Today was our first full day in Korea, and it was a busy day. We spent the day going on cultural visits all around the city of Seoul. We started the day around 9 AM with a tour of the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was originally built back in 1395, and housed the royalty of the Joseon Dynasty. We got to see a changing of the guards ceremony when we first got there, which was extremely interesting. The palace is much different than anything we could visit in america, because the customs and traditions that come with it, like the changing of the guards ceremony, are much older and deeper rooted in the culture here than anything in the United States. After visiting the palace, we visited a Buddhist temple in the downtown area. It was very cool to see the inside of the temple, because it felt very authentic and like something that was a unique experience.

Next, we went to get lunch. We were served a soup-like meal with beef and noodles in it. Along with that, we had many side dishes and white rice. Overall, it was another great meal. After we finished eating we headed to a very cool old village with classical korean houses. It was very picturesque, and was nothing like the other living areas in the town. Our final stop of the day was at a very large market, where vendors sold just about everything, from food like pig’s feet to fake designer clothing. It was fun to walk around and see all of the different stores. Overall, the day was filled with the sights of seoul, and I enjoyed learning about the rich history of the city. Tomorrow we will be going on our first university visit, which I think will be a great chance to meet people who live here in Korea.