안녕하세요, 여러분 (Hello everyone)! My name is Aneesah, and I am a college student studying Health Services Administration at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While I love learning about how healthcare runs behind the scenes, this winter I am stepping out of the classroom, packing my bags, and flying across the world to attend the Hanyang International Winter School in Seoul, South Korea!
This trip is a huge milestone for me because it will be my very first time ever leaving the United States. I am so excited to spend the holidays over there, make new friends from across the globe, and fully immerse myself in Korean culture. I already have my camera roll cleared so I can capture beautiful memories of daily life to look back on forever.
Being in South Korea brings a long-time dream to life. Back in 2020, developing an interest in K-pop and K-dramas inspired me to start teaching myself Korean so I could understand the media I enjoyed without subtitles. Over the years, I practiced Hangul, learned phrases from rewinding dramas and looping songs, and even took college classes taught by native speakers. That dedication helped make this journey possible, as I was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship along with the Critical Need Language Award for Korean to support my studies abroad. Now, I finally get to take everything I've learned and build on my language skills in real life by reading signs on the street, ordering delicious food at local spots, and having real conversations with native speakers.
I am so excited to take all of you along for the journey! Through my field notes, photos, and video calls, we can discover new things side by side. Most of all, I hope following my experiences shows you just how big and welcoming our world really is. Whether it gets you curious about learning a new language, opens a door for you to explore Asian culture and traditions, or simply inspires you to dream about your own future adventures, I can't wait to explore with you all this winter!
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 clicking here!
