On the topic of culture.

Each of us that were selected to come to Korea to represent UAFS had a different reason for coming, mine being mainly a cultural study. Korean culture has a long and rich history, and  today stands as the 13th largest economy in the world. This combination means that as an international business major I need to know, understand, and especially have an insight to Korean culture. So being the naturally inquisitive guy that I am I have started many conversations with our Korean hosts during our time here, which in effect has actually sparked many conversations about American culture. What I have found most interesting and beneficial from these conversations is that they have helped demonstrate our cultural, political, and economic differences, all the while helping me to not only better understand the Korean mindset, but also take a deeper look at myself and my country. I strongly believe that any nation, just like any individual, can benefit greatly from such introspection and questioning of methodologies, and in fact must do so I order to grow. Interestingly one topic that has come up many times not just with Koreans but every non-American  I have met has been the issue of guns in America. At the hostle I stayed in in Seoul the inn keeper had pretty decent English so I asked him where he studied. He said that he had studied business in Australia for two years. When I asked him why he chose Australia he said,"because America have to much guns". My response to this was both surprise and hearty laughter. When he asked why I laughed so hard I told him," I can understand why you may have he viewpoint that we Ll have guns and often are violent with them as I know the international news talks about it often, but the thing about Americans and their guns may surprise you. It's really not that we all have guns but rather more that we want the right to have guns. Most people in fact don't and never have owned a firearm, while others own many. But most Americans value that ability and right to have them If they choose". Now while this may have been one of many incidents of cultural enlightenment on both sides of the ailke, I think the important thing to keep In mind is that we as people of the world from different nation have come together and tried to understand one another. This is not only important to us as individuals aspiring to find our niche in the global market place but also as members of a species desiring to keep peace in our time as we face the challenges of tomorrow hand in hand.