Kai Ward

I hate the question “where are you from”. Truthfully, I never know how to answer. Do I say where I was born? Or where I lived the longest consecutively? Maybe just my favorite place. I come from a military family, so naturally I have lived in a variety of places. My family moves so much that I have gotten comfortable just up and leaving. I hate being in one place for too long. Long being longer than 2 years. That is most of the reason I chose to pursue international affairs as my major. This past summer, I spent 6 weeks studying at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. While there, I experienced a new form of culture shock everyday. Especially as a black woman with braids to my knees walking around Seoul. I had to get used to stares, full 360 degree turns to stare, and sweet but overwhelming attention from older, curious women about my hair or older men that just want to converse in English or test my Korean. After about a week of such, I started to get used to navigating around the city, speaking up for myself, and realized that I love being abroad. I found that I really loved learning the city. Being confused and partially lost in such a huge city was terrifying, but a lot of fun. That excitement the bus system or a word I don't know but always heard finally clicking is enough for me to spend the rest of my life traveling the world, being a foreigner in a big city, which is exactly what I intend to do.