Photo Essay Contest

Studying in Korea gave me the valuable experience not just of knowing about history and traditional culture, but also of knowing about the various cultures and societies today. What was even more remarkable was that I could learn more deeply about Korean history and culture by visiting numerous architectural structures and museums. There is something special about the mix of the ancient traditional buildings and the new skyscrapers all jumbled together in the skyline, and I found myself being blown away again and again by the mix of the old and the new. 

In the middle of Seoul, glass-fronted buildings and hanok (traditional Korean houses) stood side by side, creating a blend of the old and the new. Some museums and galleries also existed, which not only housed pieces of art from the past but also pieces of art from the present, so that citizens could witness the wealth of the country's culture. 

And I discovered that Korea is filled with many mountains and nature, other than cities. I backpacked in the suburbs while I was studying abroad and spent time at the parks, and I was amazed at the amount of nature. I felt that such a coexistence of nature and city is also one of the characteristics of Korean culture. 

I also encountered pregnant women and elderly people seats in the public transportation and observed the culture of kindness of Korean society. There were designated priority seats in the subways and buses, and I was surprised at the giving and taking attitude of the majority of people. I believe that such consideration is a reflection of solidarity and good human relations in the entire society. 

In this study abroad program, I not only studied language and history, but I also experienced firsthand the different aspects of culture and society. The presence of tradition and modernity, nature and urbanization, and human relationships in Korea is now my asset. 

This study abroad opportunity was truly life-changing for me. Going in I told myself to embrace every opportunity that would be presented to me as this would most likely be the only time in my life I would be able to participate in this way. I was so excited to spend 11 days doing nothing except studying religion, which is truly all I want to do. What I enjoyed the most was observing what I have been learning in the classroom and being able to talk to real people who practice these religions on a daily basis. 

Phenomenology was crucial for me to be able to take full advantage of the hands-on learning that took place. For me, intention was the biggest thing in differentiating if I was “bowing down to an idol” or simply performing academic research in the field. I wanted to put myself in the shoes of others as much as possible. Upon reflection later on, after I had taken it all in, when I began to introduce my own beliefs and practices in how I thought about the experience. 

This trip was nothing like I thought it would be in the best way. I truly had no idea how religiously diverse Canada was. It was amazing to walk into the local Tim Hortons and see a Sikh working there and connecting that to how they value making an honest living. I was amazed how many I saw on bikes delivering food and being so active in the community. 

Ritual is one of my favorite aspects of any religion. I was especially intrigued to witness various rituals first hand and even have the honor of taking part in some of them. Rituals are crucial to some religions and not so much to others. The fire temple and how the Zoroastrians light their fires was the coolest ritual to hear about. I love how the guy at the temple broke it down and explained how they gather fire from a private residence, an outdoor fire, and so on and they bring all of the flames together to produce their ritual fires. 

The mosque was my favorite site we went to. Being able to hear the call to prayer and see how Muslims pray five times a day was incredible. Shoulder-to-shoulder, facing Mecca, humbling themselves to Allah was truly extraordinary. 

Montréal was a unique experience because I was able to go to a synagogue with Bay and Tiana and celebrate a Jewish holiday. That was a really special service for me to be included in and I am honored they invited me. That was my own personal ethnography experience and what I learned in Toronto I was able to apply here and everywhere I go after. 

The catholic cathedrals were truly breathtaking and the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. When I was reflecting and comparing sites to one another, it was really interesting to think of the cathedral that had many figures of Jesus and various people in the Bible. However the mosque does not have a single figure or visual depiction of God, Muhammad, or any of the other prophets. 

The Hindu temples are similar in this regard as well in that each site displayed and honored their gods in various ways. The first Hindu temple we went to had individual altars, while the last one had one big altar at the front with all of the figures displayed. Hare Krishna was different because that branch of Hinduism only really focuses on Krishna and Rama. 

I never thought I would ever participate in a study abroad and when I heard of this opportunity I did not hesitate to sign up. Being able to leave the country for the first time with the best group of people I know was amazing. I made such wonderful memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. This trip taught me to not be afraid to participate in a new experience. I already tend to be a nervous person when out of my comfort zone (so surprising, I know lol) and I really feel like I grew so much as a student and as a person through this week and a half abroad. 

I really hope to one day have an opportunity like this again. I am so grateful that I got to go to so many new places, eat such fabulous food, and to truly live in the moment through it all. 

Being able to study abroad was something that I never thought I would be able to do. As a first-generation student, looking to study abroad was always something that I never thought I would get the opportunity to explore. The thought was always so daunting, and I was nervous of the process and having to pay for the study abroad experience. All these fears kept me from even possibly looking into the process. However, this all changed when I got me once in a lifetime opportunity. 

My sociology professor and my academic advisor would be taking students to Korea, to explore the culture and study the society there. When I heard about this, I knew that I would take this opportunity and seize it. As a promise to myself, but also as a promise to my dad who is no longer with us. Our promise of going to Korea, which I thought had died with him, was about to be accomplished this Summer of 2025. 

This experience was truly unlike any other experience I have ever had. Being able to go to a completely different country and not know a single lick of the language or day to day life but still being able to enjoy my time there was so unreal. It was everything I had hoped it would be and more, Dr. Park was able to make the program very diverse and enjoyable. We got to explore a ton of different things while we were down there, like museums, parks, and fun experiences. I got to go see a traditional folk music festival which was so enjoyable. That had to be the highlight of my trip! We also go to go do some things on our own and do what we wanted to go. I got to go see the Starfield Library which was another surreal experience because that library is just huge. 

If I had the opportunity to, I would most definitely go back and experience some of the things we did on the trip but also go and explore some of the other places I’ve seen through my social media and just through some of the research I’ve done on my own now that we have gotten back from our trip.