My Immersion in Korea: A Memorable Experience

My Immersion in Korea: A Memorable Experience

By: Kioko Fiorella Susanto – 9C Student

Every year, Stella Maris School Gading Serpong organizes a fun student immersion trip for students grade 9 to 12. This year, I got to participate in this five-day trip to Korea, which took us to famous places such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Myeongdong. The trip introduced us to authentic Korean cuisine and allowed us to immerse ourselves in the Korean culture with our friends, creating fun memories that will last a lifetime.

Upon arriving in Seoul, we met the chill winter weather and our lovely tour guide Hana eonni. She was incredibly kind and taught us many things about Korea. Our first activity in Korea was at a lovely restaurant to eat lunch. The menu they had prepared for us was galbitang, a traditional Korean oxtail soup which was nice and warm, fitting for the cold weather we were greeted with in Korea. Afterward, we visited Kimchi School and Hyundai Motor Studios Goyang. In Kimchi school, we not only learned how kimchi is made, we also saw the benefits of seaweed. They had this weird snack called chocolate seaweed which I bought alongside a huge bag of seaweed flakes. Next up we looked at how cars are made at the Hyundai Motor Studios. They showed us how each of the machines work and had a wonderful light exhibit. We finished the day off by heading to HiSeoul Youth hostel which had a comfortable room and a delicious breakfast, better than I expected.

The second day began with a visit to Gyeongbokgung palace. Before entering, we rented and wore hanboks. I had lots of fun taking photos, though the cold made my hands feel numb. After lunch we explored Seongsu, a trendy shopping district in Korea. Divided into small groups, we got to walk around for a while and saw lots of cute and unique stores. Next on our stop was Seoul National University, guided by students who explained lots about the campus and the academic majors. We finished our day at the COEX Starfield library. It was beautifully decorated with lots of Christmas lights and decorations.

My favorite day was the third, because it was the day we got to do lots of shopping! We went to Myeongdong and Dongdaemun, popular shopping spots similar to Seongsu. We also had a campus tour to Korea University this time. The student guides told us about the history and education. Additionally, we decorated keychains using mother-of-pearl sheets, which we cut up and stuck on the keychain. 

On the fourth day, we spent the morning photographing the scenic Yeouido Hangang park and visiting KBS, a dream come true for me as I enjoy Korean variety shows. The day’s highlight is Lotte World, an indoor-outdoor amusement park. Unfortunately it was very crowded. I didn’t get to ride a lot of attractions, which is unfortunate, but overall I still had an incredible time. 

The following morning was our last day, we had to wake up early and head to the airport for our flight back home. Though we wanted to stay for longer in Korea, it was time for us to go home.

Overall, this immersion trip to South Korea was an unforgettable experience. Getting to travel with friends, exploring famous landmarks, and gaining knowledge of Korean culture was sublime. I had lots of fun and would love to join another student immersion trip organized by Stella Maris School Gading Serpong.