Preparing for Takeoff: My Upcoming Journey to South Korea and China

By Viljena Trask

Hello everyone! My name is Viljena (vuh-lay-nah, with a silent “J”; she/her), and I am excited to participate in the ECU Global Affairs Blog Takeover.

I was born and raised in Riga, Latvia, and moved to the United States as a young adult. I now live in Cary, North Carolina. I am in the final year of my Master of Business Administration program. I am a proud member of Beta Gamma Sigma and will be completing the Emerging Leaders Certification Program through the Truist Leadership Institute this summer and fall.

For the past 15 years, I have built my career in clinical research, with a focus on oncology and the development of new therapies for patients. One of my goals for this study abroad experience is to deepen my understanding of cultural and business communication styles, which I hope to apply in my global role.

✈️ Travel Planning and Visa Adventures

Planning for this trip began with researching flights. Based on previous travel experience, I knew that flights to Seoul typically take 14 to 15 hours, so I searched for the shortest trans-Pacific option. I booked a route from Raleigh-Durham (RDU) with a connection through Seattle.

Photo of a woman standing on the sidewalk wearing eyeglasses and a maroon long sleeve shirt.

Viljena Trask

Once my flights were confirmed, I shifted focus to securing my Chinese visa. I visited the Chinese Embassy Visa Office in Washington, D.C., where the application process was smooth and straightforward. I made the most of the day by exploring Georgetown, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Holocaust Museum—places I had been wanting to visit for a while.

Image of a flight directory taken from a mobile phone showing a flight path superimposed on the globe.

My flight plan.

🗓️ Extended Adventures and Work Flexibility

Since I will be taking time off work, I had to plan carefully. Thankfully, my role at a global pharmaceutical company offers flexibility. I decided to arrive in Seoul a few days early to explore before the program officially begins.

After the academic portion ends, I will take a high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai for a weekend visit. One of the aspects I am most excited about is the opportunity to meet colleagues in both cities—an enriching experience made possible by working on global teams.

📱 Travel Tools and Apps

Traveling to Asia requires adjusting to different digital ecosystems. Many apps commonly used in the U.S. are less prevalent in Korea and China, so I prepared by downloading the following tools:

  • Naver for maps and bookmarking locations
  • Papago for real-time translations
  • Trip.com to book high-speed train tickets
  • Alipay for mobile payments in China
  • WeChat and WhatsApp for messaging
  • Airalo for international eSIM service (tip: make sure your phone is unlocked)
  • TripIt and Flighty for flight tracking and itinerary management
Image of a woman holding a ticket for the Holocaust museum in Washington D.C.

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

A picture of the portraits of female Supreme Court Justices Sotamyor, Kagen, O'Connor, and Ginsberg. Artist unknown.

The National Gallery

Picture of a woman holding an Amtrak ticket for passage to Washington D.C. from Rocky Mount, North Carolina

N.C. to D.C on Amtrak

Image of the interior lobby of the visa office at the embassy of the People's Republic of China

Getting my VISA.

📍My Seoul Must-See List

Thanks to hours of TikTok research and Naver bookmarking, my Seoul itinerary is coming together! Here are some places I am excited to visit:

  • Olympic Park
  • Suwon Arboretum
  • Seoul Botanical Park
  • Inwangsan and Hwangnyeonsan Mountains
  • Coex Aquarium
  • Leeum Museum of Art
  • Sanrio Lovers Club and Hello Kitty Café

🧳 Final Checklist

My final to-do list includes packing essentials like outlet adapters, small gifts for colleagues (Chapel Hill Toffee is always a hit), and Girl Scout cookies. I also plan to withdraw cash from the airport ATM to purchase a T-money card, which I will use for public transportation and local purchases in Seoul.

The countdown is officially on, and I look forward to sharing more from the road!