“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”

Hey everyone!

My name is Jillian Gordon and I am a freshman majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State.


In four short weeks 20 of my fellow Ag Ed majors here at Penn State and at the University of Florida will be traveling to Seoul, South Korea for the experience of a lifetime!


Earlier this semester when I first decided to embark of this adventure, I was skeptical. How would going to a country like South Korea help me as a future ag teacher? How would it be of value to me? I knew very little about South Korea, and part of me thought I would gain little from the experience.


After these last 10 class sessions, I have been proven very wrong. My perceptions of the cultures, education system and agriculture were blown out of the water. South Korea is one of the most developed nations on the entire planet! Their ancient traditions meshed with new technologies and ways of thinking make it one of the most interesting place on Earth, and I can't wait to see it first hand.


Not even having boarded the plane on my first trip out of the country, I am already curious about how little I really know about the world around me. On this trip, I hope to learn more about the agriculture and education system in Korea and bring valuable information back to the United States. At this point, my mind has turned into a sponge. I was to absorb and appreciate as much as I possibly can from the moment I enter the airport until the plane touches back down in State College. I know I will come back home learning and appreciating more than I could have ever expected!


This trip is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!