Hi there, my name is Jordan Athas. I am a rising sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh: Swanson School of Engineering, participating in the Plus3 study abroad, Korea, program. I was born and raised in Lisle IL, right outside Chicago. I am pursing a degree in electrical engineering, as I am very interested in electronic design. Specifically, I hope to work in the field of nanoelectronics.
In my free time, I enjoy going skiing with my friends in the winter. I am a part of the Universities ski and snowboard club, which has allowed me to go multiple time this past winter. If its summer time, I will spend as much time as I possible can outside. Whether it be playing soccer, basketball, going camping, or running, I will take any chance I can get to spend in the sun (until I get sunburnt). I am also a huge Marvel movie fan. I have already bought my tickets to see Avengers: Endgame, four hours after my last final exam.
I decided to attend the University of Pittsburgh because of the strong academic program and opportunities, such as Plus3, that are offered to the student body. I have always been eager to study abroad, as I feel immersing my self in cultures unlike my own will strengthen understanding of our diverse world. Furthermore, the engineering discipline consists of a diverse group of people from the globe, so it is of the utmost importance to learn how to work with others of different background. Naturally, when I discovered a program that will allow me to immerse my self in a culture unique to my own, and will teach me about Korean smart systems, a system of multiple digital devices used to obtain and comprehend data, I couldn’t resist applying.
I will be spending the first two weeks of May in South Korea. The first week will be in Seoul, the capital of Korea. I will be attending many historical sites, such as the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and the Royal Palace. I will also be visiting many Korean businesses like Hyundai or Adidas. For the second part of my journey, I will be traveling south of Seoul to visit Gyeongju, Ulsan, and Busan. I am excited to be apart of this program, as it will allow me to become immersed in Korean culture and become engaged in material that I find fascinating.
At the end of this experience, I hope to have learned more about Korean culture. Currently, I know very little, but I am aware that South Korea has a very interesting history that has shaped it into the power house country it is today. Many Koreans are praised for their hardwork ethics, which I hope rubs-off on me while I am there. Furthermore, I hope to understand how smart system technology is created and implemented into society. I think this is an area that the United States could develop more in the future, as it can be very beneficial to all man-kind. Lastly, I hope to meet some new people and build friendships with others also participating in the program and locals of South Korea. I have already met many people that will be traveling to Korea with me, and they are all amazing people.
Be looking forward to my next blog on May 4th, when I will begin my journey to South Korea!
