Through N.C. Central University’s International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), two students swapped countries to gain the cultural experience of a lifetime.

In 2006, NCCU business major Chauntee McMahon spent a semester at South Korea’s Ewha Woman’s University.

Senior Ji Won Choi, a dentistry student at Korean University, is currently taking classes at NCCU.

After seeing study abroad ads on AudioNet, McMahon contacted NCCU’s office of international affairs.

She chose South Korea because it was only an hour flight from Japan — which was where she originally wanted to go, but her desired school wasn’t accepting foreign students.

Growing up in Winston-Salem, McMahon was surrounded by Asian culture because her parents practice SGI Buddhism (the Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism).

Choi chose the United States because she wanted to improve her English and to experience American culture first-hand.

“I have been studying English for more than 10 years,” she said.

“I wanted to be able to speak English, not just writing and reading.”

While each woman’s experience was unique, McMahon and Choi shared one thing — culture shock.

In South Korea, a largely homogeneous nation, McMahon said she got a lot of stares.

“It’s kind of like looking at a black marble in a jar full of white ones — you’re going to stand out,” she said.

“It’s not really people being rude. It’s just curiosity.”

McMahon said that in Korean culture, older women demand respect, shoes are removed in certain places and it’s not uncommon for people to live with their parents until marriage.

Choi moved from a mass transit-heavy metropolis to a place where personal transportation was a necessity.

“Yes, of course it was hard to adjust, and without a car it was horrible,” she said.

“NCCU was my world until I got a car.”

Both McMahon and Choi agreed that there are plenty of differences between their homes and exchange country, but that America’s influence exists no matter where one is.

McMahon said hip-hop culture is huge in South Korea.

“You see Korean guys with fake dreds and jerseys, b-boys and b-girls in the subway with cornrows and afros,” she said.

Though hip hop has its roots in African-American communities, Koreans don’t necessarily equate dark skin with being American.

“American to them is white skin,” McMahon said.

Choi was surprised by how friendly Americans are.

“People are so kind here,” she said.

“A lot of people say hello to me even though I don’t know them.

“If you do that in Korea people, will think that you are insane.”

Her only criticism about American culture is Americans’ love for loud music.

“Sometimes they really love music, and turn it up everywhere,” Choi said.

“That’s weird to me. In Korea, we always use our earphones.”

Culture shock has not tainted McMahon’s or Choi’s experience of studying abroad.

After graduation, McMahon plans to move back to South Korea and teach English to elementary students.

Choi wants to move back to Korea and complete her dentistry studies.

She would also would like a return visit to America.

McMahon and Choi said others should study abroad.

“I wish more African-American students would go abroad,” McMahon said. “Our school should have a program where you have to go somewhere.”

American students have an advantage when studying abroad, Choi said.

“Everyone can speak English,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to study abroad; just go ahead and do it.”

For more information on ISEP and NCCU’s other study abroad programs, visit the Office of International Affairs in the Lee Biology Building, room 103, or visit the ISEP website at www.isep.org.