at the age of 18 I decided to postpone going to college to instead be a rotary
going to college to instead be a rotary
going to college to instead be a rotary exchange student in MO France being an
exchange student in MO France being an
exchange student in MO France being an exchange to moving to a completely new
exchange to moving to a completely new
exchange to moving to a completely new country and living with the family I’d
country and living with the family I’d
country and living with the family I’d never met before so while all my friends
never met before so while all my friends
never met before so while all my friends were trying to decide what they were
were trying to decide what they were
were trying to decide what they were going to major in or who their future
going to major in or who their future
going to major in or who their future roommate was I was trying to figure out
roommate was I was trying to figure out
roommate was I was trying to figure out how many euros equal-to dollar how many
how many euros equal-to dollar how many
how many euros equal-to dollar how many suitcases I needed four years worth of
suitcases I needed four years worth of
suitcases I needed four years worth of clothing and whether or not they sell
clothing and whether or not they sell
clothing and whether or not they sell tampons and deodorant in France they do
tampons and deodorant in France they do
tampons and deodorant in France they do by the way and I was being ridiculous
by the way and I was being ridiculous
by the way and I was being ridiculous it’s been almost a decade since that
it’s been almost a decade since that
it’s been almost a decade since that experience and i have lived abroad in
experience and i have lived abroad in
experience and i have lived abroad in four countries panza Nia South Korea and
four countries panza Nia South Korea and
four countries panza Nia South Korea and France real talk traveled to be laid
France real talk traveled to be laid
France real talk traveled to be laid before I could really embrace all that
before I could really embrace all that
before I could really embrace all that they had to offer I had to learn to stop
they had to offer I had to learn to stop
they had to offer I had to learn to stop drop and roll travel taught me to stop
drop and roll travel taught me to stop
drop and roll travel taught me to stop working to meet expectations and to
working to meet expectations and to
working to meet expectations and to define my own success before leaving for
define my own success before leaving for
define my own success before leaving for France I was told I was crazy multiple
France I was told I was crazy multiple
France I was told I was crazy multiple times you’re crazy they told me you
times you’re crazy they told me you
times you’re crazy they told me you don’t even speak french traveling alone
don’t even speak french traveling alone
don’t even speak french traveling alone isn’t safe before I had allowed negative
isn’t safe before I had allowed negative
isn’t safe before I had allowed negative phrases to define what I could and could
phrases to define what I could and could
phrases to define what I could and could not do but not this time so when oddest
not do but not this time so when oddest
not do but not this time so when oddest rolled around I had my baits packed with
rolled around I had my baits packed with
rolled around I had my baits packed with more than just tampons and deodorant and
more than just tampons and deodorant and
more than just tampons and deodorant and I hopped on a plane from Minnesota to
I hopped on a plane from Minnesota to
I hopped on a plane from Minnesota to Paris France to spend my first year
Paris France to spend my first year
Paris France to spend my first year abroad I was a young female traveling
abroad I was a young female traveling
abroad I was a young female traveling alone when I arrived in France there
alone when I arrived in France there
alone when I arrived in France there were some immediate struggles and I mean
were some immediate struggles and I mean
were some immediate struggles and I mean immediate my suitcases didn’t arrive
immediate my suitcases didn’t arrive
immediate my suitcases didn’t arrive literally all the clothes I own did not
literally all the clothes I own did not
literally all the clothes I own did not arrive in France so I went when I went
arrive in France so I went when I went
arrive in France so I went when I went to meet my host family at the airport my
to meet my host family at the airport my
to meet my host family at the airport my first phrase was Bonjour al chante hello
first phrase was Bonjour al chante hello
first phrase was Bonjour al chante hello it’s nice to meet you excuse me where
it’s nice to meet you excuse me where
it’s nice to meet you excuse me where can i buy some underwear
can i buy some underwear
can i buy some underwear oh not a phrase they teach you in French
oh not a phrase they teach you in French
oh not a phrase they teach you in French class 101 but my host family had not
class 101 but my host family had not
class 101 but my host family had not been expecting that question they had
been expecting that question they had
been expecting that question they had not been expecting to receive an
not been expecting to receive an
not been expecting to receive an American with nothing but a math lead
American with nothing but a math lead
American with nothing but a math lead t-shirt and a pair of jeans but putting
t-shirt and a pair of jeans but putting
t-shirt and a pair of jeans but putting expectations aside and defining my own
expectations aside and defining my own
expectations aside and defining my own success and let me clarify success for
success and let me clarify success for
success and let me clarify success for that day was having a second pair of
that day was having a second pair of
that day was having a second pair of underwear I was able to step out of my
underwear I was able to step out of my
underwear I was able to step out of my comfort zone and the cultural norms to
comfort zone and the cultural norms to
comfort zone and the cultural norms to get some new clothing when immersed in a
get some new clothing when immersed in a
get some new clothing when immersed in a completely new surrounding even the
completely new surrounding even the
completely new surrounding even the smallest task can be very challenging
smallest task can be very challenging
smallest task can be very challenging asking for directions or making a simple
asking for directions or making a simple
asking for directions or making a simple joke can feel like the small victory to
joke can feel like the small victory to
joke can feel like the small victory to this day I still remember my first
this day I still remember my first
this day I still remember my first french joke it was about fishing I mean
french joke it was about fishing I mean
french joke it was about fishing I mean I am from Minnesota I use the material I
I am from Minnesota I use the material I
I am from Minnesota I use the material I knew when I made my joke my host father
knew when I made my joke my host father
knew when I made my joke my host father at first was a little confused but then
at first was a little confused but then
at first was a little confused but then his face changed because he understood
his face changed because he understood
his face changed because he understood he understood my joke and more
he understood my joke and more
he understood my joke and more importantly he understood that I could
importantly he understood that I could
importantly he understood that I could make jokes he later learned that my
make jokes he later learned that my
make jokes he later learned that my jokes were not always the best which had
jokes were not always the best which had
jokes were not always the best which had nothing to do with the language barrier
nothing to do with the language barrier
nothing to do with the language barrier and everything to do with my sense of
and everything to do with my sense of
and everything to do with my sense of humor in fact he renova we probably
humor in fact he renova we probably
humor in fact he renova we probably would have called my fish joka fantastic
would have called my fish joka fantastic
would have called my fish joka fantastic moment but I digress through that joke I
moment but I digress through that joke I
moment but I digress through that joke I was able to express myself a gesture
was able to express myself a gesture
was able to express myself a gesture that meant the world to me so by
that meant the world to me so by
that meant the world to me so by stopping to meet expectations and
stopping to meet expectations and
stopping to meet expectations and re-evaluating what it meant to speak
re-evaluating what it meant to speak
re-evaluating what it meant to speak French I was defining my own success and
French I was defining my own success and
French I was defining my own success and success for that day was my first joke
success for that day was my first joke
success for that day was my first joke let’s I had to learn to drop my
let’s I had to learn to drop my
let’s I had to learn to drop my boundaries and learn from my
boundaries and learn from my
boundaries and learn from my surroundings so as I say it it I’m from
surroundings so as I say it it I’m from
surroundings so as I say it it I’m from the Midwest a place where people are
the Midwest a place where people are
the Midwest a place where people are often built for farm work as you can see
often built for farm work as you can see
often built for farm work as you can see I’m not the smallest person around so
I’m not the smallest person around so
I’m not the smallest person around so when I moved to South Korea in 2012
when I moved to South Korea in 2012
when I moved to South Korea in 2012 to teach English and the average height
to teach English and the average height
to teach English and the average height of a Korean woman was five foot two
of a Korean woman was five foot two
of a Korean woman was five foot two inches it was safe to say I stood out a
inches it was safe to say I stood out a
inches it was safe to say I stood out a little bit even in this photo with my
little bit even in this photo with my
little bit even in this photo with my friend min hee who was one of my taller
friend min hee who was one of my taller
friend min hee who was one of my taller friends she is still close to a foot
friends she is still close to a foot
friends she is still close to a foot shorter than I am one day I was talking
shorter than I am one day I was talking
shorter than I am one day I was talking to min he and I was complaining about
to min he and I was complaining about
to min he and I was complaining about how people used to bump into my
how people used to bump into my
how people used to bump into my shoulders and bump into my needs and no
shoulders and bump into my needs and no
shoulders and bump into my needs and no one ever apologized and he’s mom
one ever apologized and he’s mom
one ever apologized and he’s mom overheard us and she walked in and
overheard us and she walked in and
overheard us and she walked in and stated Katy there are 50 million people
stated Katy there are 50 million people
stated Katy there are 50 million people in Korea if I stopped and apologize to
in Korea if I stopped and apologize to
in Korea if I stopped and apologize to everyone I bumped into I would never
everyone I bumped into I would never
everyone I bumped into I would never arrive anywhere boom let’s talk about it
arrive anywhere boom let’s talk about it
arrive anywhere boom let’s talk about it something I had never considered before
something I had never considered before
something I had never considered before I was confusing people when I apologized
I was confusing people when I apologized
I was confusing people when I apologized for bumping into them and setting myself
for bumping into them and setting myself
for bumping into them and setting myself up for failure when I expected an
up for failure when I expected an
up for failure when I expected an apology let me give you another example
apology let me give you another example
apology let me give you another example while working in Tanzania I lived I
while working in Tanzania I lived I
while working in Tanzania I lived I worked with these three lovely ladies
worked with these three lovely ladies
worked with these three lovely ladies during our lunch brace we’d often
during our lunch brace we’d often
during our lunch brace we’d often discuss our lives they want to learn
discuss our lives they want to learn
discuss our lives they want to learn about my life in the US and I want to
about my life in the US and I want to
about my life in the US and I want to learn about their life in Tanzania time
learn about their life in Tanzania time
learn about their life in Tanzania time was a constant conversation topic I
was a constant conversation topic I
was a constant conversation topic I cannot tell you how many hours days
cannot tell you how many hours days
cannot tell you how many hours days maybe even months I spent waiting in
maybe even months I spent waiting in
maybe even months I spent waiting in Tanzania you see because time is fluid I
Tanzania you see because time is fluid I
Tanzania you see because time is fluid I could show up to an event an hour late
could show up to an event an hour late
could show up to an event an hour late and still be 45 minutes early but
and still be 45 minutes early but
and still be 45 minutes early but through our conversations and
through our conversations and
through our conversations and willingness to be inquisitive I learned
willingness to be inquisitive I learned
willingness to be inquisitive I learned to ask and answer questions in the hope
to ask and answer questions in the hope
to ask and answer questions in the hope of learning from the response far too
of learning from the response far too
of learning from the response far too often we seek answers to prove ourselves
often we seek answers to prove ourselves
often we seek answers to prove ourselves right you see before traveling I thought
right you see before traveling I thought
right you see before traveling I thought that I could either be early or late but
that I could either be early or late but
that I could either be early or late but in Tanzania I could be early and late so
in Tanzania I could be early and late so
in Tanzania I could be early and late so by dropping my boundaries and being
by dropping my boundaries and being
by dropping my boundaries and being willing to engage in conversation I was
willing to engage in conversation I was
willing to engage in conversation I was learning from my surroundings finally
learning from my surroundings finally
learning from my surroundings finally I’m going to tell you how I’ve been able
I’m going to tell you how I’ve been able
I’m going to tell you how I’ve been able to
to
to a role my interest passion and desire to
a role my interest passion and desire to
a role my interest passion and desire to change the world into a future career I
change the world into a future career I
change the world into a future career I worked in the International Affairs
worked in the International Affairs
worked in the International Affairs Office I work with students who want to
Office I work with students who want to
Office I work with students who want to be globally aware my students come from
be globally aware my students come from
be globally aware my students come from a variety of backgrounds and travel
a variety of backgrounds and travel
a variety of backgrounds and travel experiences travel is a privilege it
experiences travel is a privilege it
experiences travel is a privilege it takes time it takes money and it takes
takes time it takes money and it takes
takes time it takes money and it takes effort so I do not expect my students to
effort so I do not expect my students to
effort so I do not expect my students to immediately run off to Korea to let fish
immediately run off to Korea to let fish
immediately run off to Korea to let fish clean their feet or sell Easter’s in the
clean their feet or sell Easter’s in the
clean their feet or sell Easter’s in the South of France I’ll be on it I don’t
South of France I’ll be on it I don’t
South of France I’ll be on it I don’t even know if Hogwarts tapes financial
even know if Hogwarts tapes financial
even know if Hogwarts tapes financial aid but I do expect my students to
aid but I do expect my students to
aid but I do expect my students to travel locally and to be globally aware
travel locally and to be globally aware
travel locally and to be globally aware my call to action for you all here today
my call to action for you all here today
my call to action for you all here today is to start thinking globally try and
is to start thinking globally try and
is to start thinking globally try and international restaurant watch a movie
international restaurant watch a movie
international restaurant watch a movie in your non native language support the
in your non native language support the
in your non native language support the international community’s around you by
international community’s around you by
international community’s around you by attending event start saving for a trip
attending event start saving for a trip
attending event start saving for a trip and when you get the chance to travel
and when you get the chance to travel
and when you get the chance to travel say yes and say yes with the attitude
say yes and say yes with the attitude
say yes and say yes with the attitude that your experience may surprise you a
that your experience may surprise you a
that your experience may surprise you a friend of mine once told me that we fear
friend of mine once told me that we fear
friend of mine once told me that we fear awkwardness when it comes to diversity
awkwardness when it comes to diversity
awkwardness when it comes to diversity and inclusion but we can learn and teach
and inclusion but we can learn and teach
and inclusion but we can learn and teach in that awkwardness I continue to have
in that awkwardness I continue to have
in that awkwardness I continue to have plenty of awkward moments including the
plenty of awkward moments including the
plenty of awkward moments including the time I took my shoes off in the wrong
time I took my shoes off in the wrong
time I took my shoes off in the wrong place in Thailand and they got and they
place in Thailand and they got and they
place in Thailand and they got and they got stuck underneath an elephant but I
got stuck underneath an elephant but I
got stuck underneath an elephant but I challenge you to learn cross-culturally
challenge you to learn cross-culturally
challenge you to learn cross-culturally because while all roads may not lead to
because while all roads may not lead to
because while all roads may not lead to the airport all good roads encourage
the airport all good roads encourage
the airport all good roads encourage people to think globally thank you
people to think globally thank you
people to think globally thank you [Applause]
”
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