The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs gave Indiana University Indianapolis students the privilege of delving into different cultures over spring break. For graduate student Faith Odiete and undergraduate student Chandler Jessup, the O’Neill International Spring Break Abroad program provided a chance to step away from the traditional classroom experience and jump into the culture for a change of pace. Both students set their sights on South Korea, which was one of the four destinations offered through the program.
After a previous positive experience studying abroad in Costa Rica, Odiete had no question whether she should immerse herself in another one during her last semester before graduation. She found the perfect way to end this chapter in her life when she found herself at the Orange Space near one of her classes last semester, where she learned about the upcoming spring programs O’Neill would be offering.
Faith Odiete in front of the Sejong National Research Complex in Seoul, South Korea. Photo provided by Faith Odiete“For some reason the one in South Korea spoke to me,” Odiete said.
She often watches Korean movies and has had her share of ramen noodles, which is a popular Korean meal. Odiete compared her time in Seoul, South Korea, to the vibrant Netflix show, “XO Kitty.”
“There was a lot of emphasis on culture, immersion, trying to get a global perspective,” she said.
Odiete’s itinerary allowed for her and other group members to immerse themselves in Seoul. This included the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Blue House, Starfield Library, Hanok Village and the Jogyesa Temple. She said she was enthralled by the historic places that spoke to the Korean people.
The trip centered on energy, poverty, social innovation and sustainability through the lens of South Korea. Being an O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs master’s student, this was her bread and butter. Her group visited the Korean Environmental Institute, where she learned about the ongoing research into solar energy and social innovation from South Korean researchers.
“Learning from a different perspective, from a global perspective, is really important for me to be able to look for ways to innovate and do comparisons,” she said.
Junior Chandler Jessup, a management and civic leadership major, is fueled by her passion and love of traveling.
Chandler Jessup in front of the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in South Korea. Photo provided by Chandler JessupHer first IU Indianapolis study abroad opportunity was in Denmark.
When she learned of the South Korea IU Indianapolis study abroad opportunity, she looked forward to having another country she could cross off her bucket list. She said she felt out of her comfort zone when reading the course details of the trip, but she took the leap and fell in love with the beauty and culture of South Korea.
Jessup said she appreciated the older buildings and the culture, as well as the kind people who tried their best to communicate with her and the group via a translator app.
She said the Jogyesa Temple had a quiet and respectful presence, with giant golden Buddha statues and locals gathering to pray, each one of them on mats. This, she said, topped the list of surreal moments of her trip.
“I’m not really a religious person; I don’t come from a religious background, yet that was one of the most powerful moments of the trip for me,” Jessup said.
By the end of the trip, Odiete, Jessup and other IU Indianapolis and Bloomington students put together a presentation on what they had learned, comparisons between the environmental efforts being done in South Korea and the United States, and ultimately what they can do to improve the environment in the States. Odiete said she admired South Korea’s ongoing environmental efforts throughout the country and hopes to one day see similar projects being done here to improve and further progress.
Odiete and Jessup learned how South Korea’s Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project took a new approach to infrastructures. Odiete said the city of Seoul disassembled a major elevated expressway in the early 2000s and began to restore a historic stream that had been buried under concrete for decades.
“This project turned the area into a vibrant green corridor with water features, walkways and ecological habitats, helping with flood control, lowering urban temperatures and improving air quality,” Odiete said.
Jessup said she encourages IU Indianapolis students to take on an IU study abroad experience and is already looking forward to her third such trip scheduled for the summer.
“I’ve been able to travel around the world, and the connections that I’ve made have really made the world so much smaller,” Jessup said.
