By Huma Irfan.
6:55am, August 10, 2015. A slight “thud” woke me from my long slumber. I had landed in the country that would be my home for the next four months. I was about to start my 2015Global Undergraduate Semester Exchange (UGRAD) program and like many others, it was my first time out of my country, and alone at that! “Welcome to Washington D.C, Huma” I said to myself as I took in the symmetrical view before me. Kentucky Campbellsville University, here I come!
Perhaps it was because I had grown up reading “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “Peter Pan,” that “cultural adventures” was at the very top of my exchange experience to-do list. I experienced American culture in its full glory, starting from the mac’n’cheese, to courteous greetings from complete strangers, to traffic and pedestrian etiquette.
Buzzwords in Pakistan like “global village” and “global citizen” had been overused to a large extent. But, my 120 days in the U.S. exposed me to the true meaning of what it means to be a global citizen. I was in the center of diversity with students from across the United States and the world. We studied together, shared our cultures, exchanged views and connected with one another – despite our language barriers. I made friends from Brazil, South Korea, Japan, Kenya, China and Italy in my class. I remember how alien I initially felt to hear Chinese music, but that alienation gradually faded away as we transcended the language barrier. I learned about ‘Bhai Tikka’ from Jharna from Nepal, a ceremony that celebrates the bond of a brother and sister. Yanli from China completely changed my idea of tea which I know as with milk and sugar, to a tea infused with the most exotic herbs. Tomomi from Japan introduced me to the world of Japanese cuisine. When it was my turn, on Eid, I cooked the Pakistani favorite, rice pudding, and distributed bangles and henna.
My 120 day journey also exposed me to the world of American politics. Pakistani politics, with its multi-party system, is quite different to the two-party system of the U.S. I developed an interest in American politics, not only due to my course on American Government, but also because of the extensive hype over the up-coming 2016 presidential race. I learned all about the legislative process, the role of different entities and bodies, and the role media plays in politics. I enjoyed the open discussion over politics and candidates, particularly because my professor made sure that the first 15 minutes of our class were blocked off for current affairs.
Now that I am back home, I can safely say that my 120 day UGRAD exchange experience was the best time of my life!
