This week we're bringing you a report from a few of our dancers who were lucky enough to travel to South Korea recently! Senior Maggie Doherty and Sophomores Ellen Duddy and Sarah Mearhoff have been kind enough to share their experiences with us- take a peek into their trip!
Here at Mercyhurst University, we proudly live by our campus slogan, Carpe diem – seize the day, the opportunity, the adventure. So, when I and two other dancers, Ellen Duddy and Margaret Doherty, were presented with the opportunity to perform in Daejeon, South Korea, we leapt at the chance. With only three short weeks to prepare, the Mercyhurst Dance Department constructed a performance that was to represent the department and the university, as a whole, on the opposite side of the globe at the Taejon Christian International School. With that, on October 12th, we were up and away toward our adventure!
What we found as we exited the Seoul International Airport was certainly an adventure. Entirely flooded with the excitement and unfamiliarity of the environment, we were swept into the current of the foreign culture. Unfamiliar languages floated through the air, as new scents of exotic foods wafted about the streets, and unique buildings gazed back as you curiously stared. Almost every component of the culture was different, from the way you were to shake an elder’s hand, to how you ate your dinner or flushed the toilet. The term culture shock was quite applicable, as I found myself quite stunned by the newness of the environment, but utterly amazed and entranced by the different way of life. Fortunately, we were guided through the unfamiliar territory by incredibly kind and welcoming hosts, friends, and strangers, who happily assisted us in our navigation. With so much to explore and such a welcoming atmosphere, the trip, as a whole, was absolutely irreplaceable. Many thanks are owed to all those who made this trip possible for us three students, as it will be one that we truly never forget.
-Sarah Mearhoff
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