We finally got to Korea this morning (4 am local time). Today has been the longest day of my life. Our trip started off with our first meeting at Benedum around 12pm, but we didn’t leave for the airport until 3:30. The first flight got delayed 40 minutes and we were worried about our layover, but eventually it all worked out. The second flight was 15 hours long. I can’t remember what I did to pass the time, but I only slept around 4 hours.

Our first stop was food after dropping our bags off at the hotel. We went to a small restaurant down the street to get breakfast. I’m so excited to have rice all the time here. At the restaurant I ordered bibimbap and it hit the spot. Susu, Noa, and I ate around 3 bowls of kimchi along with our food. It was delicious and I can’t wait to try more dishes.

Our trip to the palace was next and we were able to walk around the many different buildings that the king used. Jinny, our tour guide, explained what each building was for, the symbolic meaning behind designs, and stories about the kings. After that, we moved on to The Blue House. We visited where the president’s residence was, which was at the top of an incline. The walk there was still easier than cardiac hill. Our last stop of the day was the market. It was one alley of a bunch of Korean snacks and foods that were pretty cheap. I got some kind of chicken, and it was amazing. It was a great way to interact with vendors and practice getting over the language barrier. After we finished eating, Dr. Yun informed us that we had to take the subway in our groups and whoever got back first would get a treat. Unfortunately, my group was last, but it was a great way to practice finding where to go and reading the subway maps. I was exhausted after all the traveling and the many hours of standing/walking, that I took a shower and a nap as soon as I got back. Even though I am drained, I am excited for tomorrow.