Smart Backpacker: Seoul, South Korea (Day 1-2)

There are so many rewards/benefits of being a teacher.

Tangible and intangible rewards.

But the best reward is the recognition coming from your own school and the students.

And second to it is the FREE TRAVEL to KOREA! =)

October, 2011

Far Eastern University (FEU)

Manila, Philippines

Part of the incentive program of FEU for teachers for their excellence and dedication in teaching is that we are rewarded to travel abroad as part of the educational tour program. We are sent abroad to learn the teaching methodologies of our fellow teachers, the country's unique culture, their way of living and as well as to expand our perspective in life.

Before this educational tour, some FEU professors were sent to Thailand and Taiwan. But we were fortunate enough to have been chosen to represent our University to Far East University, Korea.

Originally, we were supposed to be sent to Beijing, China. But we requested instead to be transferred to Seoul, South Korea. And the management was kind enough to oblige to our request. And this was the start of a beautiful, informative and fun-filled travel to Korea.

Day 1 (October 20, 2011)

The flight was 12:05 midnight and it was a very early Korean Air flight!

Joining the the educational tour are the following professors from FEU, namely:

1. Prof. Helen Advincula

2. Prof. Buenvenida Santos

3. PH Joeven Castro

4. Prof. Benjamin Concepcion

5. Prof. Jose Dadulla

6. Prof. Sofronio Dulay

7. AVP Barbara Fernandez

8. Guidance Director Sheila Marie Jocson

9. Prof. Zhenya Lim

10. Prof. Joseph Lopez

11. Prof. Wilhelmina Martin

12. PC Luzelle Anne Ormita

13. Prof. Glorina Orozco

14. PH James Owen Saguinsin

15. Univ. Registrar Grace Sipin

16. Prof. Maricar Tan

17. Prof. Romulo Villanueva

18. Atty. Amado R. Villegas, Jr.

Arriving at the Incheon Airport, I immediately felt the change in the weather. This is Korea!

Oceanside Hotel in Incheon, Korea

From the airport, we were fetched by the hotel's transport bus. It was a 30 minute drive from the airport to the hotel.

I sensed the feeling of excitement and enthusiasm among my co-teachers. The 4-hour flight did not hinder the feeling of excitement instead it rejuvenated the innate passion to travel to Korea.

We stayed in the hotel for four (4) days. Some of us had to share rooms and luckily, I had to share the room only with Prof. Dulay (who happens to be a close friend from my department).

Anyway, we are here in Korea! But we were told to take a brief nap before embarking on our educational tour to Far East Korea. And we did.

After taking the brief nap, we fixed ourselves and went to Far East University. We were fetched this time by the university's bus and it was a 2-3 hour travel to the said university.

Arriving at the university, we were greeted with enthusiasm by the deans and professors of Far East University. Both universities presented their respective powerpoint presentations for their profile.

We toured the entire premises of Far East University. And the premises was so huge that some of us were not able to cover the whole grounds of the university.

On our part, we talked with the Dean of the Business Administration and the latter shared his insights, school's policies, and teaching methodologies.

It was a great experience for us!

After the educational tour, we proceeded to the university's golf course and took this photo.

Everyone was enjoying!

And then, we took our free lunch courtesy of Far East University at this restaurant!

We went back to the hotel and rested.

Day 2

We were supposed to visit again the university the following day, but we were told that the university officials/staff were not available for a very urgent matter concerning the university.

So, we did not stay in Incheon. We went to Seoul!