Featured Person: Tony Ive
Meet Tony, who indulged his passion for history and politics during a spring break in South Korea. Tony, who has ADHD and learning disabilities, explained how those ten days in Seoul altered his academic path.
Age During Exchange: 20
Disability: Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and ADHD
Hometown: Bothell, Washington, USA
Host Country: South Korea
Program Length: Ten days
Exchange Type: Cultural exchange
About Me: Originally from Bothell, Washington, I am a student at the University of Idaho. I first became interested in international exchange when I participated in a backpacking trek to Machu Picchu, Peru with a group of visually impaired athletes. I also traveled to Costa Rica on a disability-related exchange. Besides traveling, I enjoy running, hiking, rock climbing and sailing.
Describe your international exchange program.
I participated in the Korea-US Youth Network program through Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). The program is a short-term exchange for students to learn about Korean culture.
What was the application process like?
I first learned about the CIEE travel opportunity from MIUSA. CIEE had a good, clear application process and the staff at MIUSA supported my effort to apply.
How did you fund your exchange?
CIEE provides annual spring break scholarships for college students to participate in the Korea-US Youth Network, and I was awarded one of these scholarships.
What were your concerns as you prepared to travel?
This was the first time I traveled on an educational exchange that wasn't disability-related. I wondered whether my learning differences would present a problem in the classes at Yonsei University. I learn best by seeing and experiencing, and discovered that I was able to comprehend a huge amount at the lectures and on the cultural tours.
What was your experience living in the host country?
I was in Korea's capital, Seoul, which I like to describe as New York meets Las Vegas. There are many tall buildings with innovative architecture covered with neon signs. I was staying four blocks away from Yonsei University. At night the college students came out and would go to bars to socialize. There was an atmosphere about the night life that seemed like what I imagine a wild fraternity party would be like.
During the day, the streets were crowded but quiet. People were very polite and moved about efficiently. During our tours we were shown only the progressive, nice side of town. I remember the tour guide directing our attention to a museum on our right while we drove by slums on the left. When I inquired about the living conditions outside of the city or even this neighborhood, she sidestepped the question.
I was pleasantly surprised to see people with various kinds of disabilities moving around the city. I had expected a much less open atmosphere. I was particularly impressed by a large brick stairway leading to a building which features a wheelchair ramp going diagonally through the center. It was incorporated right into the stairway, not pushed off to the side or behind the building. What was more fascinating was how many able-bodied people made use of the ramp because it was easier.
What was one of your favorite memories?
My favorite memory was visiting the demilitarized zone. We learned why it was created and how it works, and it was completely unlike anything I had ever seen before. After I returned to America, I took a personal interest in the tension between North and South Korea. I really cared about the people and places I had visited.
Thinking back, what do you wish you had known before you began your journey?
CIEE provided plenty of information, so I was well-prepared with the right clothes for the weather. The trip was beyond my expectations. We were treated exceptionally well and learned more in ten days than I could have learned in a year in a class about Korea.
What were the benefits of the experience, and how has your international experience informed your future plans?
I benefited immensely from various lectures on the Korean war and from visiting the demilitarized zone. Our group received lectures from American history teachers, Korean history teachers, the American military, the Korean military, the U.S. Korean joint task force known as ROCK army, and spoke with Korean students to learn their views. All of these groups had different stories. As students, our group had to think critically about everything we were being told.
Before the South Korea trip, I was focused on learning about sustainable agriculture. All that changed when I attended Korean culture, history and language classes at Yonsei University. I was drawn to these topics like a moth to a flame and when I returned to college I found myself participating in world culture discussion groups instead of diligently nurturing plants in the Ag department. My enthusiasm grew and I enrolled in classes in the Martin School of International Studies. I have always been interested in history and politics and it became clear that this is where I belonged. I applied to change my major to Interdisciplinary Studies, combining international studies with sustainable agriculture.
I am excited and energized by my new major, but there are tradeoffs. For example, because the classes require a lot of reading and writing it will likely take me more than four years to complete my degree, so I have to rethink my finances. Also, while I enjoy my classes much of my energy is spent trying stay focused, so I relieve stress by taking additional P.E. classes and spending extra time working out. I think about topics and issues throughout the day and make connections while doing something active. I collect my thoughts and reflect on questions while running and biking.
This year, I was selected to represent my department with other delegates at the 2011 Model United Nations, in New York City. In the future, I hope to continue to immerse myself in discussions on world culture.
Do you have an exchange or disability-related question for Tony? Email clearinghouse@miusa.org to contact him.
Visit our "Featured People" page to meet other international exchange alum.
