Last weekend, I took the KTX train with other interns in my program to Gyeongju, which was the capital of the Silla Kingdom for almost 1,000 years. I was really excited for this trip because it gave me the chance to see another part of South Korea outside of Seoul. Compared to Seoul, Gyeongju was much quieter and slower paced. Since it’s known as the historical center of South Korea, there were landmarks and historic buildings everywhere we went. Even the gas stations and 7/11s had a hanok roof, which I thought was kinda funny looking.
On Saturday, we visited the Daereungwon Tomb Complex, where we walked along the large grassy royal burial mounds of the Silla royalty and generals which I thought kind of looked like Adventure Time hills. We also stopped by Cheomseongdae, the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia, before exploring Hwangnidan-gil. That became one of my favorite areas in Gyeongju because it was full of unique shops, cafés, and restaurants. Absolutely fanTASTIC for my Insta story.
Later in the afternoon, we walked over to Wolji Pond. One thing that caught me off guard was seeing signs in the public restrooms asking visitors to throw their toilet paper in the trash instead of flushing it. I had only heard of that being common in places like Greece, but after looking it up, I learned that some older buildings and historic sites in Korea have plumbing systems that can’t handle flushing toilet paper.
On our way to the Gyeongju National Museum, we did even more walking (29,000 steps total cough cough) and passed through an area filled with lotus flowers that were in full bloom since they’re in season. It was such a pretty walk and definitely worth the extra steps. The museum ended up being a nice break from the summer heat (thank you air conditioning), but it was also interesting to learn more about the history of the Silla Kingdom and see many of the artifacts that had been discovered in the area. That night, we went back to Woljeonggyo Bridge after it was lit up. Seeing it at night was completely different from seeing it during the day, and the reflections on the water made it one of the most beautiful views of the trip. Especially with a heron sighting under the bridge!
On Sunday, we took the bus up a mountain to Bulguksa Temple. The view from the top was so breathtaking! We were lucky to have such a clear day, especially since the rainy season was right around the corner. As much as I’ve loved living in Seoul, this trip reminded me that every part of South Korea has something different to offer. Gyeongju felt like a completely different side of the country, and I’m really glad I had the chance to experience both its history before heading back to Seoul.
One thing I’ve realized during my internship is that there usually isn’t one “right” answer. Before I started, I thought most of my assignments would come with detailed instructions. Instead, a lot of the work is open-ended. My mentors usually explain what the end goal is, then leave it up to me to figure out the best way to get there.
At first that was a little intimidating. It’s easy to doubt yourself when there isn’t a step-by-step guide to follow, and I’m someone who prefers clear directions. Sometimes I’ll ask a question expecting a clear answer, but instead I’ll hear something like, “Try a few different approaches and see what works.” It has definitely challenged me to think for myself and trust my own skills/judgement.
I’ve also learned that this is just how research works. A lot of the projects involve creating something new or improving existing technology, so there usually isn’t one obvious solution. Everyone on the team has their own way of approaching a problem, and that’s encouraged and expected. Instead of trying to find the perfect answer right away, I’m learning to test different ideas, ask questions when I get stuck, and improve my work as I go.
Even though not always knowing the answer can be frustrating, I’ve started to appreciate it. It’s helping me become more independent and more confident in my ability to figure things out on my own.
