Today was definitely one of the more unique days of the trip. Our first event was a visit to Camp Casey, a U.S. military base just outside of Seoul. Thanks to our Pitt alumni Grace and Will, we got a personal tour of the facility, which was such a cool experience. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed for security reasons—but to be honest, there wasn’t too much to capture visually anyway. The highlight was getting to see a Stryker vehicle up close—specifically an NBCR Stryker, which stands for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance. Basically, it’s a 43,000 lb armored tank that holds four people and has an internal lab used to test air quality and detect harmful substances. We even got to meet a special platoon that works with air analysis—they talked to us about their responsibilities and gave us a quick look at their gear and protocol. Super interesting stuff.

After the tour, we stopped for lunch at The Impact Zone, a casual dining spot inside Camp Casey. I was starving, so I went all out and ordered a chicken wrap and a calzone—no regrets.

From there, we headed to Mt. Soyosan for a light hike. But since some of us were still sore from yesterday’s big climb at Bukhansan, we decided to sit this one out. Instead, a few of us hung back near a small waterfall and explored a cave shrine filled with little Buddha statues. It was a peaceful spot and honestly a perfect way to relax.

After the hikers returned, our free time officially kicked off. A few of us went back to the hotel to freshen up, then headed to the mall for one last round of shopping and dinner. We ate at a Japanese sushi place, which was amazing, and I grabbed another pair of jeans and a shirt before calling it a night.

All in all, today was a chill but memorable day, and I’m excited (but also a little sad) that we’re heading into the final stretch of this incredible trip.

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