The Korea Group had just arrived on Korean soil. When we all were grouped and accounted for, we made a mad dash for the luggage claim area. Bags in one hand and carry on in the other, the group waited in the lobby of the airport until the Asia Institute staff arrived. After everyone was ready, we took several group pictures and loaded up the bus for Seoul, South Korea. Not knowing if I was genuinely jet lagged yet I decided to remain awake for as long as I could to sleep later. During the ride to the city, I was able to gaze outside our windows and see the vast physical differences between South Korea and America. There were far more nature designated areas and far less one family houses. I would soon learn that most of Korea reside in mainly apartment buildings rather than in separate homes.
When we arrived in Seoul, there happened to be a Buddhist Festival taking place outside our hotel. This meant that we had to park away from the hotel and walk there, as a pack, to check-in. The streets were filled with locals taking part in the evening festivities surrounding our hotel and the main road into Seoul.
Finally, we had arrived at the Center Mark Hotel. All the students were allowed to take thirty minutes to freshen-up before dinner. Soon after, the group went to dinner. We were treated with a variety of dishes ranging from fish to noodles. I tried to use chopsticks. However, this did not go my way, and I later reverted to the fork. At the end of dinner, we all walked back to the hotel to take part in some downtime.
Later that night, Brad, Emily, Elissa, and I decided to go sightseeing around Seoul. Food vendors, shoes, clothes, ice cream, and anything else you could imagine was being sold on the streets. Being full already, we all decided not to eat anything and wait for the next day. During the return to the hotel from the site seeing, I got the chance to call my parents. Little did I realize that they were a whopping thirteen hours ahead of South Korean time. After a brief talk, I ended the conversation with my parents, brushed my teeth, and got ready for bed.
