This morning was such a great feeling, putting all the stress of my finals leading up to this behind me and preparing to embark on South Korea, something that all of us have been looking forward to since we found out early this January. Though it was a bit hectic to move out and pack within only a few hours between my last Friday morning final and my departure from Pitt this Saturday at 9:45 am, I am so excited to be going. I really look forward to beginning to experience Korean culture and learning more about what it means to be a professional engineer in the next 48 hours.

I would also like to use this to thank SSOE for helping me go on this trip, in part through funding $1,000 of the program costs through the SSOE Global Experiences Scholarship, specifically through the support of the Captain Brian and Mrs. Jane Leap Student Fund. This scholarship has definitely lightened the financial burden of this trip and has made it a stress-free experience overall.

I truly look forward to the first day of our journey abroad, and I am so excited to try some Korean food and explore Gyeongbuk Palace and the Myeongdong area once our 25-hour journey there is complete. But until we arrive, that is all I have!