Paul Sadofsky, GE3 KAIST Fall 2024
The most profound challenge that I had to overcome was being okay with making honest mistakes in social situations. In every part of the world, you’re going to have different social expectations, and the locals may convey judgement or distain when those unwritten rules are not followed. I care deeply about being respectful of the culture here and I used to constantly live in paralyzing fear of making a mistake during my first month or so. I opted not to go to that café I wanted to try, or to avoid exploring a new area of the city out of fear of doing the wrong thing. It’s easy to feel a sense of unwantedness, as if you are intruding. The best way I found to combat this was to just try my best to show that my actions are well intended. Throughout this process, I did have a small handful of encounters where my negligence was not brushed off as I’d hoped. However, people do appreciate a genuine attempt at trying to understand. In my experience, many are thankful when I use polite gestures or attempt to order my food in Korean as opposed to just pointing at the menu or using English. An overwhelming number of people will see through your mistakes and appreciate the attempt you make, especially when you are earnestly trying to be respectful.
My advice to others that are facing similar struggles would be to try something new once a day, especially at the beginning of your global experience. It is undeniably mentally straining at times, and the social anxiety will often ensue. And yes, you do have to prepare for the few that will not be as forgiving. But you just need to remind yourself that the you are human, and your mistakes are part of what makes you human. Show your generosity towards the locals for allowing you to share their land and culture, and they will show the same amount of respect and appreciation back. This process teaches you so much about yourself and about others. It’s been an awesome experience being able to learn about the ways in which other societies function, especially when it comes to relations and expectations between individuals. There’s so much to learn from different cultures. I’ve gained a greater appreciation for having the opportunity to learn from others and have begun integrating that into my life academically and personally.
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