I experienced culture shock upon my arrival in the United States. The customs and beliefs familiar to me from my childhood in Ecuador were very different and often conflicted with those of my new community. On my very first day in junior high, I realized that teenagers in the United States are highly individualistic and have a great deal of freedom to make decisions about their own lives and futures. Coming from a South American country, the concept of individualism was very perplexing and confusing to me. I had been taught that showing respect, acceptance and submissiveness towards your parents was the right way to behave. In America, however, my new friends considered these ideas to be obsolete and "uncool." I found it very difficult to adopt their point of view, and I struggled constantly in my mind to understand why something that seemed right to me was viewed as completely erroneous by others. After many months of feeling disoriented and alienated from my new surroundings, I finally came to understand that acceptance and tolerance are extremely important principles for coexistence between people from different cultures. Learning about just one new culture enables you to understand many different cultures. It was a very educational and beneficial experience to come to the United States as it gave me the opportunity to interact with people of different cultures and to learn from them. Now, after four years, I have become an entirely new person. Cultural adaptation has taken place in me so gradually that it has happened without my even realizing it. I have gained so much from American culture. Rather than being an Ecuadorian girl rooted in her ancestral foundations, I have become a bearer of American/Ecuadorian culture, a fusion of the separate cultures that have collided within me.

Take one part of creativity, intellect and the arts; combine them with a love of dance, fashion and travel; add a dash of fun, passion and the desire to make a difference; let it all sit for seventeen years; and–Viola! –you have discovered the flavor of Christine, though most know this dish as simply outrageous. As a senior at the High School of Fashion Industries, I have learned everything necessary to transform an idea into a finished garment. For me, however, it’s from my classmates that I have learned the most by being exposed to their cultural heritages. I have explored Hispanic, African, Chinese, European and Middle Eastern cultures, and now I am learning more about Korean culture as well through participation in this program. My true home is New York City as I spend more time at school than in my home on Staten Island where I live with my family and my pets. Each day is a learning experience for me which complicates the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I aspire to do anything that will help others. As of today, a career as a city planner is one possibility I have in mind. Whatever I do, I am sure that Project Bridge will be an experience that I will never forget.

Hello, my name is Samuel Darguin and I came from Port-au-Prince, Haiti to New York City when I was three years old. I attended P.S. 329, an elementary school in Brooklyn, and then a private junior high school called Most Precious Blood. I started High School at St. Edmund's Preparatory High School where I joined the wrestling and track teams. In my sophomore year I was elected vice president of the student council. I also served as editor of the school newspaper, president of the foreign language club, president of the multicultural club, and school mascot. I was also designated Most Valuable Player in Wrestling. Then, at the end of my sophomore year, my parents bought a house and my family moved to Queens. The hardest part of moving was leaving my school community and friends, but I was enrolled at Hillcrest High School where I was accepted into the Pre-Medicine Program. The big difference between St. Edmund's and Hillcrest was that St. Edmund's was a school of just about 600 students whereas Hillcrest has a student body of over 3,000. It was a huge adjustment but I was confident that everything would work out for the best. Once again, at Hillcrest, I became involved in school activities: I did volunteer work in the social studies department as well as the emergency room at Mary Immaculate Hospital; joined the Mock Trial Team; and became a member of the future voters of America. By the end of my junior year I decided to run for student government and was elected student organization president. In this capacity I am involved in activities in school as well as outside of school. This year I served as captain of the blood drive at Hillcrest and am proud of our success in collecting over 67 pints of blood. Outside of school I am a peer educator at the Forest Hills Community House and a member of the youth choir of Bethany Baptist Church in Jamaica, Queens.

My name is Ammon Ford and I was born and raised in a mid-sized suburban community about 60 miles south of Salt Lake City. My upbringing was a little like the Brady Bunch. The suburban home, the pet dog, a happy family with all nine children, good friends; it was as comfortable as could be. At the age of 15, I suddenly woke up from this idyllic comfort after an abrupt move to the big, far off city of New York. I didn't know what to expect, in truth, I had not even thought about what it would be like. New York seemed so foreign that I could hardly imagine what I would face there. When I arrived I began attending Long Island City High School, one of the most diverse public high schools in New York City. I was scared and timid. Besides being the new kid, I had never been around so many people from so many cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Eventually I realized that people are just people, no matter where they are from or how they speak. After I had adjusted to the culture shock, I realized that an awakening was exactly what I needed. I have continued to grow and develop and have become an intricate part of my school's student body; participating in the student council, the school newspaper, the debate team and many other facets of student life. Life is a magazine: You may read it, write it, or leave it sitting on the table. But no matter your choice, a new edition will come every week, whether you are ready for it or not. As for me, I will always be writing.

Yoboseyo! My name is Kelly Maby and I am ecstatic about being able to participate in Project Bridge. I am a fifth-generation American and reside with my mother and younger brother in Queens. I attend Richmond Hills High School, where our motto is, “Our Diversity is our Strength.” Being accepted to Project Bridge was a life-defining moment for me, as it is so unlike anything I have done before and an opportunity that had always filled my dreams yet never seemed to encompass reality. It is bringing me into uncharted waters that will surely influence my future and later emerge as a pivotal point in my past. Some of the activities I am involved in beyond those linked with Project Bridge are participating in my school’s swim team as well as Key Club, Violins-For-Peace and Gym Leaders. I also am active in my church youth group and lend my voice to the choir. Every year, my family and I volunteer at the local Special Olympics and during the winter and summer, I am a volunteer counselor for the differently-abled. My other interests include collecting mermaids, gardening, listening to a plethora of music, traveling, spending time in Manhattan and reading all types of literature.

Hi, my name is Gurwinder Singh, but you can call me "G." I am 17 years old and I am a senior at Flushing High School. My 18th birthday is coming soon, so I'm excited. I am originally from Punjab, India. My family and I moved to New York ten years ago and we live in Queens. I speak Hindi, Punjabi, some Spanish (not very much), and, of course, English. My hobbies are drawing, web design, dance and anything else that is fun. I am an open-minded person. Sometimes I get bored with life in New York City. When I feel this way, I realize that I want to go to different places and just explore and learn more about different things.

My name is Siu Bun Tang, but everyone calls me Alfred. I came to America seven years ago from Hong Kong, China. I am a senior at Forest Hills High School. I enjoy helping the community in Forest Hills with my friends. We have so much fun working together and we have the opportunity to get to know each other better through teamwork. I am also very grateful to participate in an internship at the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. I have learned about the Jewish heritage and its history through the many artifacts on display in the museum. I also have been a museum educator for the children who visit in the summer. My experience in the museum has made me want to learn more about different cultures, such as Korea’s.

My name is Daniela Vasquez, I'm sixteen and crazy about languages. I was born in Manhattan on June 30, 1987, but my family is from the Dominican Republic. I attend the Bronx High School of Science. My favorite classes, of course, are my language classes. I also love watching foreign films and gymnastics. Later on in life I hope to become a doctor and travel around the world to underdeveloped countries to provide medical services. I love talking, maybe a little too much, and music is my life. For the most part I listen to foreign pop music and rock. Being part of Project Bridge is an amazing experience and I am terribly excited about the trip to Korea. It was only two or three days before the deadline when I first heard about the Project Bridge program. My Italian teacher saw me in the hallway on the way to one of my classes and urged me to apply. I anxiously completed the application, checking at least twelve times to see if I had all the required documentation. "Okay, I think I'm ready to send it," I said to myself as I put it in an envelope, "Wait, did I check for...?" Finally I sent it and week after week I bit my nails thinking, "I didn't get in." It was a Tuesday when I got the call. I was doing my homework. I picked up the phone and heard: "Hello this is Rebecca from The Korea Society and I want to offer you a spot..." I started jumping up and down, but I managed to say "Sure, yeah, that would be great. I would love to participate." All the while I was struggling to hold back from screaming, "Oh, my goodness, I got in! YAY!!!" I immediately picked up my cell phone, called my sister and screamed "I GOT IN!!! I’M GOING TO KOREA!!" Okay so that is my story, I hope you guys enjoyed it. I know I did.