Visit to Korea exposes two distinct cultures ~IOngwith the traditional pursuits of holding koalas, feeding kangaroos, sun baking on numerous beaches and photographing tl,e Sydney pera House, the fall 2004 Harding University in Australia group added Korean adventures such as hiking in the mountains, touring cultural temples and attending Korean performances to its itinerary. While the additional trip to Korea came as a surprise to many in the group, sophomore Dusty Hanes said it gave him one more activity to look forward to for the semester. "I didn't know [about the trip to Korea when I first signed up for HUAj, but l was excited when I found out," Hanes said. "J knew it was going to be a chance to experience another country and continent, along with a new culture." The group arrived in South Korea Aug. 27 and spent a week in Seoul, Seoraksan and Gyeongju. Junior Amy Jo Parker said she enjoyed the scenery in the country and the safe, but busy, atmosphere in the city. "I loved getting to know tl,e culture and learning the history. I loved collecting different things with Korean writing on it and r really loved the shopping," Parker said. "The only thing that brought down the mood of the trip was the food. Some days were tolerable, but most of the weeds and dead fish we had to eat were unbearable." When the group traveled onto Sydney, Australia, senior Barkley Terry said they were greeted with another culture. "Australia is more for the outdoorsman and seems to be more of a laidback culture like in the South," Tenry said. "Korea was very fast paced and cl uttered." STUDENT LIFE - 26 In addition to the attitude differences, Parker said she noticed how Australia's diversity compared more with the United States than Korea did. " In Korea, all you saw were Koreans," Parker said. "We hardly saw any other races of people. In Australia, though, we see all sorts of different cultures. There is a high number of Asian people here, but also many different Europeans, and we've run into a few Americans as well. TIle culture here is much more diverse, and we blend in a lot better." Once in Australia, the group traveled all over the country, down to Canberra and Tasmania and along the Great Ocean Road. "llleGreatOceanRoad is the most beautiful stretch of pavement in the world," Terry said. "The sites are immaculate and breathtaking." The group also spent time on Australian beaches, like at the Tangalooma Island beach resort. Hanes said the weekend in Tangalooma was the most exciting part of the first half of the semester. . "We had the opportunity to get away for a few days at this amazing resort/' Hanes said. "It was absolute paradise. Besides relaxing on an island beach, I fed wild dolphins, snorkeled around old shipwrecks, watched the sun set twice and parasailed over the most beautiful water I've ever seen." Parker said the best part of the trip was getting introduced to the culture and interacting with the wildlife. "Any time I did something really awesome, it was because I was trying to live like an Australian," Parker said. "1think feeding a kangaroo for the first time was definitely the coolest thing ever." ~DEANN THOMAS ATTHE AUSTRALIAN WOOLSHED IN BRISBANE, junior Amy Jo Parker feeds akangaroo Sept. 29 while i5 joey nuees beside her."1 think feeding akangaroo for the fiet time was definitely the (oolest thin~' Parker said.·COURTESY OF A. PARKER
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