We woke up early and headed to Camp Casey, a U.S. military base here in Korea. Even though we couldn’t take any pictures for security reasons, it was still such a cool experience to walk around and get a feel for what life is like on base. It felt surreal to be in a place so far from home that still had some very American touches—like the burger, fries, and Coke I had for lunch in the dining area.

After Camp Casey, we drove to Mount Soyosan for a short hike. It only took about an hour, but it definitely got my legs working—there were so many stairs and hills! Still, the views made it totally worth it. The peaceful mountain scenery and small Buddhist practice spots along the way gave it a really serene vibe. When we got back to the hotel, I was exhausted.

Later, some friends and I decided to treat ourselves and went to get our nails done. The ladies at the salon were so sweet and gentle, and I even got a little extra design for free—which made my day. We finished the night with a trip to COEX Mall, which was absolutely massive and had so many cool stores to explore. After more shopping, we capped off the day with McDonald’s, which tasted amazing after all the walking we did.