Through our program, we were able to go to the DMZ! It was a truly interesting experience, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to take any photos because it’s a secure area. However, I do have a photo of North Korean money that we were able to buy when we were there! I didn’t buy any myself, but a friend of mine bought all of the different types. It was really cool to see the money in person because it’s something I had never seen before, and it made the experience feel even more unique. Being able to buy the money was an interesting memento of our trip, considering we weren’t allowed to take photos to otherwise commemorate it.
Being able to see North Korea from the South Korean side was a truly unique experience, and I learned a lot about the history of not only the border, but also the relationship between the two countries. I didn’t know what I was expecting when I got there, but being able to look through telescopes to North Korea was especially interesting. Although, it was really hot on this day, and I slept for a long time when I got home to recuperate my energy. The week before visiting the DMZ I really just took time to myself to rest. I think that actually made the experience more enjoyable because I had the energy to fully pay attention and take everything in. Overall, I’m really glad that I had the opportunity to visit the DMZ because it was something I probably would not have experienced on my own. I was talking to some of my coworkers about the trip I was going to take to the DMZ, and most of them said that they had never been. It gave me a different perspective on South Korea and made me appreciate how much history is connected to the country I am staying in.
Throughout my time in South Korea, I have developed several transferable skills, especially adaptability, communication, problem-solving, and time management. Being in a new country and workplace required me to become more comfortable with situations where I did not always know what to expect. I learned to ask questions and be more independent when completing tasks. During most of my internship, besides being given objectives and projects to complete, I was mostly on my own. This was a little nerve-wracking at first, but I soon adjusted and came to enjoy the freedom I was given and the trust that was put in me to complete my tasks. I also developed stronger teamwork and leadership skills by working with my coworkers and helping the other intern become familiar with the workplace when she arrived.
At my internship, I gained several technical skills related to business analytics and finance. I worked with my company’s sales data through the platform Payhere, used Excel and Google Sheets to organize and analyze information, and developed a financial and trends dashboard on Sheets. I also learned how to evaluate metrics such as sales trends, headcount, and sales per headcount to help understand the company’s financial performance across peak operating hours. These skills gave me practical experience applying concepts I had previously only learned in the classroom to my actual job.
My global competencies have also helped me navigate cross-cultural situations. I cannot always assume that people communicate or approach work the same way I do, so I try to adapt my communication style to the situation by listening carefully and observing the person I am conversing with. I try to ask questions if I don’t understand something, and I learned a lot about Korean culture and people by talking to my coworkers and asking them about themselves. Working with people in South Korea has also taught me to be more patient and open-minded, especially when there are differences in workplace expectations or communication styles. I had a lot more freedom than I was expecting at my internship, which as I mentioned previously originally made me nervous, but I soon learned to adapt to that aspect of my workplace. Overall, my experience has helped me become more comfortable working with people from different backgrounds and has given me a better understanding of how cultural awareness can contribute to effective teamwork.
