By Honorary Reporter Jeremie Paula from the Philippines
Photos= Jeremie Paula

"How does it feel like to be an Honorary Reporter for Korea.net?"

I was asked this question multiple times by family and friends. I answered that my visit to Busan from Nov. 13-15 with other Honorary Reporters could be summarized by the term "FEED."

This is me proudly presenting the APEC Nurimaru House overseeing Haeundae Beach

F is for fun and friendship
I thought the itinerary was packed and overwhelming with so many places to visit with limited time; I also felt the need to document them through photos and an article. But Yoda whispered in my ear, “Do or do not, there is no try! This experience is once in a lifetime, you might get a new experience as an Honorary Reporter but you never know when you can see the people you met again.” So on our first day, I introduced myself to fellow Honorary Reporters and just like that, new friendships were made. We chilled in each other’s rooms and went to noraebang (karaoke box) at night. After that, we instantly clicked as if we’d known each other for a lifetime.

Our team was composed of Anna from Russia, Elena from Germany, Cindy from China, Nancy from Mexico, Milton from El Salvador, Nina from Indonesia, Sarah, Sally and Mahmoud from Egypt, and my compatriots Chiarra, Jean, Joey, Sheena and Wendy from the Philippines. Everyone was having fun taking selfies, filming videos and drinking coffee while exchanging stories and just enjoying each other’s company.

E is for experience 

I’d been to Busan many times but my three-day trip there with Korea.net was something new. I gained firsthand experience in things such as learning how to cook Busan’s unique pajeon (pancake), going to the city’s most famous seafood market Jagalchi, eating the best fresh grilled fish and making boys’ shoes. Also, we went to Busan Tower and took many photos inside. Surprisingly while going around, we found a lot of photo booths with a variety of themes.

We also passed by the Busan Modern History Museum, which used to be the Busan branch office of Oriental Development Company in the 1930s and later the U.S. Culture Center in the 1940s. I also made my first visit to the largest media art museum in Korea, Museum DAH. I also got to see the exterior of Nurimaru APEC House, which is under renovation.

Museum DAH has an interactive table that displays flowers when touched

Then we went to the most beautiful temple in Korea, Haedong Yonggungsa, which was established during the Goryeo Dynasty in 1376 and at night, we went to see The Bay 101, which showcased amazing views of skyscrapers that reminded me of Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

This is a silhouette of me at the center while each of us tried to take picture-perfect photos of our reflections along The Bay 101 at night. (Korea.net DB)

E is for exposure
As an Honorary Reporter, it is a given that you will get exposure. While I was filmed, interviewed and featured by news media in Korea, my favorite part was to meeting people of various nationalities, going to new places, tasting new food, experiencing new culture and traditions, and gaining new knowledge.

D is for discovery
I discovered a lot of innovative, diverse and unique things. After my trip to Busan, I found a lot of new places to visit and things to do in the second-largest in Korea. Moreover the markets Gukje, Bupyeong and Jalgachi are close to each other and considered major landmarks. Bupyeong was my favorite as it offered free sampling of delicious street food such as unique types of fish and rice cakes. This trip allowed me to discover historical places and encouraged me to travel to outside of my comfort zone.

(Korea.net DB)

Being an Honorary Reporter is the most fun with friends and a rewarding experience that I will always treasure and be proud of. Lastly, it involves exposure to media and new people and experiences as well as a self-discovery process that gave me an alternative perspective of the world. I’m grateful to Korea.net for this great opportunity to learn new aspects of Korea, and I will keep sharing my experiences with the world.

(Korea.net DB)

chaey0726@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.