(April 4, 2003) — It started with the simple phrase, “I want to know more about my heritage,” that snowballed into a a journey to a country across the Pacific Ocean. Freshman Rosie Gabrielyan had been born and raised in the United States, and the time had finally come for her to trace her roots back to Armenia, where her parents were born. Similarly, over the summer of 2000, senior Jessica Chong visited her country of origin, South Korea, in the hopes of visiting relatives and experiencing Korean culture firsthand. Chong stated, “It was like seeing a long, lost relative,” but the trip wasn’t without its share of difficulties. Both Gabrielyan and Chong recalled feeling somewhat like an outsider. “People would stare at us when we’d walk around in our Tommy Hilfiger shoes and Gucci boots,” commented Gabrielyan. Although they were of the same nationality and “grew up with practically the same teachings,” those native to Armenia expected the “Americanized” Gabrielyan to be proud, boastful, and stuck up. For Chong, her awareness of being different despite her nationality was akward. Unlike America, where immigrants make up the majority of the population and differences are welcomed, being in a land full of people of the same culture came as a new experience. Although their parents instilled tradition and culture into their lives through language, food, and values, the environment in both Armenia and Korea called for Gabrielyan and Chong to meet more unexpected demands. In the more rural areas of Armenia, Gabrielyan was forced to go for days without a shower. Water was a luxury and so was wealth. What made matters worse was the expectations placed on her. Traditionally, in both countries, girls are taught to keep to themselves, whereas American culture has broken away from such expectations of females. Freshman Albert Ayrazyan also brought attention to the importance of respect in Armenian culture. In contrast to American culture where children can refer to adults by their first name, respect for elders is held highly in many foreign countries, including Armenia and Korea. However, according to senior Arturo Arce, respect wasn’t the only factor that differed between America and other countries. “They don’t say ‘hi’ there; they kiss. No high-five, nothing. Just a kiss on the cheek. So when you walk into class, you had to kiss thirty-some people,” explained Arce, “awkward? Yes, but to them it was natural.” Originally from Peru, Arce immigrated to the United States when he was four, then left the U.S. after 11 years and moved to Argentina. Argentina , “the Europe of South America” as Arce puts it, offered the then 15-year old a whole new cultural experience. Besides the fact that the legal drinking age was 15, he also mentioned the difference in emphasis placed on time. In Argentina, people “made sure they had time to themselves and their families,” whereas here, “Americans work, work, and work.” The apparent rush we see in the daily lives of Americans was hard to find in other countries. Gabrielyan, Chong, and Arce have placed foot into other countries- and more importantly, other cultures- and have gained love for their heritage, learned to appreciate things once taken for granted, and in end became more adaptive individuals.