The day is almost here as it nears less than 24 hours before we depart to South Korea. After less than a week, I’m back at Pitt in Nordenberg for our pre-departure. It’s still hard to comprehend that I am going to go outside of the US for the first time. I am so nervous and excited for this trip. I am thrilled to learn more about smart systems and the culture of South Korea.

I can’t wait to visit the street markets and try the South Korean cuisine. I am most excited for the activities on our itinerary including the DMZ, the Han River Cruise, Taekwondo, and the Korean Cooking Class. I am also excited to explore more of Seoul in our free time and get to try out the convenience stores that I’ve seen on TikTok. There are so many activities that we get to experience on this trip that I’m sure I will learn so much from.

On our agenda for today, we have our pre departure meeting and dinner before we go back to our dorms for the night. I don’t know how I am going to sleep when we have to be downstairs at 2:30 am for our 3:00 am bus. I have downloaded some more music and movies to keep me occupied for our flights tomorrow. This will be the longest flight I have ever been on, which I know I will not be prepared for how long we are going to be in the air.

Overall, I cannot wait to be able to take part in this experience. I know that it will be one that I remember forever and will have so many stories to tell my friends and family. I know that I will walk away from this experience having more knowledge on smart systems and the South Korean culture.