Category: Asia

Introducing Stefanie Paik

Published on by DU AbroadLeave a comment
Photo is of me in the mountain, somewhere in Colorado.

What is/are your major(s)?

Marketing

What is/are your minor(s)?

Media Film Journalism Studies (MFJS)

What is the name of your study abroad program?

TEAN: Korea University

In what city & country is your study abroad program located?

Seoul, South Korea

What is something you would like the blog readers to know about you that they wouldn’t know by just looking at you?

I love to explore and learn about entertainment from various countries like the UK, France, and India. So many counties have their own style and formula of entertainment; so it is interesting to see why people enjoy those media. Like many East Asian t.v. show use a mix of slapstick and talk show to entertain viewers. 

What is one thing that you are most anticipating about your study abroad experience?

The one thing I am most anticipating about my study abroad experience is life in a different country’s education system. Everything from the cafeteria food to studying will be different. So in the new environment, I hope I will be able to learn new behaviors that I can then use when I come back to DU.

Why did you decide to study abroad? or What inspired you to study abroad?

I chose to study abroad because of personal and professional reasons. My main personal reason is to connect with my heritage. Both of my parents immigrated to the US. So for me, this is an opportunity to see the world my parents grew up in and how that world has changed for them. My professional reason is to enrich my career possibilities. As Korea grows in international business, there are many job opportunities for me to explore.

Photo is of the Han River, in Seoul, South Korea.

A Short Stay in Gunma

Published on by lizgwebbLeave a comment

Last weekend, I went on an overnight trip to an onsen town in the Gunma prefecture. Known for their scenic mountains and natural hot springs, Gunma is a very relaxing and beautiful part of Japan to explore. Though the trip was fairly short, it was still a nice time and a great way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. 

Our first stop on the trip was at a daruma doll shop where we got to meet a daruma ‘master’ who has spent years of his life painting the faces of these cute dolls. If you’re unfamiliar with daruma dolls, they are circular, wooden toys that represent luck and supposedly have the ability to grant wishes. Surmise to say, they’re a very interesting aspect of Japanese culture.

While at this shop, we were able to paint our own daruma doll to take home. Though my daruma painting skills need some work, it was still fun giving it a try. 

https://flic.kr/p/2nW9Esj – The Daruma Workshop

Following the daruma shop, we stopped at a rest area to enjoy a hearty lunch of vegetable udon before arriving at a beautiful, mountainside shrine. Though we didn’t stay for long, it was a peaceful location and a great place to view the autumn leaves. 

https://flic.kr/p/2nW9EvR – Some tasty udon!

https://flic.kr/p/2nW8JAF – A picture from the mountainside shrine. Very pretty!

It wasn’t long before we arrived at our hotel in Ikaho, a small countryside town in the heart of Gunma. The hotel was fairly large, and the rooms were an interesting blend of western and traditional. To add to this traditional feeling, there were comfy yukatas available for us to pick up in the main lobby too. They were nice to wear after going to the onsen that was connected to the hotel.

To put it simply, onsens are bathing areas typically separated by gender. The two main rules for onsens are that you’re expected to wash off before going in and that you can’t wear any clothes or bathing suits inside. I’ve never done anything like this so it was a bit of an intimidating experience for me. Nonetheless, the water was very relaxing and I enjoyed my time. 

https://flic.kr/p/2nW8JAv – The Ikaho Steps, a popular spot in the town.

https://flic.kr/p/2nW4Hwx – Our hotel room, complete with tatami mats and futons to sleep on.

https://flic.kr/p/2nW9EtM – An early morning view from our hotel room. Gunma is very scenic!

Amidst all of these fun moments, I allowed myself to reflect a bit more over my time so far. It’s an understatement to say that the past few months have flown by. However, I’m very grateful for my experiences because doing something new like this pushes me out of my comfort zone a little bit. I’m not sure how the rest of my semester will be, but I’m hopeful it’ll be as great as my time in Gunma.