We finally made it to Korea! I couldn’t express how excited I was when we first landed. What I was looking forward to most to on this trip was the food, and so far, it hasn’t disappointed. The first thing I ate was at a Korean convenience store, where I had a Beef Bulgogi wrap with some chocolate dessert. Dr. Yun taught me how to correctly eat it because I couldn’t figure out how to unwrap it without breaking it. We then took a long bus trip into the city!\

My first impressions of Seoul were great! I noticed the Gangnam district is incredibly quiet on Sundays. We were the only ones walking the street, which is a big change of pace compared to the huge New York I’m used to. Our breakfast was at a restaurant that specialized in delicious soups. I had a spicy, pork-based broth with various vegetables and meat inside. The soup, along with my first experience of kimchi, pleasantly surprised me with unique flavors I’ve never experienced before. I’ll make sure to stop by again soon!

The last section of our day focused on touring the grand Gyeongbokgung Palace and Blue House. The palace was the residence of the ancient Korean kings, with grand, colorful palaces and huge courtyards where celebrations were held. Now, it’s a place frozen in history thanks to the huge work the community puts into restorations. I had fun learning the interesting Korean history our well-versed guide spoke about, and experiencing Asian architecture personally for the first time in my life.

A memorable moment for me would be the street food market. Walking down an isle cutting through a building, you’re able to try countless Korean delicacies. I was lucky enough to get my hands on Korean fried chicken. This chicken was super sweet and the perfect amount of crunch. It certainly didn’t disappoint. Thank you, Korea, for the long first day! I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in the coming days!