Today, our day started off with a learning experience: Taekwondo!! We got to learn some beginner punches, kicks, and blocks. This was such a cool experience to be a part of. I especially enjoyed getting to be able to kick through the small pieces of wood at the end. By learning the basics, I really got a sense of how much you need to be in control of your body to excel. From going through the exercises, I noticed that balance, rhythm/timing, and control was extremely important for all aspects. I even got to get a custom embroidered belt to keep and wear during our lesson. All in all, this was such a great activity we got to have aside from the academic visits.
After our taekwondo class, we made our way through the subway lines to get to Seoul City Hall. While we were there, my group ended up going to a burger place that was one of the places recommended which was really good. When in there, one piece of technology I noticed that I had never seen before was the use of a kiosk at the table that allowed for payments to be put on one order but paid separately on the kiosk as well. Instead of being a hassle, it worked out really well and was very convenient for a bigger group of people.
We then departed back to Seoul City Hall where Mr. Kim, our guide, gave a tour to two of the groups of the building. We got to learn a bit about Seoul’s history with the city hall including popular events hosted by the country, like the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He also explained of how the presence of the grass and greenery on the walls was to help with sustainability. The architecture within this building was so intricate. The view of the mountains on the top was even more mesmerizing as both city and landscape were incorporated.
Our last official activity of the day consisted of a group scavenger hunt. After randomly picking a picture of a place around Seoul, each group had to navigate on their own throughout the streets and subways to find the place. Despite our GPS and map apps failing us the first time, my group was eventually able to reach the write destination: Supyogyo Bridge. Even with both bridges that we found; the sights were beautiful. Most importantly, we became more confident in our ability to navigate around the city and use the subway system.
Tomorrow, we visit Yonsei University! I can only wait to see what more I will learn and experience!