Student cleanses mind and Seoul with exchange trip

A GCU student has reflected on his trip to South Korea and how it inspired him for the future.

Pawel Lesik, who is a final year Food Science student, joined seven other GCU students in Seoul as they spent four weeks in the summer getting to grips with Korean culture thanks to the Hansung International Summer School (HISS). Students from America, Canada and England were also involved in the programme.

GCU’s International Partnership Office supported Pawel throughout the process of travelling to and from the Hansung University. This included information around receiving funding from the Turing Scheme, which is the UK’s global programme for studying and working abroad. This funding enables students across a wide range of subject areas to undertake international study, placement, and internship opportunities.

We spoke to Pawel about his background, interest in Korean culture and how the trip gave him the opportunity to explore and deepen his Buddhist faith.

Why did you decide to study Food Science?

“I’ve worked with food all my life in factories, grocery shops and as a chef. I love food, especially the cooking side. I wanted to work at a higher level and combine my love of food with my interest in science, so this course was perfect for me.”

How did you find out about the opportunity to travel to South Korea and what appealed to you about the trip?

“Dr Janice Taylor told me about the opportunity to spend a Trimester in the Netherlands, but it was too long for me. I spoke with the GCU International Partnerships Office and they said that I could do a shorter trip. The opportunity to go to South Korea was mentioned, and I knew it was perfect for me. I have an interest in East Asian food because it’s very healthy and they also carry out  a lot of research on probiotics.

“The structure of the programme really appealed to me because of the focus on Korean language and culture, so I wanted to explore this. I also have an interest in the philosophical side of South Korea in regards to Buddhism.

“I’ve been practicing Buddhism for a year and I really wanted to go and experience it firsthand since South Korea is a Buddhist country. I would say Buddhism has become more popular in recent times due to the meditation and mindfulness parts of the religion.

What was your experience like throughout the four weeks?

“It was a long flight but I could see a lot of islands as we approached Seoul. When we landed the airport was absolutely huge, but it was thankfully easy to navigate.

“We stayed at student accommodation dormitories, and each room had three or four students. Thankfully there was air conditioning, given it was around 32 degrees each day.

“We had theory classes in the morning where we would get the chance to learn about the culture and history of South Korea. Then in the afternoon we would have activities related to the specific things we had discussed earlier in the day.

“We done so many different things. We actually visited a lot of different restaurants, which meant I got the chance to try Korean food. It was very good – I tried Tteokbokki, bibimbap and traditional Korean chicken soup. It was particularly interesting because it contains roots and is believed to prevent strokes.”

Tell me a bit more about the cultural side of your trip – what sort of places did you visit?

“We went to traditional dance classes, traditional music, comedy shows and also Taekwondo classes, which was my favourite. I really liked it the most because of the connection between martial arts and culture. A lot of it actually connects back to Buddhism, especially mindfulness and appropriate behaviour.

“We also visited the Seoul Olympic village and visited a local seaside town which is famous as it’s linked to the K-pop band BTS. Another highlight was the trip to the Demilitarized Zone between South and North Korea – it was crazy to see.”

Did the trip allow you to explore your religion in the way you initially hoped?

“I first started meditation about ten years ago. My friend encouraged me to do it for my mental health. After a year of doing it, I then decided to explore it all a little further and look into what meditation actually is. That then led to me reading more about Hinduism and Buddhism. It was definitely Buddhism that attracted me more because it’s more philosophy rather than religion. I liked the fact it wasn’t linked to anything supernatural.

“During the trip we were given time off every weekend and that allowed me to visit different temples. I really liked the designs and it allowed me to feel a deep connection to everything. I also attended calligraphy classes, which allowed me to learn about Chinese characters and the Korean Hangul Alphabet.

“My favourite temple was Jogyesa. I absolutely loved the view because it was so natural and there was amazing plants. It really helps with meditation because it keeps you focused.”

How has this trip benefitted you at this point in your career?

“The whole process of the trip definitely increased my confidence. It has genuinely given me the feeling that I can actually do many things in life.”

You can find out more about Exchange and study abroad opportunities here

By Ross Clark

Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk