Penn Global Seminars at Penn

This semester, I am taking HIST329: The Great War in Memoir and Memory. This is not your usual history class, as it includes an exciting travel component to France. In this blog, I will share my experience applying, and getting into this Penn Global Seminar.

I first heard about this class through the Penn Abroad newsletter, which announced the return of abroad and travel opportunities for Penn students. Here is where I saw the exciting title “The Great War in Memoir and Memory.” I had recently taken a class about East Asia Diplomacy, where I learned (for the first time) about the importance of Japan in World War I. Realizing I had no idea about this key player in the war, I was curious to see what else I had yet to learn about World War I. Furthermore, in this class, we read the memoir Bridge to the Sun written by Gwen Terasaki. This made me realize that my favorite lens to learn history comes from reading about the personal experiences of those who lived through it.

If the written words of Gwen Terasaki were so impactful to me, I could only imagine how enriching an experience a global seminar would be. The trip to France includes excursions that will allow me to see the world through the French’s lives, and to compare them to my current understanding of World War I through the Japanese and German stories I’ve collected.

Now, as I take the seminar, I can only say it has surpassed all my expectations. My peers and their diverse experiences and backgrounds make for interesting conversations. The material is captivating and varied, allowing me to learn about World War I through different perspectives, and making me think about the war through unconventional lenses. 

I am excited to continue the conversations this semester, and to update you all with my experience in France! 

- Majo R.