My Experience Studying Abroad in Seoul, South Korea

Introduction

The United States is a nation that is shaped and molded by different cultures and traditions. America’s celebration of cultural diversity is what makes this country unique. Like many others, I came to this country when I was young. While I have adapted with most cultural norms here, I have also retained some of my traditional Chinese roots. My fascination with culture eventually led me to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea, where I learned to integrate myself into its rich and diverse customs. As a result of my experience with different cultures along with my personal background, I have become a more culturally intelligent person. My experience studying abroad has brought me many benefits, which I am going to discuss in this essay.

Studying Abroad: Learning from My Experience

Cultural intelligence is an umbrella term that encompasses many valuable qualities; one of the attributes I obtained was active listening. When encountering new ideas or customs unfamiliar to myself, I learned to suspend all judgment in order to truly understand the speaker. In physical therapy clinics, many therapists emphasize the importance of active listening because everyone responds to treatments differently. When working with a diverse group of patients, it is important to practice active listening by taking patients’ life experiences into consideration, thereby ensuring the patients that they are defined by more than just their injuries. Active listening skills translate into student life as well. Since becoming an active listener, I have been able to strengthen relationships with my patients and my classmates. Through active listening, I am able to know the right time to understand and sympathize, and the right time to challenge and address conflict.

Cultural intelligence also comes with willingness to learn. One of the lessons I took from my experience studying abroad was my love for the unknown. I have an internal desire to reinvigorate myself not only as a qualified candidate but as an overall better healthcare professional, which is the reason why I volunteer and work as a physical therapy aide in various clinics. Every physical therapy setting provides a unique challenge and opportunity to learn something new. For example, outpatient physical therapy focuses mostly on dynamic strengthening exercises whereas in-patient clinic is a mostly modified range of motion exercises. Moreover, working with different physical therapists has taught me the values and responsibilities of being a great healthcare professional. Even after working as an aide for the past year, I am still learning each and every day. A physical therapist’s education does not stop after obtaining a degree. As new research and technology arises, a competent therapist needs to remain attentive in their studies. The constant strive for self-improvement through continuous learning is what one of the qualities that attracted me toward physical therapy. As I continue onto my future endeavors, I will maintain my willingness and eagerness to learn. My goal is to explore all fields of physical therapy in hope to broaden my horizons even further.

Conclusion

The changing demographics and economics of our growing multicultural world require healthcare professionals to engage patients on a personal level. My exploration and appreciation for cultural diversity has polished me to become a more engaged listener, which in turn allowed me to build strong relationships with patients and classmates. My eagerness to learn allowed me to understand the importance of education. I understand that beside the school curriculum, every interaction can become a learning experience. I am excited for the opportunity to continuously learning and improving myself throughout my career. As a result of having cultural intelligence, I am confident in my qualifications as a student and a physical therapist.