McBride Practicum: Journey of Street Food in Seoul and Bangkok

Time has felt unreal the past two weeks and I haven't exactly been keeping track of the dates, so it's hard to believe that writing this now, it is one of my last days in South Korea. The past two and a half weeks have created such a valuable experience for me, beyond just exploring my research of street food. By spreading out my trip to South Korea I've been able to experience this modern society in more than just a touristy sense, but also observe how Koreans go about their regular days. By following this research I have also met some amazing people and created some unforgettable experiences. I now have contacts from Korean friends I made struggling to order at a restaurant, or reaching for the same item in a clothing store who have said they would welcome me again with open arms on my next visit to Korea. Realistically it has not been all utopia either and I have definitely encountered some struggles as well with the language barrier, some foreigner discrimination and ba

Time goes by fast, and with that said, I have been in Seoul for a week.  Truthfully I thought I would have a hard time prioritizing my research in the first week due to all the interesting things to do in the city distracting me, yet it turns out I'm thinking about my research and finding concepts that relate to it in everything I have done. Going out in this past week and watching people interact with food in restaurants, cafes and street markets has provided valuable insight into the merit of food in the Korean culture.   Frankly when you plan an international trip without an itinerary, the days can look a little random. Alysa and I would wake up with one desired destination in mind, and the rest of the time walk around until something caught our eye. While struggling to figure out the subway system, this method was actually pretty helpful because whenever we took the wrong train, which was often, we would end up trying to figure out things to do in the accidental arrival area. W

 Hello everyone!  My name is Parmida Mahdavi and I am a senior in Engineering Physics with a focus on space and planetary sciences at the Colorado School of Mines. I am also a senior McBride scholar which means that I currently completing my practicum to attain my public affairs minor, which is what this blog is going to be about. For those who are not familiar with the McBride practicum, it is essentially:  "All McBride students need to fulfill a three-credit 'Practicum,' which emphasizes experiential education, cultural immersion, and course design. The practicum is similar to an independent study, but with a twist. The goal of the course is for you to pursue a worthwhile experiential learning opportunity – that is, to 'learn by doing.'" Starting in May of this year, I started planning my practicum and eight months later, I am at the airport waiting to board my flight to Seoul, South Korea. I am eternally grateful for the McBride Honors program for providing