When I came to Georgetown two years ago, I was just another international student who did not know what was going on. I remember that I had trouble converting prices from US Dollars to New Taiwan Dollars in order to see whether the meal was worth buying in the first place, followed by the frustration to understand why I had to pay something called the ‘tax’ and the ‘tip’ when I have already paid for my pasta. I had more problems understanding why my friends said “what’s up” and continued walking without waiting for a response, and even more difficulty simply understanding what the phrase “what’s up” meant. However unlucky I felt, over the course of three years, the people and opportunities at Georgetown truly opened my eyes for a new level of cultural appreciation and respect.
At Georgetown, I had the opportunity not only to pursue what I am interested in, but also to share my experiences and interests with other people. I became actively involved with the newly founded Taiwanese American Student Association (TASA), the student group aimed to promote Taiwanese culture through educational, social and cultural events. Last semester, we hosted a Bubble Tea Social for the students to taste Taiwanese dessert, a speaker event called “Cross Strait Dialogue” involving three professionals to talk about U.S.-Taiwan relations, and ‘sibling gatherings’ to meet other students who were also interested in learning more about Taiwan. Recently, with the help of alumni working abroad, we also launched the Hoyas in Greater China Internship program that offers Georgetown student opportunities to intern in Taipei and Shanghai over the summer. These opportunities have truly lowered the fortified cultural boundaries and allowed me to share my personal background and interests with other students. I felt as if I could go beyond my comfort zone and to become involved in my school—what is truly amazing about Georgetown is the respect and tolerance that people have for one and another, and the willingness to learn, to share, and to inspire.
From day one of setting foot on this campus, one fact becomes glaringly obvious: the social fabric of the Georgetown student body is extraordinarily diverse. This diversity is a point of pride among many at the University and it is discussed and celebrated often. The sort of diversity of which I speak, more specifically, concerns (ironically) a common theme that is woven into this diversity; it is a theme that can be recognized in nearly every instance that a new acquaintance is made - everyone has a "story" and in general no one person's story is remotely similar to the next person's. These stories are of international travel and/or residence, participation in some of the nation's or world's most prestigious student programs, speaking multiple "exotic" languages, pedigrees of striking ethnic variety or even ethnic purity, and the list goes on. As an example, I refer to a good friend of mine; he was born in Canada, holds citizenship in Finland, has a deep English heritage, and has lived in Texas for most of his life, and he also speaks four languages. Even so, both he and I agree that his resume is a far cry from what many other Hoyas can boast.
Obviously there are exceptions to such cases - not everyone has had the opportunity to travel or live abroad, to have learned multiple languages, or to have participated in "leadership" or other scholarship-type programs. To these people, and I am one of them, life amongst such fantastically experienced and privileged people can be overwhelming, intimidating, and even suffocating. Personally, for some time after my initial arrival as a freshman, it made me feel as if I was "behind" in life, so to speak, compared to most of my peers. The that my time here has progressed, however, the more that I realize being "average" (for lack of a better term) is only an alternative form of diversity. In the same way that those of us who are "average" can glean stories and perspectives from others, "average" lives and stories can be just as instructive. It is the fusion of all sides into a share, yet individually nuanced, Georgetown experience that is truly amazing. No matter what you background and life story may be, we all have something to offer each other and to learn from each other at the same time. We are Georgetown, yes; but more precisely, Georgetown is us.
Given Georgetown's international character, the university offers many opportunities for its students to live and study in different countries, whether it be for a summer, one semester or a full year. I am currently abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a year and am truly enjoying learning about the country’s history, politics, economics and culture.
While I had previously learned about Argentina in Spanish and Latin American history classes, living in Buenos Aires has taken my knowledge of the country to a whole new level. I am enrolled in the University of Buenos Aires and am taking my classes in Spanish with Argentine classmates. As an International Political Economy major, it is very interesting to learn about economic development in a third-world country that suffered a major crisis less than ten years ago. But in addition to what I have learned in the classroom, conversations with friends and my host family have broadened my understanding of economics and politics in Argentina beyond what I have learned in the United States.
I have also immersed myself in the Argentine culture thanks to my wonderful host family. I am constantly referred to by my host mom as her "American daughter" and have found a second family here in Argentina. In addition to providing me with a welcoming home in a busy city of 13 million people, my host parents and siblings have introduced me to and made me a part of their way of life in Buenos Aires. I’ve come to love the traditional hours-long family lunches on Sunday afternoons and listening to tango and folklore music, whether played on a CD or sung by my host mother and sisters. Given my passion for cooking, I’ve also enjoyed learning how to make several Argentine, Spanish and Italian dishes (Argentina has large Spanish and Italian immigrant populations) from my host mother while baking cookies, brownies and scones in return.
I am very grateful that Georgetown encourages its students to step outside of their comfort zones and view the world from a different perspective. Not only do students gain from their travels, but the entire Georgetown community benefits as well when these students return to the Hilltop and share their knowledge with classmates and friends.
The one opportunity that I had as a Georgetown student that I am the most pleased about accomplishing is having an internship on Capitol Hill. Many students at Georgetown take advantage of this opportunity, but most do not. I am so glad that I decided to neglect some of my free time for that much more rewarding experience.
Last semester, I spend three days a week working in the Cannon House Office Building for Congressman Pete Olson from Texas. I attended hearings and special events, led tours of the Capitol, answers calls, mail and email from constituents, helped analyze legislation, researched issues, and got to know my Congressman personally. Few people when asked what they ate for lunch can tell a story about eating Chick-fil-a in a Congressman's office or about having a picnic outside of the Library of Congress. That was my Fall semester. I loved every minute of it (well, except for when they took away my badge!). This unique opportunity is incredibly rewarding because it allows you to participate in the government, get to know influential people, and helps you learn new ideas, abilities, and how to manage your time. I think that this opportunity is something that every student at Georgetown should take advantage of. I am so happy that I came to this amazing University in this exciting city everytime I think about the great things that I have done by being here. Colleen Gibson MSB '12 Sugar Land, TX
