The first day of our experience was full of sightseeing and travelling around Seoul to get a feel for the area that we would be spending the next 2 weeks in. After a long flight, we finally arrived in Korea around 4:00 AM (Korean Time). We all then spent some time in the airport familiarizing ourselves with our new surroundings, before meeting our tour guide.
After meeting our tour guide, we left the airport and headed to Seoul! When we arrived, we explored the area around our hotel and found a spot to get breakfast together. Our first meal in South Korea was very good, and exactly what I needed to get me up and ready to go for the day ahead.
After breakfast, we all left to go to Gyeongbokgung Palace, a palace used by the Joseon Dynasty and first established in 1395. At the palace, we experienced a reenactment of the changing of the guard ceremony. It was fascinating to see the rich tradition and history that the Korean people had, even if it involved ceremonies such as that. After we walked around the palace, we all went to the House of the Korean President, which is called The Blue House.
The Blue House offered a view into what it was like to be the President of Korea. This was very interesting because the Blue House is usually closed to the public. Still, due to the special circumstances of what has happened recently, it is open to the public and draws a huge crowd because everyone knows it will soon be closed for a long time. It was incredible how close we got to the building and how respectful everyone was about where we were.
Through one day, it feels like so much has already been done, but I can’t wait to experience everything that we have left.