Day 10

I'm heading home today and I'm SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope my mom is ready to take care of me and fix me a meal that doesn't contain kimchi..lol.

Day 9

I think the yellow dust is getting to me. I woke up with a sore throat and I'm congested. I knew that I should have worn those masks. We arrived in Narita, Japan today and took the subway to downtown Tokyo. I felt like I was in Times Square in New York. The lights, the people, and the on the corner entertainment made me feel like I was back in the United States. We ate in a "hole in the wall" place and had the best time bonding and reflecting on the trip. My food was great! I ate steak, crab fried rice, and fried oysters. After dinner we toured the city and tried to find a karoke bar. People drive on the opposite side of the road over there and it's a different sight to see. I really wish we had more time here to take in ALL the sites.

Day 8

Today was a light day. We visited Incheon Free Economic Zone(IFEZ). It is the growth engine of Korea leading Northeast Asia under the strong back up from the National Government of Korea and the Metropolitan City of Incheon. IFEZ Mission: In order to swiftly create the foreigner-friendly economic and living conditions and intended to be developed as part of methods through which the Republic of Korea performs any central function in business of the northeastern Asia Regions. This economic development was made possible by filling the ocean with land to produce a buildable site. We got a chance to see a model of everything that is supposed to be built. I hope that will get a chance to see the finished product in years to come.

Day 7

Today we were able to go to the Demilitarized Zone(DMZ). We actually went to the border of North Korea, learned about the significance of the axe murders and the bridge of no return. I have never felt so tense before in my life!!! We could not make any gestures to the soldiers and had to sign waivers stating that the people that we were with were not liable if anything were to happen because we knowingly visited a potentially dangerous location. We were not able to make gestures because the soldiers could misinterpret what the gesture was and fire at the unsuspecting target. I took pictures where it was permissable and I was happy to leave when we did. I couldn't help but to think about those people who constantly experience the fear of the unknown and I quickly realized how blessed I was not to live in such a hostile environment.

Day 6

Today we visited Hyundai Motors and Hyundai Heavy Industries. I have visited the plant in Montgomery and it was interesting to compare both plants. Montgomery's site utilizes more robotics than manpower. We didn't ride on carts from building to building and we did not cheer for the employees. I got a chance to see cars that are not manufactured in the United States. One of the cars resembled a Bentley and could compete in the same market as a Mercedes Benz. Hyundai is very committed to being green and maintaining low waste. We were given toy Sonatas and Santa Fes for souvenirs. Ships are built at Hyundai Heavy Industries. These ships are put together using dry docks. The automotive industry is booming in the United States and provides many lucrative opportunities for those individuals interested in the field, but that's not where my passion is.

Day 5

Today we visited Posco, one of the world's largest steel manufacturers. Their motto is: resources limited, creativity unlimited. Posco's site went through a major transformation. Initially, most of the site water with islands scattered around the premises. The water had to be filled with land to make the site buildable. We visited the Hot Strip Mall. There, the metal is smoothed into sheets and then rolled for future use. I was shocked that I was still able to feel the heat from the steel considering how far away we were. After Posco, we went on the Gyeongju tour and visited the Seokguram Grotto and the Bulguksa Temple. We were high up into the mountains and were able to see the birds eye views you see when flying on the airplane. The older people were hiking the mountain better than I was! As we were making our way to the various sites, we passed by elementary school children who were excited about seeing people that looked like us. They waved, told us hello in English, asked us how we were doing, touched us, and wanted to take pictures. When we replied in Korean, they were quite impressed. We had the basics! We got a chance to see Buddha, but were not able to take pictures. I felt as though I was on some pilgrimmage seeking enlightenment. I was able to visit a cultural and religious icon that I've only read about. The experience was extremely fulfilling. You have to know where you've come from to know where you're going, right?

Day 4

Breakfast was great again this morning and today we travelled to Chung Ang University in Seoul and An Sung. Dr. Lee is a profesor at the Seoul location and was filled with school spirit while showing us around. Chung Ang prides themselves on being a global educational institution. We were greeted by a classroom full of students clapping as we entered the room for Dean Vaughn's lecture. Every ASU student and faculty member had a name card designating the appropriate seat for us to sit in. We were also given a complimentary snack and beverage. Yep, I felt kind of special. Everyone was very welcoming and interested in why we were there. All of us got a chance to introduce ourselves and take pictures with the students. Dr. Vaughn asked a male student what he wanted us to take back with us and he replied.....for us not to be prejudice against Koreans because like us during the Civil Rights movement we felt the negative effects of a prejudice society and we seek fairness and equality from our fellow man. I was definitely impressed by his answer because he learned some of our history and incorporated it into his statements. We witnessed the signing of an International Exchange program between the dean and the Vice-President of the An Sung location of Chung Ang University. We also had the opportunity to watch a Powerpoint presentation about the history, purpose, and mission of the institution. The university gave us tote bags that contained a medallion from the school, pen, notepad, and a 2007/2008 brochure of the International Exchange program. We were a part of history today and I'm so thankful to have had this opportunity. We are staying at Gyeong Ju Hilton Hotel tonight and are supposed to be eating a western style dinner. I hope it's good!

Day 3

Today I was able to get my calling card so I could talk to my parents for more seconds. I started the day of great because of the great breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast was buffet style and had plenty of options to get me full. I had to eat a lot to get full because my omelet was 1/3 the size of the omelets that I normally prepare at home. After we ate, we visited Gyeong Bok Palace and learned about the life of royalty. The architecture of the buildings was breathtaking. It amazes me how people built those buildings during that time period. The brilliant colors and the detailed wood carvings of the animals and flowers in the awnings and trusses of the temple. We also got a chance to visit the museum in the same vicinity. Cindy enlightened us on various traditions practiced by Korean families. For instance, outside visitors do not visit newborn children during the first three months of their being to ensure that the child isn't exposed to any potentially harmful impurities. We also got a chance to go see a Korean martial arts comedy entitled, Jump. Although the entire two hour performance was in Korean, I still enjoyed the talent and skill of the performers. Later, we went to the Blue House(residence of the President) and took pictures of the complex. We also had the opportunity to do some souvenir shopping. It felt kind of good pulling out 10,000 won(even though it's only $10). It just sounds good. The vendors had plenty to choose from and I hope that I've made some good selections for my family and friends.

Day 2

I spent half of my day on the plane. The plane was nine seats across and i sat in the middle row(one seat from the aisle). I passed the time by listening to music, watching moves, and talking to my neighbors. It seemed as if we were fed every 3 hours. The food was actually pretty good and the flight was smooth the majority of the time. I often changed my television to the map setting to see the exact location of the plane. It also had the time we left, the time remaining for the flight, the time at our destination(Seoul), the altitude, and the temperature. Technology is really amazing. As soon as we all claimed our luggage, Dr. Lee, Cindy(our tourguide), and some more of Dr. Lee's students greeted us with a welcome Alabama State sign. We arrived to Lotte World Hotel via a 27 passenger bus and learned a lot about Korean history on the way by listening to Cindy. The views were amazing and our hotel is top of the line. We had about an hour to rest and get ourselves together before we went to Korean House. There we ate a traditional Korean meal that consisted of ten courses. Presidents and CEOs of companies sat where we sat and ate where we ate. The food was healthy. Nothing was fried and dripping with grease. Our meal consisted of steamed, pouched, and baked meats and vegetables. We had plenty of rice, fish, fruits, and soups. As soon as we finished one dish, another came out. The whole table was filled with food. Surprisingly, I ate the majority of my meal with chopsticks. After dinner, we saw a Korean traditional dance performance and took pictures with the performers after the show. Well, that's all for now.

Day 1

Today has been a long day! I have not slept since yesterday. But, that's fine because I'm in Korea,right? NO, I'm stuck in San Francisco because the the flight was cancelled due to mechanical problems. United Airlines will not get my service ever again! We are staying in a Comfort Inn & Suites that is definitely not sweet. The bathroom doubles as a kitchen and the rooms are dark. We even had difficulty getting food using the vouchers supplied by United. The voucher stated that it could be used by any vendor, but that vendor was the BestWestern down the street. I really hope that our flight isn't cancelled in the morning.