Mary Kelly Shelvin

Balancing East & West Freshman Mary Kelly Shevlin transcends Japanese culture shock and language barrier to see the beauty in new experiences.

BY PAIGE DUSSOLD S Seeing how different people live makes a person more accepting of their fellow human beings. All the details she observed opened her mind even further. She acquired a new understanding of the world around her and the REPORTER he sat quietly during class in a foreign land, with strangers, unfamiliar customs and a daunting language barrier. During the lecture she was able to pick up on one important thing: her teacher was making a joke about her lack of knowledge of the language. Imagine that teacher’s surprise when she let out a laugh. diverse humanity within it according to Shevlin. She really didn’t care about the awkward situation. This was definitely Crossing from the western world into the ways of the east is a a sign that she was doing just fine. recipe for culture shock, but that was just what made each moment

Freshman Mary Kelly Shevlin, known as ‘MK’ by friends and uniquely amazing to Shevlin. family, travelled to Ashikaga, Japan for a two week exchange during While exploring the country with her host family she was a guest the summer. The 14 year-old learned of her adventure abroad only in many Japanese temples where she learned how to pray traditionally two months before departure through a family friend in Ashikaga’s like the Japanese people do which requires more bowing and even sister city Springfield, Illinois. more clapping. No matter the setting, every moment brought

Shevlin’s father Douglas Shevlin was hoping that this new understandings about the world she lives in. trip would show her a world that starkly contrasted “When meeting new people, and the one she grew up in. He knew that his daughter understood those differences, but to experience them firsthand and gain a new perspective “It would be especially when learning about new countries and history or geography… It just helps was something he wouldn’t let her pass up. Shevlin was assured that her host two weeks without you really pay attention to your own culture and family would speak English since she did not speak any Japanese, so she jumped at the spontaneous opportunity which my family in a foreign to other cultures as well… it really broadens your worldview,” Shevlin said. was somewhat of a spur of the moment decision according to Shevlin. country with a language “Japan was exquisite… I can’t wait to go back to visit my host “I got an email maybe three weeks before the trip that [the host family] didn’t speak English, so three weeks that I don’t speak very family and use all the manners and language I learned this past summer.” Japan taught Shevlin that there is before the trip I crammed,” Shevlin said. However Shevlin was able to have well.” -Mary Kelly intense beauty in the unfamiliar aspects of other people’s lives. She looked to the confidence in the face of a challenge. “She doesn’t have problems asking questions Shevlin side while reflecting on her time in Ashikaga. Warmth dripped from every word as she passed and finding out for herself what she needs to know on her most treasured memories. and where she needs to be,” Douglas said. “[My favorite part] was the family time with my

Though she handled herself with grace, breaking out of host family and their daily lives, because they just made it the comfort zone came with some side effects. such a point to include me in their routine. I found that whenever

“I was scared because it would be two weeks without my family in I would go anywhere, they would immediately introduce me to all a foreign country with a language that I don’t speak very well” Shevlin their friends and they were very sweet about it. It was really nice,” said. Shevlin said.

But these fears did little to deter Shevlin whose eyes lit up while Shevlin admitted that her fear coming into the trip was being speaking of the challenge. When she first arrived in Japan, the away from her family for a long time in a strange place so it is only adjustment was so extreme she momentarily wanted to return home. fitting that she felt most at peace in a family setting surrounded by “The biggest [differences] were the responses, you have to bow a acceptance. Thanks to her adventure a much larger picture comes to lot which takes getting used to and just saying ‘thank you’ all the time mind at the word ‘family.’ and ‘excuse me’ all the time,” Shevlin said. “[Traveling] is important because it makes you a more intelligent

According to Shevlin, knowing about these differences between person, it helps you better understand people as a whole,” Shevlin world cultures is an important aspect of being a well rounded person. said. “Even people from my own culture.”

Freshman Mary Kelly Shevlin poses with her plush version of Ashikaga, Japan’s town mascot. According to Shevlin it is a custom in Japan to have a mascot for each city or town. (Photo by Paige Dussold)