On Tuesday, October 15, NSLI-Y Interactive hosted the virtual event "Managing Culture Shock in the NSLI-Y Program."
NSLI-Y Interactive hosted a panel of NSLI-Y alumni to share their NSLI-Y experiences, discuss unique challenges they faced on program, and share advice for current and prospective NSLI-Y students. This panel, which included alumni from academic year programs and summer programs, discussed tips and coping mechanisms for dealing with culture shock.
Aadi is an alum of the 2023-2024 NSLI-Y Chinese Academic Year program in Taipei City, Taiwan. He is currently a first-year undergraduate student majoring in Economics and Computer Science while minoring in East Asian studies. Since participating in NSLI-Y, he has continued studying Chinese at the University of Chicago and tutored multiple high school students in Chinese studies. In his free time, he enjoys running, playing the cello, and reading about East Asia.
Anusha is an alumna of the 2023-2024 NSLI-Y Russian Academic Year program in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. She is currently studying International Security and Law as a first-year undergraduate student. Upon returning from Kyrgyzstan, Anusha has been researching tourism in post-Soviet countries and is interested in attending law school for a career in International Humanitarian Law. In her free time, she enjoys Indian classical dancing, traveling, and painting murals. Anusha is eternally grateful to her NSLI-Y experience for globally opening her mind, harvesting strong relationships with people in Kyrgyzstan, and helping shape the trajectory of her future goals.
Emmanuelle is an alumna of the 2023-2024 Chinese program in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. She is a first-year undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry on a pre-med program. As a way of continuing her love for studying Chinese and other languages, she will also participate in the Chinese Flagship program, and has since become a teacher's assistant in her local Chinese community. Next summer, she plans to return to a rural school she spent time with during NSLI-Y and hopes to continue making an impact within the field of intercultural cooperation and the pursuit of language learning.
Simone is an alumna of the 2024 NSLI-Y Summer program in Seoul, South Korea. As a current senior at Classical High School in Providence, RI, Simone is looking to study international business in college. She was introduced to South Korea through her first grade friend whom she credits for creating her curiosity for the global community. Beyond her enthusiasm for language and her love for learning about different cultures, Simone finds fulfillment in mental health activism. To her, mental health is an issue that is cross-cultural and transcends divides. She believes that the acknowledgement of the issue’s global prevalence creates another point of connection that allows people to see that they are not that different. Since participating in NSLI-Y, her joy of fostering connections amongst people has morphed into a lifelong commitment. In her free time, she coaches her school’s Economics Club, is an active member of her school’s math team, and leads her school’s peer support group. For fun, she enjoys going on long walks, exercising, drawing, spending time with her friends, and learning new things.