Penn Abroad Ambassador Ashley Pan

Program:

• PGS: Communicating Change in Mongolia

Ask me about...

• Gaining insight on cross cultural influences

• Making friends while abroad

• Catching a cold during your trip

My Experience Abroad:

Focusing on International Studies at Penn, this Global Seminar gave me insight on the cross cultural influences on societies across borders. Previously, I was able to study in a neighboring country that exhibited strong integration of Russian influence and had come in with similar expectations. However, our short journey in Mongolia was enough to realize that besides the Cyrillic alphabet, it was a country that very much prided themselves in their historic roots. The unique blend of traditional Mongolian culture with modern advancements was also veiled with more Western culture than Russian. Our excursions in the Mongolian Steppe and interactions with local students were monumental in shaping my understanding and perception of all of Mongolia's distinctive attributes. 10/10 would go back again for educational purposes and otherwise.

Other Highlights:

• Sleeping in the gers in the Mongolian Steppe

• Meeting the Mongolian mastiffs in the Mongolian Steppe

• Gerhub - learning about ergonomic/economic gers and their function as a substitute to urbanized housing

• Cultural immersion with visiting different Mongolian entrepreneurs and their livelihoods

• Meeting our pen-pals at the Hobby School