Vania Omosemoje ’28 | Global Studies and Political Science Double Major, Music Minor | Travel Course: South Korea, Spring 2025 | Presidential Fund for Equity Recipient 

In Spring 2025, Vania Omosemoje ‘28 traveled to Seoul and Incheon, South Korea, for a travel course that explored South Korea's dynamic influence on world literature, film, art, and technology. For the Nigerian-American first-year student from Pennsylvania, it was a transformative experience that deepened her academic passions and personal interests in music, Korean language, culture, and international politics.  

“I learned so much about Korea’s colonial history, political separation, and the intentional design behind many aspects of its architecture and public spaces,” said Vania. “There’s a sense of thoughtfulness embedded in everyday life in Korea that really stood out to me.” 

The experience was made possible through the Presidential Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience, which helps students participate in short-term study abroad that might otherwise be out of reach financially.

“This was my first spring attachment at Marist, and without the PEF, I wouldn’t have been able to participate with the same comfort and peace of mind. It’s been unforgettable just in my first year.” 

Thanks to the fund, Vania:

• Visited iconic sites including Gyeongbok Palace and the National Museum of Korea.
• Took a K-pop dance class taught in Korean, practiced her language skills while navigating city life, and attended a university spring festival featuring Korean music artists. 
• Lived Korean culture firsthand—ringing a temple bell during a stay at Hwagyesa Temple, exploring vibrant markets like Tongin Market, and enjoying traditional multi-course Korean meals with classmates and professors. 
• Presented original academic research at Hongik University in Seoul. Her paper, “Different Origins, Same Fate: Patriarchal Oppression and Its Effects on Women Explored Through Korean and Afghan History,” was shared with students from both Marist and Hongik.   

Outside of the classroom, Vania soaked in every moment. “We saw artists perform live, walked along the Cheonggyecheon stream, ate spicy Dak-galbi in Hongdae, and visited the Dora Observatory where we looked into North Korea,” she said. 

Visits to top publishers, cultural institutions, and meetings with acclaimed authors and artists deepened her understanding of East Asia. Whether sitting before a royal painting or walking Seoul’s streets in traditional hanbok, Vania experienced how Korean culture, politics, and history shape modern life and her own global perspective. "Every experience tied into something I love, such as music, global politics, and learning Korean," she said.