Tinabeth Piña: Coming up on Globe Scholars: students from Brooklyn College’s Study Abroad in South Korea program continue their adventure in Seoul and Busan, experiencing a vibrant culture filled with Buddhist monks, K-pop, delicious food, the beach, and so much more.

Stay tuned.

By day, I’m a TV reporter.

But at night, I write a travel blog, because I love to travel.

It brings people and cultures together.

And when a student travels abroad, not only do they become a global citizen, the subjects they learn in school come to life.

This is Globe Scholars.

Welcome to Globe Scholars.

I'm Tinabeth Piña from TinabethTravels.com and today we continue our journey with students from Brooklyn College’s Study Abroad in South Korea program.

In the last episode, you met students on their New York campus learning a range of production techniques that would help them create short video projects comparing something in the US to something in Korea.

Once the American portion of their short documentaries was complete, they jetted off to Seoul and began a three-week adventure of language and production classes at Dongguk University, along with their new Korean classmates, who not only helped them finish their video projects, but also strengthened the cultural exchange overall.

When the students weren't in class or working on their video projects, they went on historical tours of the city with stops at the National Museum, Gyeongbok Palace, and Namsan Tower.

Culturally, South Korea is known worldwide through its music, skincare products, television dramas, and cinema to name a few.

This cultural phenomenon is known as Hallyu, or the Korean Wave.

Prof. Young Cheong: Korean wave is translated by English right?

So then HALL is Korean YU means wave.

It started about 20 years ago.

So, some like famous K-pop stars went to Japan or went to a different country so they have a little small like a group of fans but then, after couple different like huge success of singers this big huge success.

It become huge like culture.

Tinabeth Piña: K-pop has become a worldwide phenomenon thanks to its distinctive blend of addictive melodies -- ♪ You want it ♪ ♪ You want it ♪ slick choreography, and endless parade of attractive South Korean performers who spend years learning to sing and dance in synchronized perfection.

Korean pop music is also the billion dollar industry and at the heart of the Korean Wave and a big reason why several of these students came on this Brooklyn College study abroad trip to Korea.

Alyvia Juarbe: What got me interested in South Korea was actually BTS, the K-pop group.

And that's, and I started actually learning Korean because of them.

Mathew Reed: I've been really into K-pop for so long now.

It’s one of the main reasons why I'm in the trip in the first place.

Marisa Babalola: Well, I really like K-pop and like, I'm a big fan of BTS.

So like, that's why I wanted to study abroad.

Raven Wilson: K-pop is like a gateway to spreading all of Korean culture because, you know, you start with K-pop, but then, you know, then you go to their fashion, you go to their skincare, you go to their makeup, and then it starts going further with like, where did this come from?

Tinabeth Piña: The students had the opportunity to visit MBC or the Munhwa Broadcasting Company, where they got to see a K-pop show and meet some of the performers backstage.

Mariama Parsons: I shook hands with a member from both groups.

So that was just like- [excited sounds] [camera shutter] So it was just really cool to have that experience.

Mathew Reed: I always imagined what it was going to be like and now that I was finally there, it was surreal.

[camera shutter] I've always seen it just through my phone so to be able to see it in person and see how everything works, the behind the scenes.

The fans were incredible also.

It was just, it was, it was worthwhile, yeah.

Dell Tangente: It was amazing.

I love it so much.

And it's very personal ‘cause they talk to you and you just talk to them.

It wasn't like it was, it wasn't a concert.

It wasn't like a meet and greet.

It was like you guys and you were there and you were talking.

So it was really awesome.

Arielle Guiteau: Probably one of the most coolest things I've done so far.

[camera shutter] Just getting starstruck, kind of like.

Even though I didn't know the Idols, but knowing that they're on TV here and they work so hard was really cool to see them in person and they were so sweet and so nice.

So that was, that was good.

Nizar Alvarez: Seeing this was actually pretty interesting.

I'm used to just seeing it on TV or on, just on YouTube and all that stuff, but actually being there and like seeing what they do and how most of this works, I think it's a really interesting experience.

[Cheering and Applause] Tinabeth Piña: The K-pop stars were just as excited to meet the students as the students were to meet them.

K-pop Stars: We will make you feel great!

We are Nature!

Loha: Our feeling is so excited.

Because fans meeting us.

And our feeling is very very exciting.

Tinabeth Piña: Even I got excited and wanted in on the K-pop action.

Loha: Keep, one and two and three and four.

Okay!

[Cheering and Applause] Tinabeth Piña: Let's go back to the students now since this trip isn't about me.

They had the opportunity to meet two more K-pop groups at MBC.

An all male group called Only One Of and another female group called Saturday.

[Applause] Sion: I cannot express how grateful we are to all our fans for being here for us.

I don't know what else I can say.

You have to experience it!

Doesn't everyone agree?

All: Yes!

K-pop member: We love and always want to be with our fans.

Chohee: My fandom name is Sunday- like in English Saturday and Sunday.

We are always with you.

Forever.

I love you!

Tinabeth Piña: The MBC experience was not only limited to K-pop shows.

The students also had the opportunity to visit an MBC drama set.

This also proved helpful to the students in regards to their video projects.

Mariama Parsons: I feel like it's really cool to see different production styles, because it gives you an idea of like, Hey, maybe I can go with that instead of what I originally thought would look cool because it looked good there.

So it's really cool to see different things and get different ideas about what I can do and what's possible.

And it's like from one shot, like they had like multiple different cameras, but it's really cool to see how you can have one motion and show it in like 10 different ways.

So I think that was really inspiring in that sense.

Katrielle Pambid: I'm a film major, so actually getting to be here in this TV program setting, it's really interesting for me.

And I'm workshopping around.

I like to see how everything works.

And what I noticed is from all the different camera angles, as well as the racking, the cuts, and the editing that gave me ideas for how I want to finally piece together my project.

So hopefully that goes well.

Tinabeth Piña: After this exciting day, Kat and the rest of the students got K-pop dance lessons and then had to center themselves and rest their minds and bodies so that they could focus on their school video projects.

And what better way to do that than with a Korean templestay.

♪ [peaceful melodic music] ♪ [speaking softly] Korea is a country where all the world's religions peacefully coexist, but Buddhism is one of the most influential ones here and the students got a chance to experience it and immerse themselves completely in it at the Myogksa templestay program right here in Seoul.

♪ [peaceful flute music] ♪ Prof. Young Cheong: I like student experience, also calm like a Zen style.

Very traditional Korean culture and history.

The monk and temple was part of Korean culture.

Right now we are so busy with modern life.

We don't have time to meditate ourselves.

In the old days, Koreans used to meditate in a temple or at home.

We used to do that.

They have a program introduce our traditional method to meditate ourselves to young generation.

♪ [peaceful melodic music] ♪ Yeoeun Sunim: From templestay program you will experience Korean traditional culture and Korean traditional Buddhism.

And then you will learn, practice.

Because everyone needs a practice.

So, I want to share mind, because mind is like a virus.

Please make an image: Mother has a happy or family will make happy- Mother has anger or family will make anger.

So, you mind, yeah make your around energy.

So, from practice you can control your mind and then you can share good energy, good mind.

So, goal of templestay program is a finding mind seeing mind and then you can control your mind.

You can share good energy, good mind.

Student receive many things like a sponge.

So, they can change a lot of things.

So, what is important, their little habit will change a lot because normal people are always very busy and nervous.

From templestay program they can learn relax with mind and then they will change many things because mind will make everything.

[knocking on wood] Tinabeth Piña: Templestay is a cultural program allowing the students to better understand and experience the life of Buddhists at traditional temples that preserve the thousands year old history of Korean Buddhism.

On this particular day, the students made prayer beads and performed 108 prostrations or bows.

They also learned firsthand how Buddhist monks live and were able to enjoy a meal amongst them.

In the end, students walked away with a lot more than they had expected.

[birds chirping] [banging of the gong] Mathew Reed: This experience was very different.

It wasn't something I had experienced before, but coming here, it felt very, it gave me a great sense of appreciation for the monks because it's like, we learned how to do 108 bows and putting the beads on 108 times.

And there's a lot to go into this practice and the monks taught us how to do some meditation, really breathe from the stomach since, you know, we don't really breathe that deeply.

So it was great.

And yeah, I just feel really at ease.

Dell Tangente: The long breathing meditation, I think I almost slept, so whenever I have situations where I feel very stressful or I can't sleep, maybe I would use it and apply it to myself.

Nizar Alvarez: The exercises that we've done, I feel a lot calmer, I feel a lot relaxed, so that's the best way I could put it.

Arielle Guiteau: It's hard work, kind of like in the beginning with the beads and the counting, but it's worth it because I feel more at peace with myself and like have less, I guess, like nervousness, like anxiety, and stuff like that.

I feel really calm right now.

I thought I would be annoyed, but I honestly feel fine.

I think, just give it a chance, you know?

And just respect it in total ‘cause a lot of people don't respect other religions like that.

So I feel like people should just respect it.

Mariama Parsons: It's such a nice experience, I think.

And like, also the fact that you get to learn the history of Buddha and stuff like that, like that's really cool.

The fact that every person could be Buddha and everybody has a Buddha within them, that's really cool to think about ‘cause like in most religions it's just, your God is your God.

You can't ascend to God, and stuff like that.

So it's really cool to see in Buddhism you can become the person that you’re following.

Alyvia Juarbe: We're from New York City so obviously we're like, on the go all the time so this is like, you have to sit down and just sit there and be patient.

Prof. Young Cheong: It's kind of a slow life because we are all from a big city which means we are always in a rush, busy, no time.

But, that kind of hours, moment you can just cool down and then relax and then thing about life.

Think about something above them you used to think.

So, I like to appreciate that kind of moment to everyone.

Faryal Amjad: I honestly really liked it.

Before I came I had like a whole bunch of bad expectations.

Like I was like, Oh, well, I guess it's going to be a long day.

But like, I actually really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed doing the bowing, the food, and even learning about Buddhism.

Menahil Amjad: I pretty much had the same expectations as her because of what I've heard and everything, but it was actually pretty nice, like learning about the culture and seeing the temple and everything.

So I really liked that.

Jason Bravo: I think that was pretty cool, having to do that physical workout for like, an hour was not something I expected.

But it was really nice to try a religion that I have never been exposed to, to that level.

[gong chiming] Tinabeth Piña: According to Korean Buddhism, having a meal is not only the eating of food, it's a sacred ritual through which Buddhists reaffirm their intentions and vows.

Food in general in Korea is very much a part of their culture.

And you definitely can't come to Korea without getting a bite to eat.

Whether it's from a street vendor or a sit down meal, Korean food is definitely a part of its cultural identity.

And it's good.

Prof. Young Cheong: Once you enjoy the food you understand their culture easily.

That's why my program emphasizing the different types of food should be provided different days every day so then they can have a question about food what we eat how we provide so that's why I bring them to the restaurant.

Sometimes, I'll bring them to the street market so then they can see the diversity of our food choice.

Katrielle Pambid: Oh my gosh.

It's so much better here in Korea than it is like anywhere outside of the country.

Over here you can really feel that it's made well and prepared and everything.

And it just, it tastes so good.

Like, I don't even know what else to say.

Every time I'm trying new foods, I'm just like, I'm speechless because there's so much flavor.

There's a kick to it.

And I'm just like, wow, it's so good.

And I can't stop eating.

It's delicious.

Mathew Reed: The Korean cuisine has always been something that I've enjoyed.

Like it's always been one of my top cuisines that I've really liked.

So coming here, I was really excited to try the authentic food and it's lived up to expectations.

I really loved it a lot.

It's spicy, yeah, but it's like, not, it's like a good spicy.

Mariama Parsons: It is very different because a lot of the times I'll order something, like I ordered barbecue pork, and then it was sweet.

And then I would order something sweet and it would be savory.

So like, a lot of the flavors are switched.

So the, it's kind of weird because it's like, I was expecting something and then that wasn't what I tasted.

So, you know, it was like getting used to that, but the food itself is really good.

It's just like, the description doesn't match the taste that I'm thinking of.

Tinabeth Piña: The students experienced all types of Korean food, from Korean barbecue to complete vegetarian meals, to all types of street food.

Prof. Young Cheong: Street food usually is for the poor people.

So, Korea used to be very poor and then while they're working they don't have time to eat so they quickly grab some kind of snack but, they need to eat.

So, that kind of the point.

So, they have to work.

At the same time they have to quickly eat and then they want to enjoy the some flavor.

That's why street food became very popular for the poor.

Not become like a tourist food.

Tinabeth Piña: The street food vendors in particular really enjoyed meeting and serving the students.

Keun Duk Yi: I appreciate having these kids here eating traditional Korean food that they can't eat in their own countries.

I'm so happy to see them enjoying it.

In Nampo-Dong Alley we grind our ice by hand.

And compared to others we grind from a block of ice right in front of you, it's so tasty and refreshing.

You can't find this anywhere else, this traditional method.

Nowadays, there's no manual, everything is automatic, But here in this alley, we mostly all do it by hand, not automatic.

Tinabeth Piña: Another Korean specialty the students just had to try was san-nakji, a live octopus delicacy, but the octopus isn't really alive.

The nerve activity in the octopus tentacles make the pieces on your plate move posthumously.

The dish is typically drizzled with sesame oil and sesame seeds and dipped in a spicy red pepper sauce.

Edwin Contreras: It's moving.

[laughter] It’s very chewy and I had to wait until it stopped moving to eat it ‘cause I was really creeped out.

It was cool.

Dell Tangente: I liked it.

But it was so chewy.

It’s good.

[giggling] Mariama Parsons: It wasn't for me.

[laughing] It had no flavor, just chewy.

Nizar Alvarez: Before today, if you had told me to try this I would have said it was repulsive, but it’s not that bad.

Katrielle Pambid: Yeah.

It isn’t that bad.

Mariama Parsons: It’s not that bad.

I wouldn’t do it again.

But you know, I tried it.

I can say I've done it.

So, you know, it's a life accomplishment.

Jason Bravo: It was pretty good.

I wanted it to be something more.

I didn’t expect it to be so chewy, but yeah, it was a lot better than I thought.

I’ve kind of been wanting to try for a couple of days.

So today was a really good time to try it.

Tinabeth Piña: Although san-nakji wasn't everyone's favorite, other Korean specialties were.

Alyvia Juarbe: I think my favorite food was probably the Korean barbecue.

That was probably my favorite dish that we've had so far on this trip.

I think I want to say the first week I really didn't eat much here ‘cause I wasn't used to it, but I appreciate more the food that like, that I've been eating at home because now that I'm not there, I kinda miss it.

And even my family was asking me the other day, they're like, what do you want to eat when you get back home?

And I'm like, definitely not white rice because I'm so tired of white rice, because we eat it every single day.

Katrielle Pambid: Korean barbecue, all the way, honestly, one of the best things, because here you actually get to see the meat prepared for you.

You get to see it on the stove or in the grill.

You get to see people cutting it up and adding a lot of different side dishes to it.

And traditionally, what they do over here is they'll take the meat and they'll put it into these little leaves.

You'll roll it up with a bit of spice in it, garlic, whatever else you want, and then you just eat it like that, kind of like a sandwich.

So that's really fun to put all together on your own and I liked that part.

Arielle Guiteau: My favorite food was the chicken and cheese, like a fondue type thing.

And you dip the chicken in the cheese.

That was really good.

And tteokbokki is also very good.

The rice cake thing with the sauce.

I mean, different from New York, I would say.

I feel like here eating is more of a group thing and a more like, family thing.

Like everyone I see is eating together and they’re always chatting with each other.

Whereas in New York, we kind of eat alone.

Like we could go to Five Guys and eat alone or something.

Where here, it's like, Oh, let's all go, you know?

So that’s very different.

Jason Bravo: I think the food here is a part of their cultural identity, a lot, just ‘cause there's certain things that you do while you're eating that I don't really think about in the states.

Like, I don't just give everyone a drink, the youngest person, and like the oldest person eats first.

Like all that kind of stuff.

I think that really says a lot about how they are as a society.

And, I don't know, just small things like that.

I've noticed even at restaurants that the family businesses and even just like, business owners do that kind of just like, you don't see it right away, but you take a moment, see how they actually move and how they operate with other groups of people that are eating as well.

It's definitely, that's them.

This is a part of the culture here.

This is very much Korean and like, it's just interesting.

Tinabeth Piña: After all that delicious food and the interesting customs associated with Korean cuisine, the students got to enjoy a little rest and relaxation with a road trip, which started out sleepy on the bus but then turned into an all out dance party.

♪ [upbeat dance music] ♪ No study abroad trip would be complete if you're not having a little bit of fun and these students found it all over Korea.

From visiting an amusement park called Seoul Land, [Excited Screams] to checking out the Trickeye Museum and it's maze, [Excited Screams] to visiting the beach, the students truly appreciated the downtime that was given to them, especially their time at the beach.

They visited Haeundea Beach in Busan, Korea’s second most populated city known for its beaches, mountains, and temples.

Prof. Young Cheong: I want to give them a little break.

So this is perfect like time.

One day you can come to a different city.

So, they can forget about the project.

So, when we come back to Seoul they can go back to study again.

They appreciate this break.

Alyvia Juarbe: I think it's important because you want to also have fun and not just do work all the time, every single day.

So that's why it was fun.

And we got a little competitive during the maze thing, but it was pretty much fun, yeah.

Even the beach.

Like, I live a block away from the beach and I would never really go to the beach at home.

So the fact that I went in the water today was kind of fun.

Mathew Reed: The past couple of days, me and my group, we've been filming and editing and it's been really stressful.

And I kind of forgot about the fun times that we had and it was just so project based.

So it was good to just go away for a second and just forget about the project and just enjoy the beach and relax.

Menahil Amjad: I think it's important to have a break like this because it's a stress relief to be honest.

Like, going to the beach and just hanging out, it was so much fun.

So I enjoyed it a lot.

So I think it's really important.

Just to have a day or two off to just like, chill and hang out.

Tinabeth Piña: And of course we can't forget that the students are still working on finishing their projects.

So how's that coming along?

Alyvia Juarbe: It’s coming along pretty good.

We just finished filming the majority of our scenes yesterday.

So we just have one more scene left to film on Tuesday and then hopefully we can start editing.

So we're kind of looking forward to seeing what it's going to come out, like how it's going to come out.

Tinabeth Piña: Alyvia’s group is working on a project comparing superstitions in the US to superstitions in Korea.

While the next group is comparing bodegas in New York City to convenience stores in Seoul.

Katrielle Pambid: Our project is actually almost done.

I think we're doing pretty well with it.

We have almost all of the main, a-roll footage done.

I'm going to meet with my group once again before our rough cut is due on Wednesday and all we have to do is fix a bit of pieces, translations and whatnot, but we are almost there.

It's going fairly well.

I'm so ready to just have it all done and just set it free because I feel really good about how it's turning out.

Mariama Parsons: We're doing our project about skincare and comparing how it is in America and how it is in Korea.

The project is going.

We're filming.

We're getting our interviews.

And so we're just trying to put it together.

So it's going, it’s kind of stressful ‘cause we ended up changing our topic kind of last minute, but I think it is coming along nicely.

Menahil Amjad: Our project is about Muslim friendly food and how available it is and accessible it is in both New York City and in Seoul.

Our project is actually coming along pretty good.

We got some interviews done with the Korean students.

We put in subtitles and everything.

So it's actually coming out really good.

I can't wait for everybody to see it.

Prof. Young Cheong: I'm looking for their progress.

I know the original proposal.

I know original rough cut.

So, I have to compare that.

So, now they cannot go back.

Like, I mean, they have to improve the quality.

So, I'm looking for a really good project, you know?

One, they're working hard.

Also, they need to achieve it.

Tinabeth Piña: Halal food, K-beauty skincare routines, Korean delis, and superstitions.

These four project topics are only just a small part of the fabric that makes up this East Asian international powerhouse.

Korea definitely has a rich culture filled with history and tradition, and we'll see even more on the next episode of Globe Scholars.

Plus we'll see the students' final projects.

Jal gala!

Alyvia Juarbe: It's a different beach compared to where I live.

So it's like, it looked cleaner, it looked better.

So I even played soccer and volleyball.

Like, I would never do that at home.

Like, usually at home I would just sit with the umbrella.

Nizar Alvarez: It's a whole different language, a whole different culture out here.

So I definitely would say that I broadened my horizons and also put me out of my comfort zone ‘cause I'm used to English.

So being here, I kind of find myself having to, trying to learn the language a lot more.

Tinabeth Piña: For more information about studying abroad in South Korea, or any part of the world, check out GlobeScholarsTV.com for useful information, web only education abroad videos, scholarship information, travel reviews, and helpful travel minute videos specifically about South Korea.

Make sure you check it out.