As my Plus3 South Korea trip comes to a close, I’ve taken time to reflect not only on the unforgettable experiences from our daily visits and excursions, but also on the professional development insights I’ve gained. From corporate site visits to cultural immersion, this journey has expanded my global perspective and challenged me to think…
Tag: Braden Barber
Day 11
Today was probably the most uneventful day of the trip—but hey, not every day on a trip can be a home run. After breakfast, we made our way to the Oil Tank Culture Park, and unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. The heat didn’t help either. Between the hot weather and the fact…
Day 10
Started the day with another solid hotel breakfast before heading out to our main stop: the DMZ. The Demilitarized Zone is the heavily guarded border separating North and South Korea, established after the Korean War armistice in 1953. Ironically, while it’s called “demilitarized,” it’s actually one of the most militarized places in the world. I…
Day 9
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…
Day 7
Can’t believe we’re already one week into the trip—it’s flying by. Today was another really cool day. I kicked things off with the usual hotel breakfast (eggs, sourdough toast, and bacon—can’t go wrong), then we headed out to our first stop: Bukchon Hanok Village. Bukchon is a traditional Korean neighborhood known for its old-school hanok…
Day 6
Today began with a bit of chaos as we experienced several delays. One of our peers wasn’t feeling well and had to be taken to the hospital by Dr. Yun, while another lost their passport—prompting Chris to help arrange a meeting at the U.S. Embassy for a temporary replacement. On top of everything, it was…
Day 4
We had a bright and early start today with a long journey ahead to the Hyundai Asan Factory. We boarded the bus at 7:00 AM and were given a thoughtfully packaged breakfast that included a sandwich, trail mix, mochi, and fruit. While it differed from a typical American breakfast, it was a refreshing and enjoyable…
Day 3
We started off the day once again with a great breakfast before heading out around 8:30 AM for our first site visit: Fredit. Operated by hy Co., Ltd., Fredit is a major player in Korea’s food industry, known for producing beverages and dairy products—most famously the Yakult drink. What sets them apart is their drinkable…
Day 2
To kick off our second day, we were greeted with an amazing breakfast filled with a variety of delicious foods, all enjoyed alongside a beautiful view. After breakfast, we headed to Suwon Hwaseong, a well-preserved 18th-century fortress. Built between 1794 and 1796 by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty, it was constructed to honor his…
Day 1
It has been a long day venturing to Seoul—filled with both ups and downs—but overall, it was a great start to what I hope will be an incredible experience. Our journey began with a short flight delay, setting us back about thirty minutes. Once we landed in Atlanta, we had to rush to our connecting…
Returning “Home”
Hello, my name is Braden Barber, and I’m currently a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh, pursuing a degree in Finance with a minor, or potentially a double major, in Computer Science. Career-wise, I am particularly interested in high finance, with aspirations to work in banking, specifically within restructuring or capital markets sectors. Eventually, I…