In today’s interconnected world, individuals like Ben Park, a Returned Peace Corps volunteer, offer inspiring stories of cross-cultural understanding. Our interview explores Ben’s unique experiences as an Asian American engaging in cultural exchange through the Peace Corps. His story provides valuable insights into navigating cultural immersion, personal growth, and shifting global perspectives. Join us as we delve into Ben’s transformative journey and the importance of cultural exchange in promoting mutual understanding.
Introduction:
Can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Ben Park. I’m a Korean American who served in Mongolia from 2017 to 2020 as a Peace Corps TEFL Volunteer and later a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader.
Motivation and Inspiration:
What inspired you to become a Peace Corps volunteer?
I’ve always been interested in cultural exchange from a young age. Growing up in the mid-west where there wasn’t a lot of diversity I tended to stick out quite a bit. That always made me naturally more curious to see the outside world, especially given my Korean background.
In Korean culture, a lot of prestige is given to jobs like doctors, lawyers, etc. and you do tend to get pushed towards those fields quite a bit. I guess I was a bit of an odd one in that I liked reading about different countries from a young age.
When it came time to start thinking about a career, I remember googling jobs that would allow me to travel and that’s when Peace Corps came up on my radar. I’m always thankful to my parents that they backed whatever I was interested in and just encouraged me to do my best.
Service Experience:
In what ways do you think your cultural background has shaped your service?
Mongolia is a very hospitable country. You can oftentimes just enter a random family’s yurt and be welcomed like family. This applies to the food as well. Sharing is expected. Coming from a Korean background, this was very natural for me compared to other Volunteers who may not have had the same upbringing.
I also remember that I was more inclined to have a communal versus an individual mindset. This could be an asset at times since I could organize or plan activities based on communal participation (knowing how to get groups of people involved rather than individuals), but other times, I would struggle to assert myself and my own needs, which every Volunteer needs to do (advocate for yourself). Just saying “yes” to everything all the time led to a lot of burnout.
Challenges and Triumphs:
What challenges did you face during your Peace Corps service?
Similar to what I mentioned above, I would blend in very well in Mongolia. Everyone would think I was Mongolian until I spoke Mongolian. If I needed to gain the attention of people, it was hard to assert myself. Some people would mistake me for being Chinese/Japanese/etc. or wouldn’t think I was American even though I would repeatedly tell them I was from the States.
When you need to command the presence of a room, especially as a TEFL Volunteer, this oftentimes leads to a lot of frustration in new environments. Over time, everyone in my community knew I was “the” foreigner, but traveling for Summer Camps or new towns for activities/projects would result in me having to explain myself to practically everyone I encountered.
I remember the first time I met my counterparts, they all looked past me waiting to see a more ‘ideal’ version of the typical American come out of the plane. They all thought I was some nephew of the school director who had escorted me to my community for the first time after PST. It’s a great memory now, but at the time, I remember feeling disappointed in myself, like I had let them down. Obviously, my counterparts were thinking no such things, but at the moment, I couldn’t help but question myself being in a new environment, overwhelmed by everything.
Empowerment and Impact:
How do you believe your presence as an Asian American volunteer positively impacted the community?
I think it really opened the door for my community to recognize the diversity of the U.S. The highlight of my service was when my counterpart stepped to lecture some poor Mongolian traveler stopping by the area who asked me “where I was from” after I had already told him I was from the States. They did a better job than me in explaining the diversity of the U.S. I was really proud of them and I could feel like I was making an impact. Over time, people stopped calling me the “Korean” Volunteer and would simply refer to me as the “American”.
Personal Growth:
In what ways do you think your service contributed to your growth?
I attribute my everything to the Peace Corps. Serving as a Volunteer gave me the confidence to advocate for myself, and to talk about the challenges I faced. I learned more in those 3 years than I did in any other period of my life. It truly was the toughest job I ever had, but it taught me how to interact with others from different backgrounds, to make meaningful connections with almost everyone. I feel like I can be thrown in anywhere, sent to any community in the U.S. or across the globe and I’d be fine. I’m confident I would never have had that assurance had I never done the Peace Corps.
Advice for Aspiring Asian American Volunteers:
What advice would you give to other people with an Asian American heritage considering joining the Peace Corps?
I know many of us tend to stick to our ‘comfort’ zone, mainly the communities that our parents were comfortable in. Asians tend to stick together and for me, I always naturally gravitated towards other Asian Americans. I think Peace Corps does an exceptional job of getting you out of your comfort zone.
Our heritage can really be advantageous, providing us with more cultural context (based on our dual identities as Asian and American) than those who grew up primarily in an American cultural background. Take the leap! It truly is an opportunity to branch out, learn from others, and mold our own identities, especially the nuances of our backgrounds.
Legacy and Impact:
What did you hope your legacy would be in the community?
I hoped to be remembered as the American volunteer who was constantly seeking out Kimchi.
To help celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, read more amazing stories from just a few of the Asian American volunteers in our series “Crossing Cultures” You will hear from volunteers who are currently serving, but also some who served in the past. You can find more here!
Key Takeaways
One thing becomes abundantly clear after reading about Ben’s remarkable journey as an Asian American in the Peace Corps: the transformative power of cultural exchange knows no bounds. Ben’s story serves as a testament to the importance of empathy, understanding, and bridging cultural divides. In a world where diversity is our greatest strength, let us listen to the lessons learned from Ben’s experiences and continue to embrace the richness of our global community. Through mutual respect and appreciation for one another’s differences, we can truly make strides towards a more interconnected and harmonious world.
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps.
