The study abroad program in Seoul was undoubtedly one of the best experiences I had in my life. I was very grateful for this opportunity as it allowed me to learn much about Korean culture, gave me the opportunity to explore new interests.

From the moment I left the bus from the airport, I could tell that Seoul was a very unique city different from any other. In the west, east Asia often gets framed as this single homogenous culture with little nuances. Although I myself am part Japanese and have visited Japan over a dozen times, I had expected the culture of Seoul to be no different from the culture of Japan—-I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Based on my experience in Seoul, the culture in the city could be described as multiple dichotomies co-existing in harmony. I could see the Gyeonbokgung palace with its traditional Korean architecture, yet, surrounded by metal skyscrapers and electronic billboards of a metropolitan city. I could hear both western classical music in some places and hip-hop-esque K-pop music in others. I observed how quiet the people are when riding the subways, yet very loud and expressive in the clubbing district of Hongdae. Overall, the unique mixes of such contrasting pieces make Seoul a very fascinating city to visit, explore, and learn about. While simply observing a new cultural context is enlightening by itself, the program ensured that we were able to make meaning of our observations through in class lectures discussing the historical and social contexts in which present day Korean culture emerged from. I was especially fascinated to learn how historical events such as World War II and the Korean War indirectly led to the development of K-pop, K-dramas, and K-culture in general.

The program gave me countless opportunities to explore interests which I never would have had outside of this program. It made me realize that there is so much of ourselves that we wouldn’t know unless we leave our comfort zone. As I had mentioned, never had dancing nor baseball been things of interest to me. But by having the opportunity to try these things out while being surrounded by people who are very passionate about them, I began sharing a similar passion towards these things.

• Name: Emad Shahjahan
• Status: Freshman
• Majors: Physics and Comparative Cultures and Politics
• Hometown: Okemos, Michigan
• Program: FSA South Korea - Track 1 - K Cultures