Hello!

My name is Jefferson Boothe and I am glad that you have found your way to my blog following my incredible experiences to come in South Korea. But before we can get into the exciting details to come, it seems an introduction would be appropriate.

I grew up in the Valley of the Sun all the way out in Gilbert, Arizona, where it was 100 degrees yesterday while I enjoyed a cool rainy day here in Pittsburgh. People I meet always ask how I ended up at Pitt, and I would say the root of the decision comes from my willingness to try new things (but also the cooler weather). Throughout my life I have been involved in a wide array of activities such as tennis, Drum Corps, track, community service, band, and math league, as I really strived to put myself out there. Moving accross the country for college was just another exciting life experience for me to add one. Back in the heat are my two older brothers who are both well out of school by now.

My future plans involve majoring in Computer Engineering and landing a Co-op here in Pittsburgh starting next year, as I believe it is an incredible opportunity offered and I can not wait to begin work in my field. I will also continue to stay involved here on campus, participating in the marching band and joining the service fraternity Mu Kapp Upsilon. I have also been very interested in studying abroad and I think Plus 3 is a great way to see if I would enjoy a longer experience in the future.

That being said, my journey to South Korea will be much more than a “test” and will be filled with cultural immersion, learning, and unique opportunities. I am specifically excited due to the main focus of the trip being smart systems, a clear application of computer engineering. I hope to learn about work places for different engineers with my interests abroad and improve my knowledge on the specific tasks assigned on a regular basis. Visiting powerhouse companies like Samsung and Hyundai will surely prove a useful learning experience in the future. In addition, with technological advancements intertwined inside daily life and integrated within the city, I am curious to see which things I might expect to see in major cities accross the United States in the future.

Enough of the “work-hard” topics, though. It’s time to move into the “play” aspects of a trip abroad I am most excited for. During the trip, we will be visiting two prestigious universities and I am excited to see what the campus and classrooms look like, in addition to how student culture and social life manifests itself on campus. We are also going to be visiting numerous historical and cultural landmarks and destinations, from the DMZ to the beaches of the southern coast. One of the biggest things for me is going to be immersion in all aspects of the culture, including dining, activities, and entertainment like music and film.

I am honestly counting the days until this adventure begins, and you can be sure to check in on my blog to follow my progress through this unique opportunity.