Global Journal Vol 2 Issue 2 Fall 2017

GLOBAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PUBLICATION

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VOL 2 ISSUE 2 FALL 2017

Staff Writers

Photographers

Alexandra Kuenning

Bobby Namdar

Amanda Freyre

Catherina Hogan

Connie E

Daphne Apostolidis

Daphne Apostolidis

Elizabeth Werner

Devin Windelspecht

Fernanda Hurtado Ortiz

Elizabeth Werner

James Phelan

Emily Frazier

Lydia Ioannidou

Emily Mears

Mia Aldrich

Emma Boardman

Mikaela Cole

Lauren Azzola

Nathan Hostert

Lydia Ioannidou

Sadie Zuch

Mike Kalmeta

Sahar Salari

Nathan Hostert

Sophie Cannon

Sadie Zuch

Suma Hussien

Suma Hussien

Vieno Carter

Tatum Abadir Tiffany Cabrera Vieno Carter Vy Thai

Cover photo taken by Lydia Ioannidou

About Global Journal

Insight to our vision

Global Journal is a Northeastern University International Affairs student-run publication, covering international news, events on campus, study abroad, as well as domestic and international co-ops. Founded in 2014 by Madlen Gubernick, Elizabeth Zona, and Yasmeen Alhaj, the student group aims to bring the international community together through experiential narratives.

Because being a Northeastern student inevitably implies international interest and awareness, Global Journal encourages students of all disciplines to participate in the student group. Global Journal is comprised not only of international affairs students, but journalism, political science, business, health education and art students as well.

We believe that as Northeastern students, we are all global citizens with vast international experience: Global Journal gives students the platform to share those experiences with the rest of the community. We hope to inspire students of all disciplines to partake in building international bridges to help promote our global experiences.

Copyright Š 2017 All rights reserved

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Letter from the President

What an exciting semester it has been for Global Journal!

We said our goodbyes to our fearless founder Maddie and co-founder Yasmeen and welcomed a new leadership and editorial team that have put their heart and soul into this issue, and I could not be prouder to have led them on this journey.

For me personally, it has been one of tremendous growth: embracing my new leadership position as President has taught me more of myself than I could ever have imagined, and has reignited my unquenchable desire for adventure.

As I look through the pages of our latest edition, I can truly say that Global Journal is unique in the sense that it brings the crux of all that Northeastern has to offer in the content of its glossy pages; readers are transported on Dialogue of Civilizations, co-ops and study abroad experiences to the four corners of the world.

From self-reflection in Thailand, to discovering pieces of home in Australia’s Bondi beach, to exploring the power of music in South Africa, our writers have experienced it and now are ready to experience it with you. I hope that by reading these pages, our readers reignite their unquenchable desire for adventure and realize that there is much to be discovered in the world, and in this process, we might just discover a little of ourselves too.

Sincerely,

Francesca Batault President of Global Journal

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Meet the team Members of the board

Francesca Batault President. Politics, Philosophy & Economics Major. International Affairs, Law and Public Policy Minors From: Johannesburg, South Africa

Lydia Ioannidou Senior Art Director Design Major with Concentration in Graphic and Information Design From: Athens, Greece

Connie E Vice President and Managing Editor.

Politics, Philosophy & Economics Major, Minor in Social Entrepreneurship From: Beijing, China

Kathleen Brody Vice President of Communications International Affairs & Human Services Major, Spanish Minors From: Summit, New Jersey

Jeremy Love-Epp Editor in Chief Environmental Studies & International Affairs Majors, International Security Studies Minor From: Raytown, Missouri

Sadie Zuch Finance Chair International Affairs, Minor in Sociology From: Winchester, Massachusetts

Sydne Mass Editor Journalism Major, Photography Minor From: Paris, France

Devin Windelspecht Editor International Affairs Major, Concentration in Middle East Studies From: Boone, North Carolina

Gabriela Beatham-Garcia Social Media Chair International Affairs Major, International Security Minor From: Madrid, Spain

Mikaela Cole Recruitment Chair International Affairs Major, Concentration in Latin America From: Huntington Beach, California

Rachel Abastillas Fundraising Chair International Affairs Major & Law and Public Policy, Political science and Social Entrepreneurship Minors From: Huntington Beach, California,

Mary Chen Promotional Chair International Affairs & Political Science Major From: San Diego, California

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Contents

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Americas Making the Unfamiliar, Familiar Complete Immersion in Brazil Forming Friendships in Havana Economy and Development in the Dominican Republic Puerto Rico and the U.S.: A Complicated Relationship

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Europe Healing in Northern Ireland The Yes Mindset What Lesvos Taught Me Landmines and International Law in Geneva Catalan Crisis in Context

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Africa The Power of Proximity A Lesson in Resilience Cultural Awareness in Zambia

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Middle East Two Sides to Every Story: Israel and Palestine Familiar Places in the Heart of Anatolia Encountering the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Jordan

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Asia & Oceania Narrative on Thailand Discovering Maori Land Rights in New Zealand Boston to Bondi: Cultures Collide Voices of One Korea

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Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

The Global Journal | Americas

Photo by Mikaela Cole

Making the Unfamiliar, Familiar Story by Daphne Apostolidis, Dialogue of Civilizations

Growing up in Greece, I always sensed that Peru was a faraway place-worlds apart in terms of history, culture, and lifestyle. Peru felt like an intangible and abstract idea that I would one day be fortunate enough to transform into something concrete. This past summer, my parents turned my dreams into a reality by encouraging me to participate in a fiveweek Spanish Language and Peruvian Culture Dialogue of Civilizations, allowing me to travel to

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Latin America for the first time. My travels in Peru consisted of a series of delightful experiences outside my comfort zone, as is the expectation for anyone traveling to a foreign country. From my first day in Lima, when I knocked my host family’s door at 2am with a Crate a Barrel gift, 2% Spanish fluency, and a very big smile, I realized this feeling of unfamiliarity would linger over me throughout my journey. My limited ability to speak Spanish made it

difficult at first to adjust to this new setting. I used Google Translate, Duolingo and my knowledge of Enrique Iglesias’ songs to articulate thoughts to the people I interacted with.  As my Spanish lessons at Escuela El Sol progressed, I was astonished by how quickly I began using my newfound knowledge outside the classroom. By the end of my second week, I began having complete conversations with my

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host family, realizing how much we shared despite having grown up on different sides of the world.

We debated on the attractiveness of Brad Pitt, spoke about Greece winning the Euro in 2004, and joked about the differences in Spanish within Latin America. I was only able to make this fundamental connection with my host family upon overcoming this initial language barrier. Naturally, my preliminary discomfort in Peru extended to other aspects of my

Photo by Daphne Apostolidis

experience there. Culture was another significant barrier, as it is debatably more difficult to grasp in comparison to language. Peru, a vibrant melting pot of people, culture and history, is a clear product of

European

colonization,

immigration,

and

indigenous influences across three distinct regions: the Coast, the Andes, and the Jungle. I became amazed by the ethnic diversity within Peru and tried to find my place within it.

The majority of the population are Mestizo, a term coined for people with Quechua or Aymaran and Spanish descent, while there are also many with other European, Chinese, Japanese, and African

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ancestry. This unique blend of ethnicities is a main reason why Lima is the Gastronomical Capital of the Americas, bringing together a fusion of foods to create Cebicherias, Pollerias, Chifas, and Creole food. Using my very elementary Spanish, I began asking my host family, tour guides and teachers to explain the ethnic differences in each of Peru’s distinctive regions.

They explained how the socioeconomic divide between the indigenous people in the Mountains and jungle with those of the oast was a reason for much political tension in recent years. I met with Zinia, a woman from the Ucayali district in the jungle,

Photo by Daphne Apostolidis

who explained that the coastal region, particularly Lima, was perceived as incredibly far from the true indigenous origins of Peru. These brief yet significant conversations with Peruvians taught me more than I could ever learn from a textbook. I began picking up on the cultural differences Zinia mentioned in Cusco, the capital of the Incan Empire, noticing how different people from the Andes and the coast truly were. In this moment, I came to understand how valuable my interactions with locals were in familiarizing myself with the culture. Understanding the 31 million people of Peru is an impossible task for five weeks, as is becoming fluent in Spanish.

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My discomfort however was eased by two simple, yet meaningful, developments: first, learning the language, and second, using that language to speak to locals. While the unfamiliar may seem scary to us at first, our responsibility as travelers is to embrace this feeling and do everything in our power to make our surroundings familiar. Ask questions, seek answers, and carefully observe your environment. I challenge everyone to search for familiarity beyond the Wikipedia page we are so tempted in turning to so often.

Complete Immersion in Brazil Story by Mike Kalmeta, Co-op

Ever since I was a young child, I have been

people, but I never knew too much about Brazil

obsessed with acquiring new languages and

as a country. Additionally, I had never been south

learning about different cultures of the world. I

of the equator and I was dying to live somewhere

don’t really remember the exact moment it all

warm again. Why not try something completely

started — but it might have been when I was six

new? After my plane landed in July 2016, I found

years old and my mom kept asking me why I would

myself completely alone in a new country. Not

constantly change the language on our computer

only did I not know a single soul in the city, I also

to Spanish. In case you were wondering, we don’t

had absolutely no idea where I would be living.

speak Spanish at home.

Barely speaking Portuguese at the time, I had less

As soon as I started college at Northeastern, I

than two weeks to get my life together before

was excited to finally be able to take advantage of

both of my jobs started.

the global opportunities to quench my curiosity.

While most co-op students tend to work at one

Not only did I take up classes in Arabic, I also spent

job, I was lucky enough to have two! My morning

an entire year in Italy and a summer semester in

shift, entirely in Portuguese, took place at the

Geneva at the United Nations. However, I still

Secretariat of International Relations for the city

didn’t achieve that full immersion I was starved

government of Belo Horizonte. I assisted with

for. Having grown up in an Italian family, neither

the management of training programs for English

culture was too much of a shock for me as most

teachers in the metropolitan area, translated

of my classes were held in English. I actually grew

documents into English, and even interpreted for

extremely jealous of my international friends here

an American professor once. The most exciting

at Northeastern because a lot of them by this

part of my job involved traveling to public schools

point spoke English with an almost native accent

across the city to deliver speeches to students on

and seemed to know more about American

the importance of learning foreign languages.

culture than me! I asked myself: Why couldn’t I

You could say it was the perfect job for me.

do that, but somewhere else?

In the afternoons, I led English conversation

All of these wishes, dreams, and desires to

courses at the Instituto Cultural Brasil Estados

launch myself out of my comfort zone as far as I

Unidos. Not only did I make friendships through

could finally reached an apex. Soon I found myself

this position that I still maintain today, I also

30,000 feet in the air heading to my first co-op in

developed a passion for teaching and realized

Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Whoa - let’s backtrack.

that constant personal communication must be

If you’re wondering, “Why Brazil?” It’s a simple

an essential element of any career I see myself

answer. I had always found myself intrigued by

pursuing in the future. I had a steep learning

the friendliness and diversity of the Brazilian

curve when it comes to speaking Portuguese. On

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my first day in Brazil, I would need to constantly

forced me to test the limits of my linguistic

flip through my phone dictionary to get through

abilities. Then of course, 95 percent of my daily

a typical conversation. In retrospect, I am still

communication was also in Portuguese. At the

amazed at how I found an apartment, navigated

end of my time in Brazil, I could communicate

the bureaucracy, configured my phone, and made

my ideas fluently without thinking too much at

new friends all in the first week. Flash-forward to

all. Some people even began asking if I was from

a month later,my supervisor at the English school

the South! In terms of culture, I definitely received

surprised me by signing me up for an impromptu

more than the initial dose of immersion.

lecture at a medical school in front of over 100

Belo Horizonte is a city of over five million

students.

inhabitants, but you’d be hard-pressed to find

“

a foreigner. I developed an appreciation for the local Sertanejo music and spent my evenings

I found myself completely alone in a new country. Not only did I not know a single soul in the city, I also had absolutely no idea where I would be living.

”

I had to devise a 20-minute speech about my experiences abroad — all in Portuguese and completely on the spot. Yikes! Events like these

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dancing to funk. I stuffed my face with pão de queijo (a type of Brazilian cheese bread) and drank way too many cups of açaí juice (from a popular Amazonian fruit) than I could ever count. When I came back to the United States, my friends even commented that something was different about me — that perhaps I was a bit brasilianizado. I had soaked up Brazilian culture like a sponge and I can still feel all of the many ways that Brazil has changed me as a person. Looking back on my experience in Brazil, it was everything I wanted and more. I entered the country with minimal Portuguese, a basic knowledge of Brazilian geography, and an eagerness for adventure. I left having made many lifelong friends, learned a new language, and most of all, having established a new place to call home.

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

Forming Friendships in Havana Story by Tiffany Cabrera, Dialogue of Civilizations

I am Cuban American and I knew nothing about

most trips abroad do, at the baggage claim. A

my island. I didn’t grow up hearing stories of

woman greeted me wearing a tan suit featuring a

Havana nights or of the infamous sea wall: The

mini skirt, bright blue eyeshadow, pattern tights,

Malecón. Instead, I was met with a brick wall

and highheels. This was my introduction to Cuba,

anytime I probed my grandfather with questions

and what an accurate representation it was. I then

of his past. Eventually, he revealed small tidbits

made my way to the carousel.

of information. These small pieces of knowledge

I couldn’t help but notice a pile of electronics

included but were not limited to: there’s no toilet

and home appliances saran-wrapped waiting to

paper, the water gives you kidney stones, and you

be picked up by someone who will then gift them

will never see a more beautiful beach than the one

to a sister or cousin. I hadn’t even made it ten

in Havana. He was right. So, my journey began, as

steps past the gate and I had already experienced

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3 degrees of culture shock. After an hour and a half of pure stress, I was finally able to locate my luggage and was ready to make my way to the hotel. It’s location made for the best immersion.

We were in the middle of the real Havana. Every morning I made my way down the steps and around the corner to grab the best cup of coffee I have ever had and, with the early wakeup calls, such a treat was a necessity. Most days I could purchase water at the same makeshift coffee shop, but sometimes I was unlucky and would have to search through 3 different stores before finding a single bottle; this was typical daily life for many Cubans.

After about one week of running through the streets of Havana, the honeymoon was over. Due to the location of our hotel I was thrown into real Havana every time I stepped out of my homebase.

I could not take more than five steps before I was met with catcalls or just general intrigue by my foreign appearance. One afternoon our professor sent us out to shoot picturecfor a project on portraits. My friend Corinne and I made our way through back alleys and side streets to find the subject of our next photo-series.

As we turned the corner we noticed, in a run down deli that was just an empty room and a wooden table, an elderly woman wearing a marijuana bandana. This immediately caught our attention because the plant is wildly illegal in the country. Did she know what she was wearing?

As instructed by our professor, we immediately started taking photos of our next subject. The woman took note of our curiosity and then made her way towards us. Instead of yelling at us for not asking to take the photos, she met us with sociability. She told us about her son who had made it to Miami 10 years back. She offered to show us where she lived and filled us with burning intrigue we agreed. She led us through

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an alleyway that opened up to a courtyard with about fifteen studio apartments between two stories. As we walked up the steps I couldn’t help but feel all eyes on me, watching my every move, trying to comprehend why two Americans were in their space. Her apartment was small and cluttered. She had many photos of her beloved son and memorabilia from America. She talked about how much she loves her country and church, but how deeply she misses her son. She explained that communication is lagged due to the subsidized and poor internet.

After we talked to the elderly lady, we made our

way around the complex. We met a boy, who they referred to as “Freckles”, who was eager to show us a coloring book page that featured an Indian chief that he was going to get tattooed across his chest. Then, we talked to a man whose sister had made it to the states and decided to come back.

He explained that she couldn’t find the same freedoms she had here. She missed the relaxed lifestyle, the ability to find people to connect with no matter the time of day, and the beaches. After this day, I could no longer see Havana, Cuba, and its people the same. The situation in Cuba was no longer so black and white and the place I decided to spend 3 weeks of my summer was not just a study abroad experience. I listened to the stories of these strangers and sought to understand the beauty they see on this island.

Although the honeymoon was over and I had to finish off my dialogue with a different mindset, I was grateful.It is true that toilet paper was limited and the water can in fact make you sick; but, it is also true that the beaches are breathtaking and the people there love their home. While Cuba certainly had its deficiencies, looking back, I learned to love the whole truth about Cuba. Sun poisoning and all.

Economy and Development in the Dominican Republic Story by Emma Boardman, Co-op

I have never been to a country as different as where I

in the Dominican Republic I couldn’t stop thinking

grew up as the Dominican Republic. From the start,

about how American money could have been better

I knew this trip would be unlike other vacations I

spent on donations for local commerce. This new

had been on in the past, as the Teacher’s Assistant

way of thinking truly bonded our group together,

we traveled with was Dominican, an opportunity

and challenged us all to think about the best way

that gave us the refreshing chance to understand

for countries to develop.

the best and safest places to spend time in the DR

Our interactions with local Dominicans also made

that would allow us to interact with locals. Often,

this trip unique. One afternoon, when a few of

I have found that what is taught in school cannot

my friends and I wanted to explore the Dominican

be directly translated into real life experiences.

capital of Santo Domingo, we were interrupted at

However, there were many chances to take exactly

a crosswalk close to our hotel by local Dominicans

what we were learning with our teacher Peter

who began warning us to turn back in the direction

Simon and to use that information to look critically

we had come It turned out we had been walking

at a country that would be our home for a month.

towards the Haitian community, a community we

For example, our group had the chance to speak

learned about in class that had immigrated into

to a representative for the Peace Corps working in

the Dominican Republic following the Hurricane

the Dominican Republic. The representative said

Mathew in 2016. These people tended to not have

that the Peace Corps had recently cut a program

many belongings, and arrived in Santo Domingo

on women’s reproductive health, a decision that

as an unfamiliar and at times unwanted community

surprised our entire class, as we had only just

Over time the area where many Haitians lived

recently learned the importance of reproductive

became one of the poorer parts of the city. It was

health in developing countries.. All of a sudden,

a shocking experience to encounter this situation

I began to doubt the effectiveness of a program

during our day-to-day experiences.

that I had previously believed held the secret to

Another experience that impacted me occurred

improving developing nations. These changing

when our group attended an outdoor concert, a

perspectives extended to my interactions with

Santo Domingo tradition that serve as a way for the

other Americans in the Dominican Republic, most

city to get together with friends and family to drink

of whom were either on vacation or service learning

and dance. At one point, my friends and I began to

trips. Many of these Americans were staying in the

to a few people on a rooftop next to the restaurant

same hotel that we were staying in, and would

we were eating at. They invited us over and told

often tell us about their plans to give their time to

us their story. The group were all students in their

help others. I had always respected service groups,

twenties who had escaped political turbulence in

but after taking developmental economic classes

Honduras and come to the Dominican to find work.

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Photo by Mikaela Cole

It was amazing to be have come to concert for

tip that we initially became excited about, Professor

entertainment and wind up in a conversation with

Simon had the insight to point out that while a

people that had been through so much. This was

US$2 difference in price could be next to nothing

one of the many moments on the trip that made us

for us, for the street vendors we encountered it

realize all we had, and how differently people live

could be the difference in feeding their families.

around the world.

This lesson in particular helped me understand

  One lesson from Peter Simon best summarized

that there is a difference between living like a local,

our trip. At the beginning of our trip, we discussed

and living with respect to locals. In a country where

how easy it was to bargain for better prices with

many travel to impose at times unwanted help, it

street vendors.While this was an interesting cultural

was a once in a lifetime experience to really learn about a different culture and its unique economy.

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Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

Puerto Rico and the U.S.: A Complicated Relationship Story by Alexandra Kuenning, Dialogue of Civilizations

Nearly a month after Hurricane Maria swept

needs. The current devastation on the island,

across the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, almost

both economically and physically, combined with

80 percent of the territory remains without power,

the U.S. government’s response to both, has

and one-third of inhabitants are without access

promoted intense debate on the island over the

to clean drinking water. In comparison, only a

U.S.’s role, most often in the form of street art.

week after Hurricane Irma, more than 95 percent

In February 1898, Puerto Rico, after centuries

of Florida’s residents resumed their access to

of Spanish rule, became an independent part of

power. The U.S President’s response to Puerto

Spain with its own constitution and voting rights.

Rico in relation to his response to the disasters

A few months later, the U.S., following their

in Texas and Florida, as well as the government’s

success in the Spanish-American War, gained

non-acknowledgement of its structural policy

the island and, with interests in developing a

towards Puerto Rico. has led to Hurricane Maria

market for sugar, subsequently stripped away

becoming a case-study for the US’s continued

much of the island’s autonomy until it effectively

neglect in regards to the island’s economic

became a colony. In 1917, the Jones-Shafroth Act

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was passed, making Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens

before Hurricane Maria hit, the country’s debt

just as American troops were being deployed in

and its predominantly Democratic population

World War I, in which Puerto Ricans were then

has hindered the possibility of statehood under a

sent to defend the Panama Canal. Approximately

Republican-controlled congress.

100 years since receiving citizenship, a new poll

One example of the control the U.S. has over

of 2,200 adults conducted by Morning Consult

Puerto Rico is through the Jones Act, also known

found that only 54 percent of Americans know

as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which

that people born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens.

requires goods shipped between points in the

In terms of representation, since 1901, Puerto

U.S. to be carried by vessels built, owned, and

Ricans have only been able to elect a nonvoting

usually operated by Americans. According to the

“resident commissioner of Puerto Rico” to

New York Times, this act was initially created to

the House of Representatives. And while the

support a national maritime industry that could

territory has held a number of referendums on

mobilize in the event c a national emergency or

statehood, most recently only a few months

war in order to protect American control over

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Photo by Elizabeth Werner

local waterborne commerce. Outside of the mainland United States, however, many critics say that the law increases shipping costs for goods which is passed on to the consumers. As Puerto Rico is the fifth-largest market for American products, the extra costs can add up. According to a 2012 report by two University of Puerto Rico economists, the Act has caused an estimated $17 billion loss to the island’s economy from 1990 through 2010. Although the Act was officially suspended on Sept. 28 for hurricane relief, the waiver was only in effect for 10 days.

In another example, in the spring of this year, the Fiscal Control Board, a non-elected committee that exercises the power to block the territory from passing legislation perceived as not contributing towards debt relief, announced plans for multi-million dollar budget cuts to public schools. This led to an outbreak of protests and, in Old San Juan, a series of murals on Calle Norzagaray created by students and educators.

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One example created by teachers from the School of Plastic Arts, was a piece titled “Que pare de llover: Porque cuando en Puerto Rico llueve, llueve para todo el mundo,” as “Stop the Rain: Because when it rains in Puerto Rico, it rains for everyone.” The piece was a list of everywhere it rains, from the beaches and natural resources to the Conservatory of Music, and everyone it rains for, from corrupt politicians to the Fiscal Control Board. Other pieces questioned the democracy of Puerto Rico, or compared policeman to clowns.

Located in the Northern Coastal Valley region, the street art in Arecibo is another example of residents using art to protest the influence of the United States. The largest city on the island in terms of size over 45 percent of Arecibo inhabitants live below the poverty line. Instead of letting the city continue its downwards spiral, street artists have used the many abandoned buildings to create a canvas to engage in social issues, particular in regards to the environment.

Photo by Fernanda Hurtado Ortiz

Arecibo is the site of many industries that pollute

The examples discussed here are just a small

the area, including a secondary lead smelter

taste of what can be found on the island’s streets.

whose emissions have caused the city to exceed

Its importance lies in its representation of

legal limits on lead pollution in the air. In addition,

the Puerto Rican people’s alienation from the

in 2015 there was a proposal to build a waste

mainland U.S. The limited response to Hurricane

incinerator for the New York- based company

Maria is just one example of the U.S. government’s

Energy Answers, causing the city to break out in

distance, but overarching problem stems from

protest.

longstanding economic concerns which have

Much of the artworks covering the walls of

only been exacerbated by the natural disaster.

Arecibo show figures wearing gas masks. One

According to Treasury Secretary Raul Maldonado,

example is Clarissa Joaquin’s painting of a girl

a government shutdown will occur on Oct 31,

with pink hair made up of bunnies and who is also

which would halt any hurricane recovery efforts,

wearing a pink gas mask. On Joaquin’s Instagram,

if Congress does not provide six to eight billion

she captioned her image with Indian psycologist

dollars in emergency funds. It is time for the U.S.

Amit Abraham’s quote: “Love is in the air but the

to recognize Puerto Rico and its economy as a

air is highly polluted.” Clarissa Jaoquin was also

product of U.S. policies, and to remember Puerto

the creator of a piece featuring a cat and a young

Ricans are American citizens too. They deserve

boy, each of whom are wearing gas masks. In the

the same treatment and empathy as survivors of

same vein, many of the pieces feature incinerators

any mainland U.S. disaster.

contrasted with images of nature.

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Photo by Elizabeth Werner

Photo by Catherine Hogan

Healing in Northern Ireland Story by Devin Windelspecht, Co-op

There is something healing about the northern coast

it is also a land of fracture, and of violence. Nearly

of Ireland. It’s a majestic place, a place of jagged

fifty years ago, the tiny corner of Ireland that today

coastlines and rugged cliffs that tower over the

remains part of the United Kingdom erupted into

waves, of little villages and ancient ruined castles,

violent sectarian conflict, as differences about

of rolling green hills and deep, quiet forests. It is a

Northern Ireland’s future — whether it should

place where the crash of the sea and the constant

remain part of the United Kingdom, or become part

rush of the falling rain creates a sense of peace, a

of independent Ireland — erupted into violence.

feeling of calm. It was here that I spent nearly six

What began as protests over civil rights for the

months working at a peace and reconciliation center

minority Catholic population quickly and suddenly

in Northern Ireland, the Corrymeela Community.

escalated into a thirty-year period of paramilitary

Ireland is a beautiful land, but for all its beauty,

activity, British military occupation, and one of the

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most intense periods of terrorist activity ever to affect modern Europe. When the violent conflict finally did end in 1998, over 3,000 people had lost their lives in a country of barely over a million, often in deeply intimate and personal assassinations.

Twenty years later, and the scars of that conflict, commonly known as the “Troubles”, have yet to fully heal. To the outside world, Northern Ireland seems a success story: the story of two divided communities coming together to end a period of violence, a story of moving forward into a shared future. Yet the reality is that Northern Ireland remains divided.

Thirty years of murders and bombings, of love ones lost and communities torn apart, are difficult to repair even after twenty years. Peace remains an uneasy reality; healing, and moving on from the past, is an even more difficult challenge.

Corrymeela gave me the opportunity to be a part in that process of healing, if only for a few months. What I found was both heartening and heartbreaking: people of great courage and kindness dedicated to a brighter future for Northern Ireland, and longstanding power structures that seemingly resist any real movement towards lasting change. I’ve witnessed people of different faiths coming together after years of mutual hatred, and the uncertain shadow of Brexit as the United Kingdom’s break from the European Union has raised new questions as to the future of the island’s peace. I’ve watched communities reconcile; I’ve heard of others that have fallen deeper into a cycle of unemployment and political disengagement that leads to the resurgence of paramilitary groups. This is not an easy thing, this peace.

But for these difficulties, there are so many worthwhile moments that come from the work towards reconciliation. Things like witnessing young people develop the first friendships they’ve ever had between Protestant and Catholics on a weeklong experience over the summer, and learning how

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little the differences between them really are. Things like seeing a little Syrian girl find a place of refuge far from her own war-torn country, and hearing a Sudanese father speak of his own experiences with conflict with a man who endured the depths of the Troubles in Belfast. Things like witnessing a community of youth workers, academics, peacemakers, chefs, janitors and spiritual leaders dedicated to the often frustrating, often thankless cause of peace.

These are the things that matter: the little moments of humanity that create reconciliation between people, one encounter at a time, when there was only misunderstanding, ignorance, and animosity before. In the classroom, peacebuilding, or conflict resolution, is seen on the macro-level: of peace treaties and development programs and state building, when the real peace often comes person by person, encounter by encounter, in little moments of healing that slowly build on one another. It is a long, slow, frustrating process. But it is also a necessary one.

Northern Ireland will not be fully healed in another ten years, or even twenty. But if people can find the courage to reach out, to encounter one another in these little ways, then there is hope still in peace for this fractured land. And in that, there may be hope yet for other places that have experiences war and conflict, and which must one day go through their own period of reconciliation.

As our world frays and divides and is impacted by acts of profound violence, it is important to know that there are people still trying to put things back together. Northern Ireland, despite being a “postconflict” country, is not healed, and it is not fully at peace. But in its own journey of healing, it can give us hope that the wounds that we are inflicting upon ourselves today, be it in Syria or Myanmar, France or the United States, can also one day be healed.

That peace, despite everything, is still possible.

Photo by Elizabeth Werner

The Yes Mindset Story by Elizabeth Werner, Study Abroad

Behind the glam of Instagram photos, the

exhausting? When can I finally sleep?

Finally, I was lugging my oversized suitcases

excitement of telling your friends, and the

butterflies that overwhelmingly occur while

through the cobblestone streets of Florence, Italy,

boarding the plane, studying abroad can be

the city I would call home for the next four months.

intimidating. Leaving a comfortable life cushioned

I was no longer questioning myself. I was living.

by friends and family to live in a foreign country

After beginning my classes at Lorenzo de Medici,

is not an easy task. However, if you’re the type of

I met people from all walks of life. I was eager

person willing to take this jump, you’re probably

to make new friends, since I had traveled 4,000

not frightened by this. You’re probably the “yes”

miles across the Atlantic by myself. I mingled and

type. I know I was.

socialized. I learned of trips sponsored by local

The night my plane took off from Logan Airport

companies, and began to plan my semester. One

in Boston, I was brewing with excitement and

afternoon, in my photography class that was four

nerves. After a long 14 hours of travel, a redirected

hours too long — we’ve all had them — two girls I

plane, an unplanned bus ride to my destination,

had befriended turned to me and asked, “Want to

and waiting in line for hours to get my apartment

go to Switzerland this weekend? ”Switzerland? I

key, I was exhausted and full of questions. Was I

knew nothing about Switzerland. My “I must plan

crazy? Was the whole semester going to be this

everything” personality was hesitant, but before

30

Photo by Elizabeth Werner

I knew it I said, “yes.” And just like that, I signed

to paragliding during that trip in Switzerland. I

up for the trip, packed a bag, and the three of us

agreed to day trips to vineyards in Tuscany and a

boarded a bus. Looking back on this experience,

last-minute trip to Croatia. I said yes to flying to

I can’t help but think, “Wow, I bunked with two

London for a concert, and then sprinting to catch

girls who I barely knew in a foreign country that I

our plane in Ireland the next day for a weekend in

knew nothing about,” and I feel crazy. However,

Dublin. I said yes to trying new foods, exploring

saying “yes” to that trip was the jumpstart that I

new sights, and experiencing new things.

needed for my crazy semester abroad.

Studying abroad is a wonderful experience in

I will never forget waking up that morning

itself, but, in the end, it is only as great as you

in our hotel room to the view of snow-capped

make it. It is not a trip for the cautious or the

mountains and tiny cottages. We explored the

“home bodies.” It is the ultimate opportunity

city of Bern and tried all the Swiss chocolate we

to step outside your comfort zone and take

could get our hands on. We trekked through the

advantage of the endless chances presented to

cold to see the views and explore the little town

you. So, as a study abroad veteran, I encourage

of Interlaken. We had open minds and positive

you to say “yes” to these chances.

attitudes. Saying yes to this trip was the beginning of my “I can do anything” mindset. I also said yes

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The Global Journal | Europe

Photo by Suma Hussien

What Lesvos Taught Me Story by Suma Hussien, Dialogue of Civilizations

The international community has looked the other

showing up on your newsfeed, boats still arrive

way. The world’s attention has moved onto Trump

daily on the shores of Greece. The European

and Russia. Here, in the United States of Amnesia,

refugee ‘crisis’ is still happening despite media’s

some of us change our facebook profile filter

silence. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t

when crisis strikes, some of us express and share

mean it doesn’t exist.

our temporary distress at dinner conversations,

This past spring semester, in the midst of

some of us forward Nicholas Kristof’ columns

mindlessly scrolling through the internet while

on South Sudan, and then like all ephemeral-

procrastinating on school work, I stumbled

seeming calamities — we forget. Although there

upon PBS’s documentary called Exodus (Highly

may not be as many pictures of packed dinghies

recommended). This completely altered the

32

course of the rest of year and my understanding of the refugee ‘crisis’. As a result of the documentary, I decided to sign up for Northeastern University’s Dialogue of Civilizations program, Reporting on Crisis, Community, and Culture which took place in both Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece led by Mike Beaudet and Carlene Hempel.

It was never easy to click the shutter or press record when covering the refugee crisis as part of my role as a visual storyteller for the Dialogue’s multimedia magazine. It was an internal dilemma I dealt with throughout the trip. There were times I felt like a hawk, helicoptering into a catastrophic situation, asking questions that would open up a traumatic wound of life back at home, the traumatic journey to Greece, or the horrific living conditions thousands are dealing with now. The worst part was how easy it was for me to hop on a plane afterwards, cross borders, take for granted this freedom of movement that so many others have lost everything for.

What made documenting easier was the decision to focus in on the resilience of these courageous people who have fled unimaginable situations. In the face of adversity, trauma, and tragedy, with little to offer, I witnessed refugees who wake up every day to bring compassion and humanity to those around them. At Chios’ People’s Kitchen, I witnessed young Syrian men who Trump denounces as terrorists, work tirelessly to bring food to their refugee community despite resistance from Greek authorities. On the mainland, while documenting the NGO, Drop in the Ocean’s language initiative, I witnessed an extreme persistence in the refugees who came every morning to learn and study Norwegian

33

before their relocation to Norway. I met a young boy, an unaccompanied minor who left Afghanistan at 15, who has been taking care of another refugee boy who is 10 years old and also unaccompanied.

This resilience I witnessed completely altered the rest of my summer. After the Dialogue, I decided to return to Greece to volunteer and help in any small way. I spent 6 weeks in Lesvos, Greece working with at a community center called One Happy Family. To give you a sense of the severity of the situation in Lesvos, here are some recent details: On Oct 8th, a four year girl from Syria died in Moria ‘prison’ camp, Lesvos’ largest refugee camp built for 1800 people currently ‘housing’ 5,300 people. She died from pre existing conditions compounded by hypothermia. The NGO responsible for the camp’s facilities did not give the child the second blanket her family had asked for. I saw this quote recently on a refugee friend’s facebook page in response to the death: “I did not escape war in Syria to die of cold in Greece.” This is the reality and just a fraction of Europe’s dismantling of long-established international human rights principles.

I realized I had to put aside my feelings of intrusiveness and exploitation while holding a camera in Lesvos and make sure this reality is not forgotten by the rest of the world. Empathy rarely extends beyond our line of sight. However, I believe in the power of documentaries, visual evidence to bridge these two worlds together. “I have been a witness and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated.” Again.

Landmines and International Law in Geneva Story by Nathan Hostert, Dialogue of Civilizations

Before my Dialogue to Geneva, I had no interest

landmines was making remarkable strides, while

in landmines. I had heard of them before and

other disarmament efforts have been less than

knew what they were, but I had no idea that

successful. I had the opportunity to witness this

that they were still being used, that there was an

first-hand at the 2017 Intersessional Meeting of

international treaty in place to ban them, nor that

the State Parties to the Ottawa Convention, a

I would find that treaty to be so interesting. This

meeting that just happened to be taking place

all changed during my Dialogue of Civilizations

in Geneva during our visit. I was lucky enough to

trip to Geneva, Switzerland, which focused on

attend an event with GICHD during this meeting

international law at the United Nations.

which focused on how humanitarian demining can

In the first week of the dialogue, we visited the

be seen through the lens of the United Nation’s

Geneva International Center for Humanitarian

Sustainable Development Goals.

Demining (GICHD), which assists nations around

All these interactions inspired me to focus

the world in their efforts to eliminate landmines

my Dialogue research paper on the subject of

from their territories. While at GICHD, we met

landmines. Specifically, I decided to explore how

with the center’s program directors, policy

humanitarian demining efforts have affected

advisors, and the Director of Operations, all

development in Mozambique and Afghanistan, in

of whom told us about the extensive demining

light of the two states’ adoption of the Ottawa

projects that GICHD is leading around the globe.

Convention. In writing this paper, I spent hours

We also spoke with the Director of the Ottawa

on end holed up in the UN library consulting

Convention’s Implementation Support Unit, Juan

librarians, combing through the UN databases,

Carlos Ruan, who is tasked with the onerous

and browsing through the endless supply of

challenge of ensuring the states who have signed

research articles to find material that would help

the international treaty keep true to their promise.

me illustrate the effects of the demining efforts

I found myself intrigued by the stories that

that I found so interesting. While this research

the GICHD speakers shared of people who have

paper was without a doubt one of the most

been affected by landmines and the work that is

difficult papers I have written in my life, it was

being done to help them. Although our speakers

also by far my favorite. I was inspired by the work

were working on complex international projects

of the the experts that we spoke with, and my

in Geneva, Switzerland, the tangible effects

discussions with them had sparked an interest

of their work were saving thousands of lives in

that I never knew I had.

countries from Colombia to Mozambique. For

me, it was intensely interested to learn how the international community’s full-frontal war against

34

One of the final speakers we heard was

Ambassador Stefano Tuscano, Director of the GICHD. Before the ambassador began speaking,

The Global Journal | Europe

Photo by Nathan Hostert

I approached him, introduced myself, and had a brief conversation about my research paper.

I was caught off guard when he gave me his business card and asked me to send him my paper when it was finished. I ended up sending my research paper to him, and today I can say that I got feedback on my research paper from an ambassador.   In Geneva, I went from knowing nothing about landmines to sending a landmine-focused research paper to an ambassador who has spent his life working to eliminate them. This is just one small

35

example of my experience, but it illustrates how my dialogue in Geneva gave me the opportunity to completely change my understanding of international law. From this amazing academic experience to the incredible people that I met to the remarkable friends I made and the delicious food I ate, Geneva changed my life in a way that I never thought it would.   My paper allowed me to trace the connection between organizations like the GICHD and the very people they are protecting, and I am so proud of the finished product.

Photo by Sophie Cannon

Catalan Crisis in Context Story by Emily Mears, Study Abroad

Last fall, I studied abroad in Barcelona, which I

things. The first was a large metal plate on the

consider to be one of the best decisions I have

wall, her family crest, hanging proudly above

ever made. I will now spend the rest of my life

the kitchen table. The second was a very large

as the stereotypical American college student

flat screen where she and I ended up watching

endlessly talking about that one semester they

Spanish game shows every night over dinner. The

spent in Europe.

third was a gigantic Catalan independence flag

Arriving in Barcelona, my giant suitcase and

hanging over the balcony railing, in plain view of

I were driven to my new home with one of the

the street. Hers was one of many; if you were to

sweetest host moms out there. My first interaction

stand on the balcony and look around, you would

with Lluisa, who does not speak a word of

see a sea of red and yellow stripes.

English, was the three of us (she, my suitcase, and

In my first two weeks living with Lluisa, there

I) crammed into an elevator that can only really fit

was one thing she could not stop talking about:

one person comfortably. She instantly welcomed

la Diada Nacional de Catalunya (Catalan National

me into her home, gave me the most thoughtful

Day). This festival, celebrated every year on

gift — a jar of peanut butter that she had hunted

September 11, is the anniversary of the day

down in one of the few American supermarkets

that Catalonia lost their independence to Spain.

in Barcelona, and proceeded to take over as my

Walking around the city on that day, I saw people

new Catalan grandmother.

dancing in traditional costumes, a performance

As we toured the apartment, I noticed a few

of Les Castellers, basically an eight-story tower

36

of human bodies, and more Catalan flags than I had ever seen. Almost everyone was wearing the same white t-shirt, which read A Punt per la Republica Catalan, or “Ready for the Catalan Republic.”

yet traditional, family-oriented group of people who have managed to maintain an incredible sense of humor in spite of decades of oppression.

Fast forwarding to the events of this past month, many people are surprised to see what

“Suppression of

is taking place in Catalonia, but this feud is not new. For centuries, Catalonia has remained a part of Spain with the condition that they could rule

culture and forced homogenization is against the spirit of the European Union.

”

A few weeks later, talking with Lluisa over dinner, I asked what it was like to grow up under the Franco regime. Seemingly trying to avoid going into detail, she quickly diverted the conversation to talk about how excited she had been to vote for the first time, when Spain first became a democracy. She was in her thirties.

Pushing her a bit farther, I inquired about her childhood. She talked about being unable to speak her native language, Catalan, outside of her home. The speaking of Catalan in public was banned under Franco, as was any sort of public Catalan celebration, tradition, and the flag itself.

Knowing this makes it easier to understand why the flags are now seen on every corner of the city and why the Catalan celebrations are jovial, loud, and proud. One of their favorite traditions, La Correfoc, is literally a group of people running through the streets showering the crowds with firecracker sparks. If you ask the locals about it, they laugh and tell you to wear long sleeves.

Catalans have always been a proud people with

37

strong cultural identity. They are a progressive,

themselves autonomously, and they have lost and had to fight to regain this autonomy time and time again. Most recently, in 2010, Spain’s constitutional court voted to strike down many provisions in Catalonia’s Statute of Autonomy, including the establishment of Catalan as the official language of the region, and ruled that references to Catalonia as a ‘nation’ had no legal effect. The outrage in the region was immediate. Each year since then, the September 11 demonstrations have grown immensely. In 2012, 1.5 million people gathered in the streets, in 2014, almost 2 million.

Reading the news this past month, I have seen a lot of discussion of nationalism surrounding the crisis, and many people saying it is wrong and runs counter to the spirit of collaboration that the European Union holds so dear. However, I would argue that suppression of culture and forced homogenization is also against the spirit of the European Union. I will stop short of taking a stance on this issue, since I don’t feel it is my place to do so as an American, but I will say that Catalonia should absolutely have the right to self-determination, as well as the right to openly and democratically decide their own future. I will also say that had Spain not ignored the growing discontent of Catalan people for so long, and provided them with the recognition that they so badly wanted and deserved, this situation may have gone very differently.

38

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Photo by Fernanda Hurtado Ortiz

The Power of Proximity Story by Connie E, Dialogue of Civilizations

The millennials are a socially conscious and

I spent a week volunteering at that kindergarten

politically active generation. We get infuriated

without speaking a single word of their Xhosa

by the state of the country, we are champions of

language, yet I was still able to establish such

social justice issues, we go on streets to protest,

a connection with the children through music,

some of us even aspire to devote our career to

body language, smiles and sometimes awkward

make the world a better place. Yet, how much do

sketches.

we actually understand the problem that we’re

volunteer hailing from the US, there sure were

trying to solve, or the people that we’re trying

moments of cultural shock and discomfort. But

to help?

it was also those interactions that made me feel

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been wanted to

like being part of the community and therefore

“make a difference” in the world — but what

gaining a deeper understanding of the people

difference exactly? I wasn’t clear until I came

that I aspire to help through NGO work or policy.

to college that my passions are in international

“

development and public policy. It wasn’t until this summer, that I realized the power of proximity.

This summer, I had the privilege of going on a Dialogue to Cape Town, South Africa to study social entrepreneurship. It was an opportunity to be confronted with my own privileges, biases and ignorance on things that I had very limited understanding of. Before the Dialogue, the only preconceived notion I had was that South Africa would be somewhere in between Sub-Saharan Africa and the West in terms of economic development and culture. Little did I expect there is still a sheer level of inequality

As

an

English-speaking,

It was an opportunity to be confronted with my own privileges, biases and ignorance on things that I had very limited understanding of.

Chinese

”

and remaining legacies of the apartheid era. I

As I leave South Africa and return to the

took the opportunity to be fully immersed in the

comfortable life of being a college student, I’ve

culture, the people and their daily lives. My most

been thinking a lot about how do I process my

memorable moment was when I was playing the

new perspectives on privilege and poverty, as

violin for a classroom packed with children, their

well as let those moments of discomfort be a

eyes all lit up and some of them even moved with

constant reminder of the sheer level of inequality

the music.

that still exists not only on the other side of the

40

Photo by Fernanda Hurtado Ortiz

world, but also right in my own communities.

communities and trying to help, few of them truly

The person that made all the dots connect for

understand what the community need.

me is Bryan Stevenson. He is a lawyer, a social

Stevenson himself had a humble upbringing

justice champion and is often described as the

in Montgomery, Alabama. After graduating

living Martin Luther King. He created the Equal

from Harvard Law School, he turned down well-

Justice Initiative that is dedicated to ending mass

paying jobs on the East Coast and chose to return

incarceration in the US and to challenging racial

to the South where racial injustice and mass

and economic injustice.

incarceration are more prevalent. In other words,

When he delivered a speech to Northeastern

he chose to get proximate to the incarcerated

freshmen at the beginning of this semester, he

people that he is trying to help.

mentioned four key points on how to “change

Whatever that you are passionate about

the world”, the first and most important being

doing, there is a purpose behind the work

getting proximate to the problem that you’re

and a community which the work will benefit.

trying to solve. His speech brought incredible

This is an invitation for you to question your

clarity and direction for my clustered thoughts

assumptions about what you already knew, and

and feelings from South Africa. While there is a

to actually immerse yourself within the people

plethora of stories of Westerners going to poor

and community. There is power in proximity.

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Photo by Sadie Zuch

A Lesson in Resilience Story by Sadie Zuch, Dialogue of Civilizations

I don’t believe that “everything happens for a

I own the situation and work to realize at least one

reason,” but I do believe that we can take reason

valuable takeaway”? Traveling to unfamiliar places

from everything that happens. When we are met

puts this value to the test and yes, it is not easy

with challenges and discomfort in life, when we

to rise above unexpected challenges, but if we let

are pushed to our limits, I believe our reaction is a

go of expectations and welcome in newness and

personal choice: “do I want to walk away feeling

discomfort, we empower ourselves and will likely

defeated (maybe even angry or vengeful)”, or “do

walk away with a much more fulfilling experience.

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My time on the Dialogue of Civilizations to Kenya truly drove home this lesson. Few experiences before my time in

Kenya pushed me on all

levels simultaneously: academically, personally, mentally and physically. Adjusting to Kenyan culture was not a smooth process; the food was delicious but took time to adapt to, language barriers made field-research arduous at times, hot days in Kenya are not comparable to hot days in Boston, and restrooms with toilet seats and paper were a luxury.

For background context, our five-week program focused on global health, politics, and culture in Kenya. We spent the first two weeks in Nairobi, studying at the University of Nairobi, and the latter three weeks traveling all around the country to Nyeri, Kisii, Kisumu, and Mombasa. Each student was required to complete an individual and group research project on a relevant topic in Kenyan health and politics, respectively. We gathered data by conducting general population and expert interviews using research questions we each developed. I spoke with doctors, community health

workers,

students,

shopkeepers,

hairdressers, security guards, and cab drivers.

By the end of the program, I had, miraculously, managed to collect over 60 interviews, but there was a series of conversations during the first week that I recall particularly well; it was during our visit to Kibera slum in Nairobi, the largest urban slum on the on the continent of Africa.

In Kibera, we met with community members a part of a nonprofit organization called Stawi, that works to educate people in the community about HIV/AIDs and how they can protect themselves against it or what they should do if they contract HIV. We had the chance to talk with many Stawi volunteers and I had two wonderful conversations with a woman named Veronica and gentlemen

43

named Ike. I learned that Veronica is a mum of three school-aged boys and lives and works as a shopkeeper in Kibera. She lost a daughter to a car accident 5 years ago and life would never be the same again. She told me about living HIV positive and though this topic was not easy for her, she welcomed my research questions (which centered around behaviors, attitudes, and cultural misconceptions about the transmission of HIV/ AIDS in Kenya). Next, I spoke to Ike, a young man about my age (22). He was also open to sharing his story with HIV/AIDS and gave incredibly helpful feedback on my questions.

If I had to sum up that day in Kibera in one word, it would be resilience. No one should have to endure living in a place like Kibera—the conditions are not humane. Raw sewage runs freely on the same footpaths children play on and families and single mums raise kids in 12ft x 12ft dark shacks built with mud walls, a corrugated tin roof and some type of dirt or concrete floor; not to mention there is zero ventilation, making these spaces ripe for the spread of disease.

Some

families attempt to grow food on the banks of the river in the slum, but it often causes illness in people, especially children, due to the highlycontaminated water. Violence, theft, and sexually transmitted diseases commonplace. Our time spent in Kibera exposed us to the realities of what living looks like when the system that has completely failed its most vulnerable populations.

Despite all odds, the folks of Kibera slum have figured out a way to function and live on, raising families and building community. I kept thinking about their capacity to recover from repeated hardships and tried to remind myself of this resilience whenever I felt exhausted or craved the comforts of everyday life back home.

Cultural Awareness in Zambia Story by Emily Mears, Dialogue of Civilizations

The summer after my freshman year, I traveled

without formal education approved of husbands

to Zambia for a month with the Human Services

physically abusing their wives. Homosexuality

program on the Driving Social Change Dialogue

is still considered illegal, punishable by 15

of Civilizations. As part of our curriculum, we

years to life imprisonment. Sexual harassment

spent a few hours each day at our service-

and discrimination against women are also still

learning sites, as well as attended guest

prevalent.

lectures from local actors working in the human

Given that our dialogue group was made up

services field. Through these experiences, we

of twenty-two females and one male, with many

had the opportunity to meet and hear from so

students identifying as LGBTQ+, it was clear that

many amazing people who shared their unique

we were going to be impacted by some of these

perspectives on service work in the developing

cultural norms. While I had tried to go into the

world, specifically in Zambia.

experience with an open mind, I was definitely

As this was one of the first times I had left the

experiencing culture shock within a week . The

United States, let alone the Northeast, I was

one thing that kept me sane, however, is the local

very excited to experience a new place and a

people I had come to know.

new culture. I went into the experience having

As part of our curriculum, we were partnered

made a conscious decision not to set specific

with local students from the University of Zambia

expectations, but to remain open and receptive

to collaborate on the planning of a summit for

to whatever was to come. Upon arrival, it was

young women, with the goal of empowering girls

clear that this was going to be unlike anything I

to believe in themselves and their abilities. At the

had experienced before.

end of the first day, after spending time getting

Zambia is an absolutely beautiful country,

to know each other through ice-breaker games,

with even more amazing, kind, and welcoming

we each wrote down a question on a piece of

people, some of whom are still friends that

paper that we would like to ask the Zambian

I am in touch with two years later. However,

students about their culture, their politics, or

there were also many cultural differences that

their opinions, and they did the same for us. We

made me extremely uncomfortable. Like many

gathered up the questions and exchanged them,

other countries, Zambia’s culture is guided by

and then one by one, we would read them aloud

patriarchal customs and values, and many of their

and discuss our various perspectives. I do not

laws and policies are extremely conservative. Until

think I am exaggerating when I say I think this is

very recently, women have had little autonomy.

one of the most valuable experiences I have had.

Spousal rape was legal until 2010, and as of

While we talked about expected topics of

2015, a survey revealed that 90 percent of people

women’s rights, sexual health and education,

44

Photo by Bobby Namdar

and LGBTQIA+ rights, we also touched on other

conversations with people who have very different

topics that I hadn’t expected, such as gun violence

worldviews from you. In this way, I learned that

and mass incarceration in the United States.

the best kind of discourse happens when people

“

listen and converse with open minds, instead of

While I had tried to go into the experience with an open mind, I was definitely experiencing culture shock within a week.

simply trying to convince one another that they are right and the other is wrong.

There is a lot to be learned from other people,

especially those who have had such different experiences from your own. Since coming home from Zambia more than two years ago, I have traveled to about a dozen different countries, and met so many people along the way who have taught me even more valuable lessons. Had it not been for my experiences in Zambia I don’t

”

know if I would have tried so hard to meet people

These conversations not only taught me to

is for this reason that I always encourage people

avoid making assumptions of people based

to push themselves outside of their comfort zone,

on their culture, but the importance of having

because that is when we can grow the most.

45

and interact with locals, and especially to ask the hardest questions, even when it may be scary. It

46

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Two Sides to Every Story: Israel and Palestine Story by Emily Frazier, Dialogue of Civilizations

Landing in Tel Aviv, the only thing I knew to

me to Israel? The answer to that is mass media.

expect was the heat wave waiting for me as

Removing natural bias from news stories is next

soon as I stepped out of the comfortable air

to impossible, and because we are so far removed

conditioned airport; other than that I was clueless.

from the conflict here in America, it is all too easy

Yes, I knew I would be studying one of the most

to unquestioningly accept any news as truth. I was

controversial topics right on the ground, but I had

so set in my thoughts of true and false and right

no idea how big of an affect that would have on

and wrong that within my first few days in Israel

my life. The whole point of the dialogue was to

and hearing multiple narratives I was completely

show every story in an unbiased way. Coming in,

knocked off my feet.

I assumed without any hesitation that there were

 Everything

only two sides to every story and conflict. I quickly

challenged and, in some cases, was proven to be

learned how ignorant and narrow minded that

entirely false. Accepting that I had been so wrong

thought was. I knew full well that in America there

in so many ways about such an important global

were multiple sides to everything, so what was

topic was no easy pill to swallow, but it is one of

stopping me from carrying that viewpoint with

the best things that could have happened to me.

48

I

thought

I

understood

was

Photo by Catherine Hogan

All politics aside, learning to see multiple sides of

I learned that “good” and “bad” and “right” and

a story, especially one as polarizing as the Israeli-

“wrong” are all objective terms, and that there

Palestinian conflict, opened my eyes to a whole

are very few things that are truly one or the other.

new set of truths. I learned to take everything I

Leaving Israel, I had so much more than I

read and heard with a grain of salt, realizing that a

arrived with. Not just in terms of souvenirs and

truly unbiased point of view does not really exist.

spices, but also ideas. I understood so much more

Now, I constantly find myself further questioning

than I did when I arrived, both about the conflict I

and researching things that I hear before forming

had been studying, but also about how I saw the

an opinion. I learned that if I really wanted to be

world. I will remember this trip and everything I

knowledgeable and educated on a subject, I had

got out of it for my entire life, and I will be forever

to do much more than just reading or watching

grateful for the opportunity to widen my worldly

information given to me. I would have to dig and

understanding.

listen to the stories that are not told as loudly, because often that is where the intricacies lie.

49

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

Familiar Places in the Heart of Anatolia Story by Lydia Ioannidou, Personal Reflection

For some time, I had begged my father to take my brother and I on a family trip to Cappadocia a region in central Anatolia. Naturally, like anyone travelling to Cappadocia, I wanted to see the magnificent rock formations, take the infamous hot air balloons and watch the sunrise upon the valley. My main desire for going there however, was for reasons you may not think. I wanted to see a small town that is not easily located on the map called Talas. Talas is a small town that

50

is part of the Kayseri Province in central Turkey, also part of the Cappadocia region. Why you may ask? Because I am Greek and that’s where my ancestors once lived.   Over a century ago many minorities such as Greeks, Armenians, Jews lived among others across Asia Minor. During the Ottoman Empire, these minorities had flourished, established their own communities and most importantly co-existed with the Muslim Turks for centuries.

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

However, 1923 marked the first exchange of

Anatolia hosted one of the largest communities of

populations in modern history where 2 million

Greeks known as Karamanlides (Greek-Orthodox

Christian Orthodox Greeks were expelled from

Christians who spoke Turkish as their primary

Asia Minor to mainland Greece; while 500,000

language and used the Greek alphabet for writing

Muslim Turks living in Greece were also forced

Turkish). Despite the fact that there are no longer

to migrate to Turkey. From both sides, people

any Greeks residing there, one can still see the

had to abandon their ancestral homes and leave

foot prints they left behind. Innumerous churches,

everything behind which led to migrants being

many of which are carved in caves (almost 2,000

referred to as the ‘waste of man’. Cappadocia,

years old). Medieval Monasteries. Hellenistic

which has been the cradle of Christianity in

architectural facades such as Corinthian or Ionic

51

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

columns, Meander patterns and Greek lettering

the Greeks believed they would once return so

carved onto village walls or century old doors.

they left everything as it was. One of the cities

Underground cities 200 feet deep in the ground

we visited was Mustafapaşa formerly known as

and other countless structures.

Sinasos, (meaning City of the Sun in Greek) one

During my trip, I visited a number of towns and

of the most beautiful towns across the region.

provinces such as Kayseri, Göreme, Nevşehir,

What I found most touching were the houses and

Derinkuyu, which served as constant reminders

properties the Greeks left behind. The previous

of the past. Some of these towns were fully

occupants

deserted while others were inhabited with a

(trading particularly caviar) who erected beautiful

majority of second or third generation Muslim

buildings, Churches, and Monasteries at their

immigrants that came from Greece. My eyes

own expense, most of which have either been

could not bear it. Can you imagine an entire city

destroyed or turned into Mosques. Throughout

were

mainly

wealthy

merchants

empty? Hundreds of astonishing structures left

Cappadocia, including Mustafapaşa, the Muslim

to decay it was, a real-life ghost city. Most of

and Greek religious traditions co-existed side

52

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

by side. It is said that both the Turks and Greeks

am partly Greek”. Wherever my family and I went,

respected the other’s faith and occasionally even

either to a commercial street or to the smallest

participated in the ceremonies of one another’s

town in the middle of nowhere, everyone was so

religious days. It is known that the Turks and the

happy to meet us and eager to share their own

Greeks shared not only religious traditions but

story. Whether it was about their family leaving

also common cultural traits, and they justly solved

everything behind to come to Turkey and locals

their disagreements through an assembly of both

marginalizing them for coming from Greece, our

communities.

stories were the same. Rums (Christian Orthodox

While strolling through the town, we met a

Greeks from Asia Minor) faced the same reality

store owner named Cevdet, who was over 80

when they settled in Greece and even worse. At

years old and gave us a tour of the town. He had

the end of our trip we realized, all of us shared

pale skin and crystal blue eyes and once he heard

the same stories, the same long–lost stories of

we spoke Greek he cried in joy and said “Thank

communities that once prospered and co-existed

you for coming, thank you for being here. I myself

side by side.

53

Photo by Vieno Carter

Encountering the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Jordan Story by Vieno Carter, Dialogue of Civilizations

This past summer, I was lucky enough to travel to

the regime, and especially the people.

Amman, Jordan for a five-week Arabic intensive

  One evening during Ramadan, we were hosted

dialogue. Although I’d been on two prior

by a Syrian refugee family for iftar, the breaking

dialogues before, I found my experience in Jordan

of the fast. Their story was heartbreaking: the

to be unlike anything else I had ever experienced.

father, while walking to work in Homs in 2012,

In Jordan, we focused on the society and culture

was caught in the crossfire of the Syrian Army

of the region in its own language, and explored

and Syrian rebels. During the crossfire, he was

the country through the eyes of its people. Many

riddled with bullets, and struggled greatly to walk

times while in Jordan, I found that my thoughts

and move around. When telling us this story, he

drifted toward history of the region, the religion,

pulled up his shirt to show us the bullet wounds.

54

Photo by Vieno Carter

He hadn’t heard from his two brothers in years,

anything, one of their greatest challenges was this

and only recently learned that they are presumed

inability to do anything to improve their situation

dead.

— a common theme with Syrian refugees

Soon after this incident, the father and his

especially in Jordan.

family came to Jordan but discovered that they

The heaviness of the dinner left me wondering

cannot work, nor can his six children be educated

how the world had come to this. Throughout the

by the Jordanian school system. His eldest son, 17,

week before the iftar dinner, our dialogue looked

is too young for a work permit, so he had to live

often at history: from the ancient biblical history in

on the UNHCR stipend of around 200 Jordanian

Jerash to the recent geopolitics of the region. Yet

Dinars each month (about US$ 280). More than

none of this information answered the question of

55

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

Photo by Vieno Carter

why families like the one I visited continue to live

processes in Jordan and the overarching situation

the way that they do. “We don’t even know why

with terrorism could not explain the plight of

there is a war,” said the father, “That’s why all we

refugees within the country. While they touched

want is peace.”

upon macro-level concerns like Jordan’s reaction

The father asked that we work to spread

to Palestinian and Syrian refugees, international

information about their situation, to not let the

security strategy in Syria, and the geopolitical

world forget about them, and to tell Americans

location of the Middle East, they didn’t help

that Syrians are just people fleeing atrocity and

to explain the human sufferings I learned over

almost certain death. Our lectures on peace

dinner that night. This reflects my frustration

56

Photo by Vieno Carter

with international affairs as a discipline that seeks

understand what Syrian refugees in Jordan deal

to over — explain, but does little to reflect with

with until you hear them speak, see their scars,

the real–life situations that are occuring on the

and observe how they’ve tried to rebuild their life.

ground. Fixing the problem should be but never

This family’s story is one of a million eye-opening

is the final product of international affairs scholars.

experiences I had while abroad in Jordan, and it

We were consistently confronted with harsh

has emboldened me to continue pushing myself

truths like these on the trip, and I found that all

out of my comfort zone to learn as much as

of my studying in Boston couldn’t prepare me for

possible about the world.

the injustices I would face. It’s impossible to truly

57

58

59

Photo by James Phelan

Photo by Mia Aldrich

Narrative on Thailand Story by Tatum Abadir, Dialogue of Civilizations

When I first decided to go to Thailand, everyone

give way to the beautiful colors of sunrise. These

asked me why? Honestly, I wasn’t so sure myself. I

are some of the moments I had the greatest luck

wanted to tell people it just felt like the right place

to experience. These moments took place on an

for me, but knowing that wasn’t a good enough

island named Phuket and in the mountains of the

explanation I told people it was because I wanted

northern part of Thailand called Phu Chi Fa.

something different than a classic European study

When I chose to study abroad I didn’t know

abroad program.

how extensively rewarding it would be. I saw

Picture yourself on island, sitting on high rising

the majority of Thailand and experienced a new

rocks where the waves are flowing below you. You

culture in a way many haven’t. Having the ability

see someone cast a line from their bamboo boat

to travel each weekend was incredibly special.

as the sun sets in the distance. The sky changes

The best thing I can ask someone before they

from a brilliant orange into bright red and yellow.

go abroad is - are you traveling for yourself and

Now picture yourself waking up at the crack of

your own growth? Or is this something you think

dawn, scaling a mountain on the back of a pickup

you have to do because everyone else is? My

truck beneath millions of stars. After you get out

time in Thailand was also a challenge. I could not

of the car you hike a little hill and settle into a

speak or read the language in any way. It’s a tonal

spot on top of the mountain. Some time later the

language so every word is a different sound. One

sun rises beyond the horizon and the stars fade to

word can be pronounced differently and could

60

Photo by Mia Aldrich

mean three different things, so you have to be

incredibly special it is to challenge yourself. While

very cautious when speaking Thai. I can’t even

Thailand wasn’t the most typical study abroad

count the number of times I’ve had taxi rides go

location, but I can easily say it exceeded any

to the wrong place. One second you think you’re

expectations. I met an incredible group of friends

on time for your early morning bus and the next

who I still remain in touch with. We bonded over

you have two minutes and are sprinting into a

not having phone plans or Wi-Fi. We just sat

bus terminal flagging the bus down. Learning to

and talked about life. It was amazing to feel so

laugh at myself and be a good sport was definitely

disconnected from social media and really be

something that became second nature.

able to take in the surroundings and the people

My time abroad would not have been made

I was with.

possible without the backing of Northeastern.

I would go back in a heartbeat. Though it is

Something I really appreciate about this school

cliché, I grew into a person I never knew I could

is that it pushes students to step outside of

be. My experience in Thailand showed me my

their comfort zone, travel the world, and learn

independence and my ability to overcome any

new things from unique perspectives. People

obstacles. For me it was primarily navigating the

always talk about how much they’ve changed

language barrier, but if I can handle Thai, I’m

after studying abroad, and whether you like it or

confident I can maneuver around anywhere.

not - you do. My time traveling showed me how

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The Global Journal | Asia

Photo by Mia Aldrich

Discovering Maori Land Rights in New Zealand Story by Lauren Azzola, Co-op

To be in New Zealand is to enter another world

only broke off from Australia a few million years

in itself. Many people visit Hobbiton, located in

ago (young in geologic time), landing itself on

Matamata where the Lord of the Rings was filmed.

the Australian/Pacific fault line about 20 million

These sets are just a glimpse into the magic that

years ago and has been emerging from the sea

surrounds the landscapes all over the country.

via volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and massive

New Zealand is breathtaking as it is still an

land uplift. The landscape has been carved into a

island forming in the Tasman Sea. The landmass

spectacular array of mountains, sparkling oceans

62

and lava fields. Having had the privilege of living in their largest city, Auckland for four months still leaves me homesick for New Zealand after my return to the United States.

The views weren’t even the most colorful aspect of my time in Oceania, the indigenous Polynesian peoples, who landed in Hokianga Harbour in Northland, in the northern tip of the North Island, about 1,000 years ago, still influence the culture very heavily. New Zealand is just one of the many islands in Oceania. Tonga, Niue, Fiji and Samoa all dot the Pacific to create a larger community. In an unforeseen but welcome twist of events, I ended up in a graduate environmental management course focused on collaborative conservation projects between government agencies and local communities. New Zealand’s approach to environmental protection is much different than in the United States. It centers around setting traps and eradicating pests: since the island recently formed out of the Pacific, native species are generally avian as there is no land mass connecting New Zealand to any other continents.

Since the Maori people landed a thousand years ago, humans have been transporting mammals like deer, hedgehogs, possums, and stoats which are really destructive to the native tree and bird populations. Kiwis, a highly valued indigenous bird in the country, have been endangered due to the exploding possum population which preys on their eggs and nests. Much debate surrounds who brought the pests, but European invasion of the area greatly contributed to the out-ofcontrol nature of the problem. Currently, treaties are being settled to determine how, and if the Maori will be responsible for the conservation of

63

protected areas despite the unfair nature of how these were acquired.

New Zealand is not the first nation to try to rectify the unjust acquisition of native land, countries like South Africa, Canada, the U.S., and Australia have, and continue, to work through legal proceedings on how to settle land disputes and the effects on environmental conservation.

Most lands that are “given back” to indigenous populations have stipulations built into treaties that prohibit the owners from using the space for anything but conservation purposes. While this may sound ideal for environmentalists, the land that was previously unjustly taken now holds no economic value for indigenous populations.

Cultural differences are a core cause for disputes

in

environmental

conservation

projects between government and indigenous populations. While the New Zealand government works in a bureaucratic fashion, Maori leaders and communities tend to rely on the value of

relationships

and

other

traditions.

The

communication gap is further complicated by the lack of trust between the groups due to their tumultuous history.

Issues with environmental

justice won’t be fixed with a one-size-fits-all solution,

approaches

in

which

bureaucratic

institutions simply create legislation is shown throughout time that it does not work effectively.

Government projects need to become more flexible and considerate towards the historical and cultural differences of members of all communities in order to rectify the mistakes of the past. These techniques can be used in New Zealand where we have yet to see this justice on a broad scale.

Boston to Bondi: Cultures Collide Story by Amanda Freyre, Dialogue of Civilizations

Late last Spring, I was accepted to my dream co-

come out of their homes and into the streets

op at the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)

once the weather turns warm and sunny in mid-

at its headquarters in stunning Sydney, Australia.

September. The Bondi Road strip is littered with

This is an international think tank that produces

tropical cafés that offer a wide range of culinary

advisory work for the United Nations and the

delights including the overrated ‘smashed avo,’

Australian government, along with several annual

fresh Nutella croissants, flat white and piccolo

indices including the Global Peace Index and

coffees, ice cream made of nuts, and my favorite,

the Global Terrorism Index, which rank over 160

açai bowls. You haven’t lived if you haven’t tasted

countries. I announced the news to my family and

this Brazilian specialty; açai is an Amazonian

friends, who groaned at my fleeing the country

super fruit that is packed with antioxidants and

for a second international co-op in two years; alas,

kicking berry flavor! Bondi Fruitologist does it

this is truly the Northeastern way! In May, I began

best, piling the bowl high with peanut butter and

researching the city and tried to get a lay of the

extra granola.

land from overseas. A vision of Sydney began to take shape: a waterside international metropolis buzzing with intellectuals and stunning young people. My expectations included an opera house, kangaroos and koalas, surfer people, and lots of barbeques. I got all of those things and quite a bit more.

My biggest Aussie surprise came once I

“

I never would have dreamed I would find a taste of Brazil while on my Australian co-op.

moved to the legendary surfers’ paradise that

”

is Bondi Beach. Famous for its international surf

There are two bustling Brazilian spots, La Favela

competitions and dramatic jagged coastline, the

and Brazil Café; my friends and I like La Favela

Sydney suburb has recently been invaded by

for the atmosphere. Images of Rio de Janeiro

thousands of ambitious Brazilian students. Along

painted in street art style line the walls of this

with research projects at IEP, becoming part of

cafe and the boys at the register are always

this colorful community will remain one of the

friendly and impressed by how many coxinhas

most memorable aspects of my experience here

and brigadeiros we can inhale over the course

in Australia. “Oi gente boa, tudo bem?” [hey

of a half hour (coxinhas are magical fried balls

good people, all good?] is a common greeting

of mashed potato and chicken and a brigadeiro

that we locals use here in ‘Little Brazil.’ Just like

is a dessert made using melted chocolate and

bears after hibernation season, throngs of people

condensed milk).

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The Global Journal | Asia

Photo by Mia Aldrich

Over lunch or our second lunch, my Brazilian girl friends would complain to me about Bondi’s Brazilian population limiting the amount of English practice they were getting; they had come all the way across the world, leaving behind professional, yet extremely underpaid jobs such as pharmacists and engineers back home. They were drawn to Australia’s southern coast by dreams of gaining fluency in English and maybe

65

securing overseas jobs that could earn more than 4-5 times the salaries they were making in Brazil.

Still, here in Sydney, their troubles seem far away, they and other international students, such as myself, only contribute to a bold fabric of peoples and cultures that make up the ‘Sydneysider’ population. I never would have dreamed I would find a taste of Brazil while on my Australian co-op.

Voices of One Korea Story by Vy Thai, Dialogue of Civilizations

At any given time during the spring and summer

are undeniably true — from the government

of 2016, I would most often find myself weaving

requiring students to get Kim Jong-un haircut

between busy crowds of people and cars on the

to the mainstream end of nuclear threats. What

streets of Seoul. There is this overwhelming, yet

remains a mystery for most of the world is the

strangely cozy feeling that expats living in this

aftermath of those who successfully made their

megacity of South Korea, myself included, usually

way out of the country, the “foreign settlers” in

describe as a “jet-setting experience.” This is a

the Southern half of the peninsula that was once

phenomenon when people from privileged social

united.

backgrounds find themselves settling in a foreign

Defecting is no small feat, but settling down

country and doing things not necessarily for the

is a different story. Defectors typically have to

sake of making a living. The real experiences of

cross through tightly controlled borders to China,

any outsiders are, however, much more different

before making their way across Southeast Asia,

from what it seems like on the surface. North

and finally reaching South Korea as their final

Korean defectors are some of such outsiders.

destination, concluding the strenuous escaping

I came to Seoul for the first time for my first six-

journey. Defectors are then enrolled in a basic,

month co-op assignment at PSCORE, a non-profit

government-sponsored education program for

organization that works to address human rights

three months, only being left again on their own

issues in North Korea and assist North Korean

soon after.

defectors in adapting to life in South Korea. With

PSCORE’s founder Kim Young-il was also a

my broken conversational Korean, plus a primarily

defector himself more than twenty years ago.

media-based knowledge about the longstanding

He compared fellow defectors’ experiences of

tension between the two Koreas, I was convinced

settling in South Korea with psychologist Maslow’s

that my experience in South Korea was very

famous hierarchy of needs: “At first, people are

different from those freshly landed North Koreans.

just glad to be fed, but later they want more,” he

Our team was ninety-nine percent volunteer-

said. One of the goals of Kim when setting up the

run, international, and of course for the most part

organization, therefore, was to build a nurturing

unpaid. The idea of helping such a big cause like

connection between North Korean defectors,

freeing up North Koreans from the reign of Kim

South Koreans, and foreigners to help defectors

Jong-un was definitely attractive for outsiders like

reintegrate into life.

us, let alone being able to live in one of Asia’s

My main responsibilities at PSCORE include

central hub of music, technology, and fashion.

researching about human rights violations and

North Korea hits news headlines on a weekly

planning awareness campaigns, but the most

basis. Most of the uncovered sides of the country

personally meaningful to me was co-running a

66

weekly English class for North Korean defectors.

with foreigners and South Koreans, something

My first four lessons were particularly challenging,

that she didn’t have enough opportunities and

both in terms of language barriers and the process

courage to do.

of establishing a connection with my students.

For North Korean defectors, simply getting

Moving from the most closed country in the

out of their homeland serves no guarantee

world to one of the most open ones, defectors

of

usually fall behind to their South Korean

policies for those seeking asylum, South Korean

counterparts in worldly knowledge, particularly

government’s strict interrogations on defectors

Western culture and the English language—those

are performed so that little information about

of which heavily influence modern South Korean

North Korea can be missed. Those who have

society and Korean language.

settled in for generations are still even to this day

“

Although

having

benevolent

cautious when making public statements about

What remains a mystery for most of the world is the aftermath of those who successfully made their way out of the country.

”

“When I first arrived in South Korea, I couldn’t understand the words used by the locals, even when they were talking in Korean. I also never understood any of the jokes about singers and actors on TV,” said Yu, my very first student who later became a close friend in Seoul. By the end of my 6-month stay in Korea, she told me how much more confidence she had gained by interacting

67

freedom.

their homeland, as a habit from the regime’s extreme censorship.

It took four years for the Korean peninsula to be officially divided, and decades afterward for generations of divided North-South families to not being able to see each other. “In the past, I used to say ‘Korea would be united in three years, in five years…’ but I don’t think like that anymore,” Kim Young-il said. “It is not something that can be predicted, but something that you have to bring forward. Whether Korea would be unified, it will depend on the role played by the international community and how the media will portray it.”

I wouldn’t say that the experience of working with PSCORE and living in Seoul has changed me as a person. But I definitely learned how to embrace new cultures and people at a more meaningful level as a jet-setting foreigner, as well as a bunch of good friendships along the way.

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Special Thanks The N.U.in Program Global Experience Office The School of Journalism Student Government Association The International Affairs Program College of Social Sciences and Humanities

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