class that went over how different countries approach international law and for what reason. It covered a variety of cases that happened across the world and was wonderful at providing a rather objective perspective on the U.S.’s role in international law. In addition, the class “Global Environmental Politics and Policies” had a very unique teaching style that was incredible for seeing how different nations addressed climate issues individually as well as together. The class was a partnership of several universities, so there were lectures being taught from the Chinese, Australian, Japanese, and Samoan viewpoint among others. These classes were incredibly fulfilling and aided me significantly in my efforts to learn from a less U.S. centric perspective.

The other major factor that influenced my growth in Japan was the relationships I made. While at Waseda University, I studied at the School of International Liberal Studies (SILS) and the Center for Japanese Learning (CJL). SILS was a great setting to meet a lot of Japanese students and I made a number of friends through my classes there. CJL was a setting where I got to meet a host of peers that were also from outside of Japan. In just one of my Japanese classes there were thirteen different countries represented by my classmates. I was able to form close ties with people from Spain, Australia, Thailand, and more. This large breadth of friendships was a real gift from time in Japan. I gained insight on what different countries prioritize and how the world views the U.S. as well. It was an incredibly special part of my study abroad experience and I look forward to maintaining these friendships through the years to come. Due to SILS international focus, I already have two friends coming to study abroad in North America this school year and can’t wait to meet with them again.

It is hard to point to many other specific events or activities that contributed to my growth during my time abroad because my time in Japan was a bit long. Rather than highlighting another specific experience, I want to focus on the more mundane things in day to day life that also impacted me. I would say the biggest form of personal growth I had while studying abroad was not related to my worldviews or a change in assumptions, but gaining comfort in being by myself. In the U.S. I have never felt particularly comfortable going out and doing things on my own. Societal things such as safety, abundant public transit, and a social norm of eating alone made adventuring on my own feel much more approachable in Japan. While part of it may be cultural, I think to a degree it was a personal mental block. There is nothing quite like being uprooted from all of your relationships and put in an entirely new environment to shake up your approach to life. Of course I made friends while in Japan, but that sort of thing takes time and I had so many things I wanted to do from the moment I arrived. Being in Japan forced me to quickly get over doing things on my own and make the most of my time even when friends aren’t available. I went on a host of solo trips across the country and came back home with a lot more confidence in doing things by myself. 

The things I learned and the growth I experienced during study abroad are important to me across all aspects of my life. I made great headway in my personal goal of becoming bilingual, while not yet fluent, I gained great tools and relationships for furthering my Japanese abilities. From an academic perspective, my time in Japan was incredibly fulfilling. Just as I’d hoped to, I took courses that provided me with a new viewpoint of international relations and policy. My wider breadth of knowledge will also help me in my professional endeavors as I will speak from a place of experience with regards to Japan. As I navigate what kind of work I will pursue after graduation, I hope to act as a liaison between Japan and the United States. This project was incredibly meaningful to me because I made lifelong connections in Japan that will aid me in my endeavors of learning Japanese as well as coming back to work in Japan one day.

This summer, I was presented with the opportunity to study abroad in Prague, Czechia. During the two-month period, I was able to immerse myself in Czech culture in a way that isn’t accessible to tourists. I enrolled at Charles University to take a Czech language and culture class, as well as a class that analyzed European fairy tales. With a group of like-minded college students and guides, I was taken to much of the city and significant surrounding areas. 

It is easy for me to say that this experience was life-changing. While the education at University was so intellectually stimulating, being placed in an unfamiliar culture with strangers proved to be the most influential aspect of my journey. I learned to be much more open minded, take life slower, and live in the moment a bit more. My most significant takeaway is that the more I see, the less I know!

The most influential academic aspect of my travels was the Czech language class. While sitting in a room with fifteen strangers around the world, I, oddly-enough, was comforted by the idea of never seeing many of them again. This made it easy for me to speak and interact more with both students and teachers. While I put in effort to participate in any class, I was able to experience first-hand how increased classroom comfort levels benefit retention, especially for a language class. The environment the professor created allowed for a lot of discussion and use of the language. Practice makes perfect!

My favorite part of my favorite summer so far was the people. Most importantly, those strangers that I spent two months straight with. Being thrown in an unknown environment allowed us to grow together and bond as a group. Every experience is unique and I am very biased towards mine, but I think I got extremely lucky with these people I get to call new friends. Not only did they make me laugh until I cried daily, but they pushed my limits and taught me about the world and myself. 

I had only been to Europe once previous to this summer, so I knew little of the variation between each country. Some people I met were very well-traveled and knew all of the good spots! Czechia is a slightly central western country, so most of the continent was accessible to us for a long weekend trip. This being said, I was able to make it to Brno, Copenhagen, Berlin, Rome, Florence, and Vienna. We made the most of every minute in these cities. From the Colosseum to the Statue of David to the Berlin Wall, I had more one-of-a-kind experiences in two months than I might for the rest of my life. 

A third most influential aspect of the trip would have to be the city of Prague itself. A friend of mine described the city as Eastern European people in Western European city. With this statement, he implied that Prague is lively and social, but very rich with history as well. The country of Czechia wasn’t independent and free of communism until the late 20th century, so the presence is still very prominent. Higher elevations in the city make viewpoints to see the miles of communist housing surrounding the city. A local guide that I had the privilege of getting to know spoke seldomly of her childhood under communist regime, but when she did she was quite emotional. I thought it was beautiful that the city was so happy, and many say it is because of their new-found gratitude for freedom. The Czech people taught me to be more grateful and to embrace every moment. 

I think that this personal transformation is equally applicable to every aspect of my life because the most significant change was my mindset. On top of the almost euphoric summer, practicing gratitude seems to make me happier overall. I also believe that my eyes have opened to see more value in people that I have yet to know. I hope I carry this on to future careers, cities and relationships. I hope to surround myself with people that also value gratitude and equal respect. I also hope to place myself in a career in which I get the pleasure of meeting and interacting with a wide variety of people.

For my STEP project, I traveled abroad to Italy and participated in a program called SIS, which was located in Siena. Through the program, I took two classes, which helped me achieve 7 credit hours, and I was able to get a fulfilling cultural experience that I may not have had the opportunity to do without STEP.

To begin with, the entire concept of this project was that it would put me out of my comfort zone, which is what allows you to grow as a person. I have never left North America before, so I was going to an entirely new continent that I have never been to before, experiencing a new culture that I have never experienced before, and speaking a language that I have a limited understanding of to begin with. Given these circumstances, I sought to grow, and I believe that I accomplished that. For instance, I became better adept at talking to new people, something that I really haven’t experienced as much since my freshman year at OSU. At the same time, there was times that I had to stay with myself. I began journaling and exploring my inner thoughts, which is something that I have not done before. In addition, I would say that my worldview was very much based on my experiences in the United States, but that has changed a bit now, as I was able to adapt to a new culture and take some of those ideas back with me, such as the importance of community that I found in Siena. Due to my experience, I also found myself being more aware of the experiences of migrants, which also included the realization as to how insignificant some problems that I previously worried about are in the grand scheme of things.

One of the greatest events that lead to this change in me was my experiences with a program at school called ‘Home for the World’. This was a class that happened throughout the week that I occasionally helped with. This program helped teach a group of migrants that are now residents of Siena, who originally came from areas of West Africa and South Asia, the language of Italian in order to help their transition to life in their new country. Through this program, I got to meet the migrants and hear their stories, which included events such as walking from Pakistan to Italy and their feelings of sadness being so far away from family and unsure if they will ever see them again. This is the experience that lead me to realize the insignificance of a lot of my problems as well as realize my privilege. Through my participation in these classes as well as my newfound friendships with these migrants and hearing their stories, I now feel like I can empathize with migrants in the United States in a way that I could not before.

Another experience that lead to my transformations was the process of staying with a host family. I have only ever lived with family or friends/ people my age, so staying with strangers was an uncomfortable experience for me originally. However, this quickly became a comfortable experience because of how welcoming and accommodating my host family was. Through their hospitality, they were able to teach me some of their values, such as the importance of family and building relationships through food. They were also able to experience to me anything about their culture that I did not understand, such as why no one has a dryer. One thing about them was that they did not speak English, and as I have said before, my Italian is far from great. However, through my limited knowledge, hand movements, and the occasional use of translate, we were able to understand each other anyways. The difficulties in communicating were part of the reason for me feeling lonely at the start, but like I said, this time alone was important for my growth. Again, their kindness helped me tremendously to become more immersed in a culture that I did not understand, which I appreciate.

Other events that lead to my transformations varied, but all are similar. Every experience that I had was uncomfortable for me at first, but forced me to adapt and learn to appreciate the growth before I felt comfortable again. Italian culture, which is even more different than the Italian-American culture that I am familiar with, was something that took me a bit to appreciate. However, it is now a culture that I love and cannot wait to experience again. Italian culture, such as my participation through the program in a contrada party, taught me the importance of community. The need to discover and figure out the train and bus systems helped me to learn to use my resources and adapt to things that I am unfamiliar with. My time alone forced me to become comfortable with my thoughts and appreciate my time with myself. All of these experiences and so much more made me grow, which in itself made it an incredibly valuable experience.

These changes are important in my life for a variety of reasons. The credit hours that I achieved through this experience help me towards my goal of finishing my Italian minor and my strategies that I used to study Italian can be used to help me study anything from now on. I also helped to teach some of the migrants Italian, which in turn helped me learn it better myself. I want to become a doctor in the future, so it is very important that I became more aware and empathetic to the world around me and accepting of other lifestyles and views, and I feel like I learned both of these things abroad. In addition, medicine is an ever-evolving field, so the ability to let go of previous assumptions or ideas when confronted with other reasonable ideas is important, and this is a skill that I learned in Italy. Finally, from a personal standpoint, I became comfortable being uncomfortable. I became more aware of my thoughts and insecurities, which has helped with my mental health since I took this trip. I learned how to interact with strangers, which is always a useful skill. In addition, I now feel more connected to the culture of my ancestors and became better at Italian, which helps with my future goal to become fluent. This program helped me in so many ways and I am very grateful to STEP for helping me experience everything.

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During my time in Argentina, my first week was structured with a two-hour Spanish class in the morning and a one-hour class in the afternoon. In my last three weeks, the mornings were during my time in Argentina; my first week was scheduled with a two-hour Spanish class in the morning and a one-hour class in the afternoon. In my last three weeks, the mornings were dedicated to shadowing at my assigned hospital, with an additional two-hour Spanish class in the afternoon. Friday and the weekend were free for our leisure time. Once a week, the CHFI team organized events for everyone to come together and learn more about Argentine culture. The mornings were dedicated to shadowing in my assigned hospital, with an additional two-hour Spanish class in the afternoon. Friday and the weekend were off for our free time. One day out of the week, the CHFI team arranged events for everyone to gather and learn more about Argentine culture.

During this trip, I experienced significant personal growth. I gained the confidence to challenge myself and embrace new experiences. At first, I was apprehensive about being far from my family and facing language and cultural barriers. However, I soon realized the importance of community and learning. I adapted by building connections and making the most of my environment, which led to strong relationships with fellow students, teachers, the CHFI team, and my host family.

During my first weekend, students and I organized an overnight trip to another part of Argentina. We mainly did sightseeing, explored the local food, went horseback riding, and spent time together. It was the first time we got to know each other, and it marked the beginning of our friendship. This trip was beneficial because it reminded me that I wasn’t the only one going through this experience and dealing with the overwhelming feelings of being abroad. This realization helped me cope with my emotions and made connecting with them easier. After that, we started going out regularly, and these friendships provided a safe and enjoyable environment for me to experience everything Argentina has to offer. Another source of comfort was my homestay experience; another student in the program who was fluent in Spanish provided invaluable support to me. Her fluency allowed for better communication with my host family and helped me find comfort in the home. My homestay family was also amazing; they gave me the support and confidence to speak the language and engage in the culture without fear of making mistakes. The CHFI team’s engagement and patience with us made it easier to participate in their events and build relationships with them. Most students in the program had morning hospital rotations; there, I would have regularly interacted with doctors, medical students, and patients. These interactions showed me how kind and patient the locals were, and that allowed me to have confidence in practicing my Spanish outside of class and at home. Those interactions also gave me a very homely feeling in Argentina.

These changes are essential to me because I’ve discovered that I can rely on my ability to adapt and find support in challenging situations. Professionally, effective communication, stress management, and relationship building will be pivotal, so having trust in myself and now knowing the importance of community will help relieve some of my concerns in the future. Also, I am becoming more open with others and seeking more relationships in my personal life, which has improved my self-care. Understanding the importance of nurturing relationships and networking with professors, professionals, and anybody will contribute to my development as a college student and open professional opportunities for me. Most notably, I now possess a deeper understanding of my emotions, recognizing when I’m overwhelmed or stressed and taking proactive measures to address them, which will help me in the long run.

The STEP Project that I completed was during summer ‘24 where I partook in a. Here, I interned at The Hoffman Agency in a PR and Communications Consulting role where I got hands-on experience in the field and global working exposure. This included deliverables like writing bylined articles for local Singapore publications, pitching for new business accounts, monthly and quarterly client reports, and various other client interactions.

At the end of my internship, my manager asked me what were some of the differences in my working experience in Singapore versus the US. Asia and the US are viewed as opposites in all aspects from culture to corporate, but I replied that I was more surprised in the similarities I experienced. While there were cultural differences and subtleties in the workforce that made my experience unique from an internship in the US, the crux of the business and purpose of why everyone does everything is the same. In other words, the overarching decisions for businesses and even the reasoning behind the differences in varying corporate culture practices in Singapore matches those of the States. For example, Singaporeans and the US both value things like productivity, efficiency, and results-driven measures in the workforce. Achieving these things may look slightly different in between the two countries, but ultimately, all practices lead to achieving these overarching values. Understanding that the big picture is generally the same even in different continents was a huge shift in mindset for me. This helped me develop a better understanding for global business and as well as cultural competency- many businesses and people around the world want to achieve similar goals, and while the journey to getting there may look different, we are all a lot more similar than we think.

For one, my presumption of Singaporean work culture was that it would be work-intensive and straightforward without much room for creativity and abstract thinking from lower-level employees. However, rather than not allowing for any input from junior employees, Singapore tends to guide suggestions or ideas in order to allow for structure in such endeavors. This differs from US work culture where junior workers are generally encouraged to take a leap of faith and the final idea is evaluated before implementation. An example of this from my internship that led to this shift was when I was given the opportunity to work on a new business account where we pitched our services to a prospective client. I initially did not think that I would be able to have much input on this type of account, but in coordination with my seniors and managers, my thoughts and suggestions were taken step-by-step and streamlined to craft an idea for my section of our pitch. This differs from my US-based internships where I have often been given a challenge or task and asked to use my own critical thinking to approach it, and the end result of my idea would be presented and assessed before presenting it to the client. As such, both cultures go about allowing for individual and creative thinking differently for those who do not have much experience, but still promote it in order to progress innovation.  

Another example contributing to my shift in mindset that there are different ways to approach similar situations and scenarios is regarding networking. In my own networking experience at my internship and in talking to my peers and colleagues, I learned that building this connection in Singapore is more formal. This is mainly due to the higher regard to hierarchy and expected respect for those in higher positions. Even small talk and coffee chats were more formal with both higher-level professionals and immediate seniors. In the US, networking tends to be relatively standardized across levels and there is often a positive attitude to exchanging thoughts and ideas on various topics regardless of position. While both cultures go about networking in different ways, they both place high emphasis on the importance and connection that builds from it.

As a final example of this shift in mindset, the culture of Singapore itself was very unique to me. Singapore is also a melting pot of cultures and faces similar problems that the US does in terms of things like race-based issues and understanding people from different cultures who live in the same space. While the US promotes an overall “American” culture without as many explicit restrictions on how the “American” life should be lived, Singapore takes a more methodological approach by placing many restrictions on their citizens, but allows for each ethnic group to maintain their identity. As an American with multiple identities, it was interesting to see Singaporeans from different ethnic backgrounds retain much knowledge about their roots. This differs from the US where Americans with varying ethnic backgrounds still heavily identify with the overall American culture. Although Singapore has many rules and restrictions- which melting pot countries often have a difficult time agreeing on- they promote inclusivity by allowing for cultural connections amongst the varying cultural groups. However, the US does this by promoting one “American” culture. As such both are different methods that society uses to address unity amongst a melting pot of cultures.

In all, this shift in thinking that there are different ways to approach situations and that the end goal for many things is often similar, has been institutional in guiding my thought process in both my professional and career life. This has allowed me to keep an open mind to various ways that people go about solvingissuesand is something I will take with me going forward. It has also added another layer to my outlook on adaptability and taught me how crucial it is to stay flexible depending on the situation. While the approach may be different, the end goal is usually always the same and maintaining an open mind on how to reach these goals is an important aspect that leads to understanding, innovation, and change.

This summer, I spent my time taking Spanish classes in Barcelona. Not only was I able to practice my speaking skills for my major, but I had the opportunity to experience the culture of Cataluña and broaden my view of the world. The topics I learned ranged from Spanish literature and culture to the history of Spain, and I was able to apply what I learned in my day-to-day interactions with locals and other students.

Spending my summer in Spain was truly a transformative experience. My assumptions of the Spanish lifestyle were challenged and my understanding of myself and others expanded. I learned to appreciate the leisure of daily life in Spain compared to the fast paced, success driven world we seem to live in the US. From three-hour dinners to breaks during class and even frustration at the speed people walked on the streets, by the end of my time there, I found myself enjoying those things that irritated me in my first few weeks abroad. This exposure to a different way of living has opened my mind and made me a more adaptable individual. Before, I thought the manner we lived in the US and went about our days was “correct”, but now I see there is no right way to live one’s life.

Additionally, the experience of navigating a new country and speaking majority of the time in Spanish pushed me out of my comfort zone, making me a more confident and resilient person. I discovered a part of myself that I had not been forced to see while I spent lots of time alone so I could prioritize the activities I wanted to do that others would not join me on. Before, I would say I relied heavily on my friends joining me for almost everything, even errands and the gym. Now, I can say I am more resourceful and independent that I had previously believed, changing my perspective on how I will approach challenges going forward and making me more willing to take risks and embrace uncertainty in the future.

Several key experiences during my time in Spain contributed to the transformation I described previously. One of the most impactful was the process of adapting to using a new language and culture. My classes were completely in Spanish, with most of my instructors speaking minimal English and with the students required to engage solely in Spanish. Initially, this was daunting when I did not understand new words and our professor did not know the English translation. However, as I spent more time roaming the cities, I felt more comfortable interacting with locals and my confidence in my abilities increased. These everyday interactions taught me perseverance and patience in the face of challenges, influencing how I now approach difficult situations in my life.

Another significant aspect of my experience was te relationships I formed with the fellow students in my program and locals. Building connections with students from all over the US exposed me to new perspectives and ways of thinking, while still being connected through the common desire to understand Spanish culture. Furthermore, the relationship I formed with my host mother allowed us to have deep, extensive conversations about their views on work-life balance, family, and leisure, leading me to reconsider my own priorities that were driven by my upbringing in the United States. These relationships deepened my understanding of cultural differences and helped me appreciate the value of integrating different approaches into my own life and how forming connections with those different than you has great benefit to the personal growth you can achieve.

The final experience that played a crucial role in my transformation abroad was the opportunities I took to visit historic sites and local festivities. This allowed me to immerse myself in Spain’s rich history and traditions, broadening my worldview. For instance, my program so happened to fall when the feast of San Juan too place, a day to celebrate the longest day of the year. The festivities started in the streets at sunset on a Sunday night and ended the next morning, after sunrise. My friends and I went to fireworks on the beach followed by parties all around the city, and finally, watching the sunrise with each other. This night was a celebration of friendship and the light they bring in to our lives, and seeing the significance of these relationships in the Spanish culture made me realize how important community and tradition are in shaping one’s identity, leading me to explore my own cultural roots and traditions more deeply.

Overall, the combination of navigating a new environment, forming meaningful relationships, and engaging with the local culture contributed to a significant shift in my world perspective. These experiences not only enriched my understanding of Spain and the world, but also instilled in me a greater sense of self-awareness and adaptability.

The transformation that I experienced is significant because my perspective has broadened and skills essential for my future have enhanced. Academically, the experience has improved my language abilities and deepened my cultural awareness, which will be invaluable as I continue my studies. Furthermore, I am interested in a career in law, and the global context and cross-cultural communication will be beneficial to any foreign affair work I may be interested in. Understanding different cultural perspectives will allow me to approach my academic work with greater depth and insight.

Personally and professionally, the confidence and adaptability I gained in Spain are invaluable. I am interested in a career in law, one that may involve international collaboration, being able to navigate unfamiliar environments and connect with people from diverse backgrounds will be crucial. This experience has also made me more open to taking on new challenges, knowing that I can grow from them. Ultimately, this transformation has equipped me with tolls to succeed in an increasingly globalized world, aligning closely with both my personal aspirations and professional goals.

The famous monastery in the mountains outside of Barcelona!

Here we tried local restaurants and classic Catalonian street foods!