To start off the day, our group got into a charter bus, and our first stop was the Korean Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. The DMZ is the zone or line separating North and South Korea. When first entering the DMZ, a Korean military soldier had to come on our bus and check if our ID matched what we looked like. As most of the zone is a military base, I could not take any photos of the scenery. Our first stop was the 3rd North Korean tunnel found in South Korea, which was going to be used as an assault on South Korea. This tunnel was deep underground. I had to walk 350 meters down a fairly steep hill just to enter the North Korean tunnel. Moreover, it was very small and compact. We were given hard hats, which were needed because in the tunnel I hit my head so many times on the top of the cave. After our bus went on farther into the military base and led us to the observatory, where we could look out into North Korea. You were not allowed to take any photos of North Korea.
After the DMZ, we changed courses and went to a Korean baseball game, and I will tell you it was so much fun. I was expecting it like an MLB game, and I will tell you it was not even close. During the game, it was the Heros at home vs the Kt Wiz, and whenever which team is at bat, the in fan section music starts being blasted, and cheerleaders start dancing. During the whole game, there were almost no parts where they were no music or anyone dancing. Each batter, when coming up, has their own dance and own song, and everyone in the stands will chant their name in rhythm. There was one American player on the Kt Wiz, and he came out to ” Fireflies ” by Owl City every time. Whenever he made a play, the group started chanting USA. It was so funny. He played left outfield, where we were sitting, so we all got up and showed him our University of Pittsburgh banner. Sadly, he didn’t want to look at us. However, a few minutes after he looked our way he we all waved back and screamed, chanting USA again. The whole time I up doign the chants and dancing, watching the same. The Kt Wiz, the team I was rooting for, won 8-0. This game was one of my favorite parts of the trip, and I had a blast.
