Tinabeth Piña: Coming up on this episode of Globe Scholars, we conclude our three-part series on South Korea with Brooklyn College's Study Abroad in South Korea program.

Get ready to see student produced videos about Korean superstitions, skincare, convenience store culture, and halal food.

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 adventure throughout Seoul with students from Brooklyn College's Study Abroad in South Korea program.

Plus we'll finally get to watch the four videos the students produced while they were in Korea.

But first let's recap our last two episodes with these study abroaders.

[shutter click] We first met the students on their Brooklyn College campus when they started classes for the Media Production in South Korea program.

While stateside, they filmed their projects and a few weeks later, they arrived in Seoul to not only study abroad and explore the diversity of South Korea, from Seoul to Busan, but to also finish up their productions with fellow students from Dankook University.

The program in Korea started with language and production classes, as well as tourist stops to the Gyeongbok Palace, the Museum of Korea, Namsan Tower, and an exclusive stop at MBC Studios where they met up and coming K-pop stars and had the opportunity to go behind the scenes on a K-drama set.

Plus, they got an inside look at Buddhism through a templestay.

The students were also given some downtime for fun at an amusement park called Seoul Land.

And spent the day at the beach in Busan.

In the end, this study abroad program was a life-changing experience for all of the students.

Katrielle Pambid: Personally, the project and the whole program itself it's shown me, it's challenged me a lot.

I've learned how to work with certain different types of people and how to, when I encounter that in the future, how I should go about it.

Like it wasn't always smooth sailing for my group, to be honest, because a lot of the times my group couldn't always meet and then there was always stress and pressure.

A lot of the time I was editing on my own and I didn't really have anyone else to be there around me, which sucks a lot.

But I learned how to take that responsibility and really work through it.

Jason Bravo: This experience has been pretty, pretty good.

Really stressful, but it's been so much fun learning about the Korean culture and just getting to know other people in my school system and really going from the camera person to becoming a director of my project.

So it's been really great in terms of understanding how to work with other people and breaking through conflict and actually communicating with multiple people regardless of their background or my background or experience.

So it's been more eye opening than it has been like, I'm in Korea.

This is cool.

Alyvia Juarbe: This is my first time going away so there were some people that I didn't get along with so much, so I kind of had to get used to that.

And towards the end, I'm like, you know what?

I'm kind of glad that I did do it and just completed the three weeks.

Tinabeth Piña: The study abroad experience culminated with a celebration and screening of four student produced videos.

Each video compares something in the US to something in Korea.

And now we're about to see the fruits of their labor.

The first story is all about halal food.

Faryal: Salam, guys.

My name is Faryal.

And before we get into our video, I'm going to give you a quick intro on what our topic is.

So halal food is -- >>> Food that has no pork.

>>> The way that the meat is prepared.

>>> How the food is made and how the meat is cut so the food is standard for the Muslim religion.

Faryal: So this is chicken tikka kebab, which is very tasty.

I definitely recommend.

And I'm actually going to have a big bite after.

And then this is cucumber raita, which is made with yogurt and cucumbers.

And then I actually got some naan, which is bread.

Garlic naan is amazing.

Let me have a piece right now.

>>> Yeah, it is very accessible mainly since it's such a diverse state.

>>> In my opinion, yeah, halal food is pretty accessible here in New York, because the Muslim community in New York is pretty big.

So you can see that everywhere.

Like, for example, near my campus there are at least like five halal carts just surrounding.

So it's pretty accessible here in New York.

>>> I do feel like with the options, yes, because while there is just halal food that Muslims can eat that's part of their culture that they have their culture type food, but if let's say if they want something like halal Mexican food that could be hard to find.

If they want halal Chinese food, that could be hard to find.

Faryal: So we chose this topic mainly because we wanted to let our Muslim audience know what is available for them and what is out there regardless of whether it's New York or whether it's Seoul.

There are many options for Muslims and other people out there like waffles and crepes.

And in our journey we went to various different places like Washington Square and we also went to the famous place Halal Guys.

And afterwards we learned that the food does not always have to be halal and that there are other options out there such as vegetarian options, as well as some vegan, and other things like desserts that are out there for Muslims.

After exploring New York City, now we're thinking of heading to Seoul.

♪ [background music] In South Korea there are not always options for Muslim out here.

So, regardless of whether or not we found halal food, we were trying to find Muslim friendly food.

Marisa, me, Menahil, and Aneesa tried various different types of street food.

In Seoul we had the opportunity to eat various things that were unexpected such as sweet and sour chicken, egg bread, and shrimp kebab.

Unlike New York, Seoul had a variety of different foods in the streets.

Halal, something I thought I would never find in South Korea and something I thought that was always holding me back.

Through this project, I've come to realize that our whole group has not only gained many great experiences, but has also allowed many other Muslim audiences to know that there are other options out here available for them.

In New York, in South Korea, and anywhere they go.

Tinabeth Piña: The next video project took many forms until they finally settled on skincare.

Let's take a look.

>>> Uh.

I'm so tired.

Oh my God.

My face.

Look at my nose.

Are those blackheads?

A pimple?

Really?

I need to start taking care of my skin.

I don't even know how to take care of my skin.

Let me see if any of my friends know what to do.

>>> Do I have a skincare routine?

Uh -- no, actually I don't.

Most of the time it's just like water.

Good to go for the day.

>>> I do have a skincare routine, but it's very sporadic.

>>> I do have a skincare routine.

>>> Yeah, I got a skincare routine.

>>> In the morning.

I do, I use foam cleanser and toner.

And at night I use foam cleanser and recovery cream.

>>> Most of the time it's just water as my skincare routine.

>>> Three letters for ya.

H-2-O.

I know one of ‘em's a number but guess what?

I don't care.

>>> Although it's time-consuming and a little bit expensive, I think that finding the right skincare for you is very important.

>>> Of course I do.

It's worth a million bucks.

I'd trade any of my mozzarella for it.

Not all mozzarella, some mozzarella.

I gotta keep some on the side.

But besides that, of course.

Yeah, I splash the water.

It's free.

>>> It's what we show the world.

And if we show the world we can't take care of our skin, it kind of reflects on what else we're neglecting.

>>> I think it is important only if it makes you feel good.

>>> I'm still confused.

Let me research it myself.

I need a break.

Let me call Jehe.

>>> Hello.

Hey, have you finished packing yet?

>>> Yeah.

I'm almost done.

>>> Have you thought over anything you'd like to do when you come to South Korea?

>>> Actually, I was wondering if we can go skincare shopping when I get to Korea?

>>> Yeah, that's cool.

>>> Cool.

Cool.

I'm so excited to go to Seoul and see Jehe.

Here I come!

After I landed, Jehe decided to show me around.

She took me to Skinfood, which is super popular in Korea.

We took the time to try ample skin serums.

And then we went to A'pieu for some cheap face masks.

There's so many options.

I wonder how Koreans take care of their skin?

After learning how people take care of their skin in both New York and Seoul, I realized that whether you cleanse, tone, moisturize, or just use water, skincare is about being comfortable with the way you look.

Tinabeth Piña: Our next video project is all about superstitions.

But do they even believe in that here in Korea?

Let's see.

Narrator: Our story begins with two long time friends who like to think they share a lot in common.

Yet they're about to find out the one thing they come to disagree on, leading towards some unexpected revelations.

>>> Oh.

>>> Uh, what are you doing, bro?

>>> Picking this penny up.

Can you not see?

>>> No, don't you dare pick it up.

You can't do that.

>>> Why?

It's free money?

You know you can't make a dollar without a penny.

>>> Yeah, I know it's money, but you can't pick it up.

It's face down.

>>> Um, who said so?

>>> It's a superstition.

You have to flip it over for the next person to pick it up.

>>> I can't believe you believe in those dumb superstitions.

>>> Are you serious, bro?

Put that penny down before you bring bad luck to us and the trip to Korea!

>>> I'm so sorry, but in my opinion superstitions are all nothing but a hoax and dumb.

>>> All right.

Later on, I'm going to send you a video so you can watch it, okay?

About superstitions.

>>> Whatever.

Not like any of it is true anyway.

>>> I'm serious.

>>> Mmhmm.

Narrator: Superstitions.

A superstition as a concept based on a belief that has been around for centuries throughout the world.

Especially in America, superstitions can be seen practiced in the American people's everyday life.

Whether it is based on habit or genuine fear, various superstitions are very much present in America today.

Some might believe in it while others think otherwise.

>>> I have heard of superstitions practically my whole life.

>>> I've heard of many superstitions.

Narrator: Some superstitions are widely accepted while others are deemed outlandish.

>>> I just don't feel like any of them are rooted in fact.

It's an excuse for people to find a reason to believe in something.

>>> I mean, most of them, I don't really understand why most of them exist.

Narrator: There are many superstitions that are followed by Americans.

>>> One of the superstitions I've done my whole life is knocking on wood.

Whenever I think or say something out loud that I'm scared that might actually happen, I knock on wood.

>>> There's the one about breaking a mirror and getting bad luck for like seven years.

There's walking under a ladder is bad luck.

Black cat.

Narrator: Some people are superstitious by habit while others purposefully perform superstitions.

>>> I think that I do superstitions like habit, without even noticing.

>>> I would say it's habit.

Like, when somebody tells me to take it back, I don't know why, I like spit three times.

Narrator: Now that we are more acquainted with superstitions in America, let's get back to our two friends as they learn more about different types of superstitions.

[new email alert] ♪ [intense loud music] ♪ [delicate music] ♪ [ominous music] ♪ [delicate music] ♪ [loud horn blast] ♪ [delicate music] ♪ [ominous music] ♪ [delicate music] At this point, Mathew remains dubious to superstitions while Edwin hopes to change his mind.

Will the journey in Korea change Matthew's opinion on superstitions or will he remain doubtful?

Let's find out as Edwin and Matthew arrive in Seoul and are greeted by their new friends.

>>> Oh wow.

Seoul is so nice.

>>> I know, right.

>>> Look!

>>> Hi guys!

>>> Look, it's our friends.

So Edwin told me that Koreans are very superstitious.

Is that true?

>>> Yes.

We are very superstitious.

>>> I have a video.

Look.

♪ [jovial music] ♪ [ominous music] ♪ [jovial music] ♪ [somber music] ♪ [jovial music] ♪ [ominous music] ♪ [jovial music] ♪ [intense music] ♪ [jovial music] >>> See what I mean, Mat?

>>> It's important to respect others.

>>> Exactly.

>>> That's true.

I guess superstitions are all over the world, and there's a reason for it.

But I wonder what Koreans think about it.

Narrator: Mathew found that just like in New York, some Koreans believe in superstitions.

Others thought superstitions were silly.

Some popular superstitions were: Let's get back for two friends to hear what conclusion Mathew has come to.

>>> So, what do you think about superstitions now?

>>> Well, after our chat with our Korean friends, I think that superstitions are actually really important and it gives people peace of mind so we should respect it.

>>> I'm glad you came to that conclusion.

Let me take you for a drink.

>>> All right.

Tinabeth Piña: The next video project is all about bodegas or convenience stores.

Do they even have them here in Korea?

You're about to find out.

Narrator: In New York City, we are always on the run and we need a place to take a breather.

And for that, we go to our local bodega.

>>> You know, bag of chips, popcorn, Lays.

Oh yeah, Lays, soda, candy.

It's always candy.

Sour Power Straws.

>>> Doritos, potato chips, sour cream and onion, Arizona.

You haven't really experienced the bodega atmosphere or you haven't lived the bodega experience until you've had a bacon, egg, and cheese or a turkey and cheese hero or a ham and cheese hero.

>>> If there's a deli, chopped cheese is always in demand.

You know, your usual Philly Cheese steaks, your chips, your Doritos.

Variety of snacks.

Mainly snacks.

I think they're an icon for the city.

>>> Oh, no, no, no, no.

This is what you do.

This is what you do.

What you can do.

I guess you could call it a rule.

If you already know how much this one thing cost and if you're waiting on line, you could just leave the change right there and then you can go about your day.

You don't have to like wait on line.

>>> I think it's the variety of foods and affordability as opposed to going to a franchise store where they'll sell you a sandwich for $10, $8.

If you can find a good combination of foods and snacks over here for as little as $6.

>>> Get rid of the $5 minimum and you can just pay as you go with a card.

>>> Honestly, I wouldn't change anything.

I like the size.

Not too big where you get overwhelmed with all the items they have.

It's just really small.

You basically go to the bodega ‘cause you know what you want.

I love bodegas.

>>> Corner stores usually last more than a decade in whatever community they're in.

They see their neighbors grow.

They know them by first name basis.

And yeah, and you know the whole family at one point.

>>> There's one that was right downstairs from my house.

And I used to go all the time.

The guy, well, the owners are always like, Oh, Hey.

How you doing?

How are you today?

They'll be like, they remember my birthday.

They were like, Oh, you're finally 18.

And then they were like, Oh, you finally 21.

So yeah, it's like everyone knows each other.

>>> As opposed to, you know, all those negative stereotypes about each community.

You see actually being in the neighborhood, you see the good in it.

And you see how family oriented some of the communities might be.

>>> These are bomb.

If y'all don't like spicy stuff, I don't know, but these right here.

These are not your basic potato chips.

These are not your basic potato chips.

>>> It's orgasmic.

But no.

>>> My home felt like a bodega.

>>> I don't even know if they have delis in Korea.

If they do that'd be interesting.

Narrator: Like New York City, Seoul is a city that is always moving and they need convenience stores that move as fast as they do.

>>> This is my favorite food.

Narrator: There are similarities and differences in Korean convenience stores as these foreign students can explain to you.

>>> We don't have this back in America.

>>> Yeah, we don't.

>>> I like this though.

This is good.

>>> I like this one better.

>>> Coffee milk.

>>> Yeah.

>>> It's very self service, so you don't really interact with anybody.

You're just going in and going out and you don't do anything else.

You don't speak to anybody.

Everybody just does their own thing.

>>> You grab and you go.

>>> You get what you want and then you're out of there.

You don't hang around.

>>> Yes.

Compared to New York, you get stopped by the bodega owners or the bodega workers and they try and have a conversation with you.

Here, it's just like, Oh, I'm going to go in and grab my stuff and then come back out.

Narrator: Whether there are similarities or differences, convenience stores in both countries serve their purpose to support the community they're in.

Tinabeth Piña: And that concludes the four video projects shot by Brooklyn College's Study Abroad in South Korea program.

Clearly Seoul is a fascinating city full of culture, language, shopping, food -- you name it, Seoul's got it.

And the intercultural understanding that the students have gained from this trip will last them a lifetime.

Thanks for watching Globe Scholars and I can't wait to find out where we're going next.

Happy travels my friends.

Bye.

Mariama Parsons: Well, it was a really fun experience, number one.

Like, it was definitely, definitely stressful because of the project.

But when you take away that stress on the project, you know, I got to meet a lot of really cool people.

I got to see a lot of cool places that I probably would not have been able to see myself or known about.

Jason Bravo: You'd be surprised by how easy it is to study abroad.

And there's so many programs that are more than willing to help out.

Mathew Reed: Really getting to be in Seoul and experiencing it has just been amazing.

Tinabeth Piña: For more information about studying abroad in South Korea, or in 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.