Generation Z, often referred to as Gen Z, must be lived through early adulthood global pandemicamong which Madison McLean, a Korean student, recalled in detail.
Her fascination with Asian cultures, from anime to K-pop, led her to realize her childhood dream: to study abroad in South Korea. Madison has since received a BA in East Asian Studies from Wesleyan University in May 2020.
“It’s the perfect time to graduate — the height of the pandemic!” Madison joked about black travel. But she takes it in stride, not allowing anything to dampen her passion for all things Korea, from food to language. Since the age of 13, she has been immersed in this culture, which keeps her grounded during the challenging transition of adulthood.
“I wanted to learn the language and learn more about the culture because I was struggling with my identity as a black woman of Jewish ancestry in America,” Madison explained. “I felt lost and disconnected from both cultures, Because I felt like I didn’t quite fall into it. My concept of black people at the time was very specific and rigid, and not fitting into it made me feel isolated and deprived of a sense of community. I didn’t want to be an outcast at that time in my life.”
In high school, Madison and her colleagues free Korean class Provided by a teacher at another school. Over two years, her vocabulary and grammar have improved, and teachers have given Madison the Korean name Hyerin (혜린), which she still uses when interacting with the Korean community. Entering Wesleyan College put her Korean studies into a high-speed development phase. She spends hours studying, journaling in any Korean language she knows, and watching TV shows and movies to better master tricky pronunciation.
“My Korean teacher at Wesleyan shouted to Professor Buck that it was my favorite,” Madison said. “Not only will she teach us languages, but she will invite us to eat homemade food as a celebration at the end of the year. I was able to learn a lot because of her dedication to her students and her amazing teaching methods.”
What is Korean culture that attracts Madison? What was she like when she went to Korea?
“Korean food is delicious, and the history of the peninsula is a lot more complicated than what we learned in school, so I just wanted to get as much information as possible because it was fun,” she said. “Honestly, I didn’t feel much of a cultural shift when I visited because I had learned so much about the differences. I was fortunate to have an amazing Korean studies professor who explained the nuances of society in depth. From knowing how to serve seniors Using honorifics, to eating corn on pizza, thanks to her, I was well-prepared for my trip.”
Nonetheless, months before her arrival Seoul, Madison does have some concerns. Not only was it her first time abroad, she wondered how she would be seen as an obvious outsider.
“I was really worried about discrimination so I did some googling. Of course when I got there people on the street were staring at me and it was very intimidating. Other times when we tried to get into some clubs and At the karaoke establishment we were told “No foreigners allowed”. But I didn’t Considerable Problem, I chalk it up to being able to speak the language. As a guest in their country, I want to make sure I speak Korean a lot and not expect anyone to accommodate my conversations. Quite a few people spoke to me in English, but answering in Korean did improve the overall atmosphere of the interaction. “
Madison spent a semester of her junior year in South Korea before attending Yonsei University. When she doesn’t take intensive classes for a week, she goes out and explores with friends; applying her Korean to real life. They visited Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the great palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty, shopped in Hongdae, and took a ferry to Nami Island.
On top of that, Madison was the happiest among other K-pop fans, and she met a lot of people abroad.
“Yonsei University Spring Festival featured several entertainers: Twice, Red Velvet, IU, ZICO, and Beenzino. The lineup was eye-catching and the crowd was maddening. From the performances to the audience slogans, it was something I had never seen before. Experienced. What I love is that I am in a community of Korean and non-Korean K-pop fans and have fun.”
Progressive values and transcending cultural differences are important to people this age in Madison. In addition, the prevalence of social media allows them to venture into the travel space with ease and confidence. Unlike millennials who wrestled with dial-up access in the early days of the internet, Gen Z is a “connected” generation; using Instagram, TikTok and other platforms to deepen their knowledge of travel and other topics. Not that their older peers can’t do it, but Gen Z is by far the only ones who don’t remember life without social media.
“I think the visibility and transparency of social media influences our travel decisions,” Madison said. “I don’t want to generalize my generation because that’s what we do a lot these days. But I do feel like quite a few of us are practicing a more empathetic way of traveling. We’re listening more to our travel decisions The people it affects, because their voice is more accessible and it’s changing the way we plan our trips. It’s not that the older generation doesn’t have empathy, it’s the influx of new technology and our ability to use it in a variety of ways Makes us more aware of how we influence others.”
Follow Madison on Instagram @sketch.hers_.
