Hello Student Leaders,

My name is Brian Shea. This summer, I am going to be a Student Mentor. As such, I will be helping to plan various events to introduce you to the culture that America has to offer. Also, I will be living in Harbin Hall, and will be available if you need advice or help.

There is no place better to learn about the United States of America than in Washington D.C., the heart of our country. Nestled within our already-diverse capital, Georgetown University in particular has a distinctly international flair, with people from all over the world calling it “home.” It is the ideal place to learn about American culture, which draws upon the traditions of other countries; this program will provide an opportunity to experience all of it in a hands-on fashion, from traditional sporting events to trips to various museums. Furthermore, our program will also take advantage of its location, given Washington D.C.’s proximity to other important centers of American culture and world-famous cities.

As for myself, I graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service as a Regional and Comparative Studies major, with a focus on East Asian culture and languages. More specifically, I have taken four years of Japanese and Chinese alike. Currently, I am enrolled in one of Georgetown University’s graduate programs- the Communication, Culture, and Technology (CCT) program. After I obtain my master’s degree, I hope to study entertainment law. I am particularly interested in the exchange of audio and visual culture between countries in conjunction with the Internet, and how the resulting licensing, copyright, and localization issues are resolved.

During my junior year in college, I studied abroad in Sophia University at Tokyo, Japan; furthermore, I have made many trips to China, both for leisure and to study Chinese. These trips helped open my eyes to how the world works, and to the many ways that these countries govern everyday life. Furthermore, it exposed me to different cultures and languages. I am eager to get to know about all of you, and I wish to share what I know about my home. My overseas experiences were invaluable to my growth as an individual; I hope that I will be able to help make your time in the US just as enlightening.

Sincerely,
Brian Shea