Hey y’all! Today we made our way to Seoul Tower, and the weather couldn’t have been better! It was sunny with a perfect breeze. The panoramic views from the top were stunning and we could even spot the Blue House in the distance, which brought back memories from day one. It was a full circle moment! What stood out to me wasn’t just the view, but how commercialized and modern the inside of the tower was. There were stores like Cinnabon, which felt oddly familiar, but had local spins that made them distinctly Korean. It made me reflect on how American brands are global, yet adapt to local markets to better fit cultural preferences.

One of my favorite moments was walking around the arcade on the fourth floor. We performed a Grammy-worthy) version of “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. It was interesting to see how Western pop culture is both embraced and reinterpreted in Korea, creating this cool blend of global influence and local personality.

Before our cooking class, we explored the Royal Palace Museum, which gave us a deeper understanding of Korea’s historical context and royal traditions. But the real highlight of the day was the bibimbap cooking class. I used plant-based meat instead of the traditional beef, and it tasted surprisingly amazing. Our chef was incredibly kind and shared her impressive 25-year career in food. Outside of teaching, she stages food for Korean shows and dramas, including the upcoming season of Squid Game and XO Kitty, which was a fascinating behind-the-scenes peek into how culinary arts intersect with media.

Learning to make bibimbap ourselves gave me a hands-on appreciation for how culture is expressed through food, and how tradition evolves with modern needs like plant-based options. Days like today remind me that global understanding isn’t just learned through facts. It’s tasted, heard, and experienced.