Unlike the several days prior, our seventh day in Seoul was spent outside the urban environment we’d become accustomed to. Instead, our visit to Bukhansan National Park involved complete immersion in nature as we embarked on a three-hour hike. Although I’ve previously engaged in exploring mild nature trails on Long Island, none compared to my experience at Bukhansan. Throughout the uphill trek, we had to navigate many natural barriers including rocking terrain and small streams. At a few points, we even had to share a hiking stick in order to balance as we crossed small bodies of waters. My primary focus was to maintain momentum and avoid falling which became more challenging as the hike progressed. However, when we finally reached Seunggasa towards the top of the mountain, I realized it’d all been worth it. The Buddhist temple was beautiful as it stood over breathtaking views of the mountains below and city skyline. While the rest of the group began to trail away, I stood for a moment in silence with my eyes closed listening to the beautiful sounds of nearby birds and waterfalls. However, my serenity was eventually interrupted by the sound  of a car driving up to the temple on a dirt road. At that time, I came to two realizations. The first was that I was grateful to have overcome the challenging hike rather than having driven to this destination. It made my time at the temple much more rewarding. Hence, I learned hard work will always be more fulfilling than taking shortcuts. Secondly, I realized the importance of living in the moment. I’m grateful to have taken a minute to enjoy the views in solidarity or else I don’t think I would’ve fully grasped the magnitude of the experience. 

Later that night, we attended a Korean cooking class where we learned to make bibimbap. This traditional Korean meal consists of rice, mushrooms, carrots, lettuce, beef, egg and red chili paste. Our cooking instructor emphasized the importance of presentation in cooking. She spoke of how the different colored vegetables be placed neatly across from each other in a particular aesthetically pleasing order. Creating a beautiful plate definitely contributed to my willingness to try my own food. Further, the class highlighted how one presents themself or something is critical to how that thing is perceived. Additionally, eating my own cooking felt much more rewarding than if someone else had prepared it. Again, the class reinforced how one’s own hard work is more rewarding than any other path. I thoroughly enjoyed ending my day with a delicious meal!