They were saying that one benefit
of going to JTA is the taste of independence.
Independence was not a new thing to me.
I lived here in the country only with my siblings since my parents are
living abroad. However, independence in
another country is a different thing.
Everything would be foreign – people, signs, culture, language. It
wasn’t what I’m comfortable with.
Definitely, the experience of JTA brought me a new perspective on things
and I knew myself more; academics were just a second thing to me.
You’re just one of them!
During my stay in Korea, I met a
lot of people of different nationalities and I have kept in touch with a few of
them. I have even befriended some street
food vendors there. Even though you’re
so proud of being an Atenean and a Filipino, you don’t have to brag that you
are foreigner on their land and you are the boss. In the Philippines, some of us might have a
mindset that we should take care of the foreigners, be hospitable to them, to
give them a good impression of our country.
In other countries, you are just one of them, nothing more, but probably
less. But I don’t say that you deny
being a Filipino. You should know your
position in the society. Follow rules.
Act like how they act. Learn their culture. Learn their language. Be one of
them! This would give you a new perspective and understanding of things around
you since you would be thinking like one of them.
Be bold and explore!
I went to Korea, with a few Kpop
groups in mind, knowing the basic Annyeong Haseyo and Kamsahamnida, and zero
knowledge about Hangul. Going into JTA
made me discover and learn a new culture, foreign to me. Having a little ammunition for the travel,
this didn’t stop me in experiencing the JTA and it encouraged me to go for
more. I didn’t stop wandering around
Seoul. I even went to Gyeongju, a
province on the east coast of Korea, where probably less people know how to
speak English, alone. I even tried
exotic delicacies such as Sannakji, raw live octopus. If you could go out of your dormitories for
three days straight on weekends, party all night, eat fried silkworms and do
bungee jumping (which I didn’t because I couldn’t), do it! If you can’t travel
to another province alone here, then do it there! These are the things you
can’t experience here.
Should I still study or not?
Absolutely! Don’t forget that
you’re there as a representative of Ateneo and of the Philippines. You still have responsibility despite these
opportunities. C’mon! You have been a
student for years and I’m sure you know how to multitask things without
compromising any ;)
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