Big world, small bank account

Hi everyone,

My name is Josh and I am a medical molecular student at RSU. I have started a blog because this summer I am studying bioethics in South Korea. I have never been outside of the country before, so this will be a unique and exciting experience for myself that I will share with anyone who wishes to follow me in this blog. To give you a little more information about me, I am a member of the Honors program and Presidential Leadership Class at RSU, and so being honored with a full ride and many other career and networking oportunities, I have decided to do everything I can to give back to my college. I am also the treasurer of the Student Government Association on campus and the President of the Spanish Club. I work part time as well at a hospital in Tulsa where I am an emergency room technician. In my free time (what little I have) I enjoy reading, running, swimming, hiking, spelunking, paintballing, wakeboarding, and just about any other outdoor activity. My life goal is to become a doctor and travel the world helping people in various natural and man-made disasters. I want the impact of my life to go beyond Claremore Oklahoma. I want to be remembered as in individual that made a positive impact on the world.

In Korea we plan on doing many interesting things. Aside from learning the language, the accompanying RSU students and I will be in a class with other students from around the globe. We will be learning Korean history and discussing various ethical topics and how Korea chooses to deal with them compared to the rest of the world. We will have the opportunity to visit the DMZ (demilitarized zone) between North and South Korea, visit a cloning facility, help clean up an oil spill, climb a mountain to visit a temple, and try dog soup! I don't actually know of anyone else that plans on trying dog soup, but I'm only young once, and I believe it will allow me to connect with my annoying Jack-Russel Terrier on a whole new level.

Professor Kim is a native Korean who teaches molecular biology at RSU, and he is hosting this trip. He is a hilarious, amazing professor, but he had us hit the ground running. His goal is to have us be able to read and speak Korean before we get on the plane. I am fairly good at reading Korean now, but as for understanding what I am reading or saying... that may take a few more years. I think Professor Kim believes if we can make people laugh with our feeble attempts to read and speak their language then they may be inclined to give us free food, and I am ok with that.

In preparation for the trip I actually haven't had to do much. The only thing needed was a passport which I took care of at the court house for $100 and recieved in the mail in under a month. No innoculations were required aside from what is needed in the U.S., which is good because I heard you have to have about 12 vaccinations to visit other countries. I am probably taking an Iphone to have internet while I am there, but the phone part will not work outside of the U.S. I have also been advised not to use credit cards due to large fees, so I am taking cash and a very sturdy money belt to keep with me wherever I go. There is too much to talk about all in one blog, so I will be back on again soon. I am leaving on the 21st of June, so I will be posting at least once or twice more before I go. I hope I have been helpful in advocating this tripand I am more than willing to answer any questions. To any person interested in a study abroad program such as this I suggest you read this blog and the blog of the other students going on this trip and I am sure this will be an experience you will not want to miss out on. And on a final note, eating dog soup is not a requirement. -Josh