Life in the USA

Experiencing the Most Diverse World

Written and photographed by Kim Sohee.

Last year, I had an opportunity to stay in the United States for about eight months for my scholarship program. I knew nothing about the States when I first arrived. Soon after, however, I began to learn about the country while encountering new cultures and perspectives. The process of understanding, accepting, and blending into this new world inspired me in many ways and made me fall deeply in love with the country. In particular, if somebody were to ask me what I liked most about the States, my answer would be “diversity,” without any doubt.

The United Sates is the most diverse and dynamic place I have experienced in my whole life in terms of its ethnicities, cultures, behaviors, and values. I realized the power of diversity that can be transformed into inclusivity and tolerance, which helps you to be your true self and the society to be more dynamic. In this article, I would like to share my life in the USA, focusing on the power of diversity. Above all, the world of diversity helped me to understand and define myself. For the first three months, I stayed in Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States where various people from all over the world gather, making the place the most diverse and vibrant place in the world. Being surrounded by people of different races and with different languages and cultures inspired me every day and broadened my perspectives.

Moreover, I felt that people were not afraid of expressing themselves and showing their own unique identity even if it might sometimes being regarded as different or even abnormal from a conventional view. I still remember the day when I witnessed countless people riding bikes naked as part of a protest. It was so surprising to me in that it was socially and legally acceptable, and people seemed to have so much freedom to choose their own way to express themselves. Overall, these experiences made me more open minded and tolerant. They even encouraged me to no longer be afraid of trying something new in many areas. For example, I learned skateboarding, which I assume I would not have learned if I had not been there.
In addition, I realized that diversity is one of the most essential factors to make a society livelier and more dynamic. After spending those three months in D.C., I got an internship in San Jose, California, with the International Rescue Committee, an NPO which helps refugees settle in and move toward self-sufficiency. I worked directly with refugees from diverse backgrounds while assisting in the running of various programs. There were so many well-structured programs designed to help refuges to get through their immediate struggles and prepare for a new life.

Later, I discovered that many of the employees and interns were from immigrant families in the community. It was impressive to find that they grew up to serve the community with what they had learned and experienced. Of course, I know there is still a long way to go in the United States regarding the issue of immigration, but it is certain that all different communities have been forming different environments, and these are the source of the county’s strengths and creativity. Korea has not even started discussing the issue of immigration or of minorities, let alone creating similarly good, quality programs and infrastructure. I believe now is the time to bring these issues to the table, embrace them, and build a more diverse society.

Diversity can bring a lot of things to a society. Sometimes, it might cause oppression and exclusion of minorities or provoke conflicts between groups. However, I strongly believe that diversity has the potential power to make the world a better place with inclusivity and tolerance where everyone can live together and fulfill their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, beliefs, religion, or sexual orientation.

THE AUTHOR

Kim Sohee is a coordinator at the Gwangju International Center who enjoys learning different cultures and languages, traveling, and watching movies. She is interested in getting involved in social or human rights issues as a global citizen and contributing to making a better world.