Our morning began with a 90-minute bus ride to Camp Casey, the second largest U.S. military base in South Korea. As we arrived, the size and structure of the base were immediately impressive. One of the most fascinating parts of the visit was learning about the Stryker vehicle—a multipurpose armored vehicle that’s used on base to collect samples and conduct testing. It gave us a glimpse into the day-to-day operations and some of technology used by U.S. forces stationed here, and it was eye-opening to see it up close. Another interesting aspect of the base was how it had its own pool and even car dealership.

After the tour, we had lunch right on base. We went to a pizza buffet, which honestly hit the spot after days of Korean food. The endless pizza, pasta, and salad felt like a slice of home, and I didn’t realize how much I missed those familiar flavors until I had them again.

Once we wrapped up lunch, we made our way to the second part of our day: hiking Mount Soyo (Soysano). The change of scenery, from military grounds to lush mountain trails was refreshing. As we hiked up, we passed a peaceful waterfall and eventually reached a beautiful temple tucked into the hillside. The temple was serene, and the view from the trail made the uphill climb totally worth it.

Later that night, a few of us had our hearts set on going to Texas Roadhouse. After the long day, the thought of an American dinner was all we could talk about. But when we got there, they had already stopped serving which was a major disappointment. Luckily, we found a nearby burger place instead, and it totally made up for it. The burgers were juicy, the fries were crispy, and it ended up being the perfect way to wrap up a packed day.