Hey y’all! Today, we traveled to Camp Casey, a U.S. military base located near the DMZ, where we had the opportunity to tour around with two Pitt alumni currently working in ROTC, Grace and Will. It was fascinating to see how they’ve carried their experiences abroad into such a high-stakes professional setting. One of the most memorable parts of the visit was seeing a Stryker vehicle up close. A Stryker is a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle designed to safely navigate contaminated environments. It can hold about four people and is even equipped with a mobile lab to analyze air samples for safety. Witnessing the scale and complexity of military technology firsthand helped me better understand the technical side of global defense cooperation, which is something we don’t often see in civilian life.

After the tour, we had lunch at the base cafeteria, and for the first time in a while, I got to enjoy a full American-style meal: pizza, garlic bread, and alfredo. While I’ve been loving Korean cuisine, it was oddly comforting to return to something familiar. This contrast between the foods I’ve eaten here has made me realize how deeply culture is embedded in even our most routine choices, like what we eat for lunch.

Later in the afternoon, we went hiking at Mt. Soyosan, which proved to be a great physical challenge. There were endless stairs, but the reward was more than worth it. At the summit, we found a beautiful waterfall and a peaceful temple, which offered a moment of reflection.