“Where in the World?”
By Eliana Marcum
The global spotlight of this week is a more unknown study abroad location for Oklahoma Christian: South Korea! Located in the southern half of the Korean peninsula, South Korea is known for its rich history, culture and cities. Often referred to as the “land of high mountains and sparkling streams”, South Korea is a beautiful location to visit and even their big cities show off the natural beauty of the country. Many people are drawn to the city of Seoul for the pop culture, delicious cuisine and innovative technology. Jiyeong Kwak, one of the Korean exchange students at Oklahoma Christian said that “one of the best things about Seoul is that there is truly something for everyone. Whether you enjoy shopping, nightlife, studying, visiting museums, exploring historical sites, or discovering cute cafés, you can find it all there.”
While a majority of South Korea does not have an affiliation with any religion, two of the dominant religions are Buddhism and Protestantism. Buddhism has deep cultural roots, as exemplified in the myriad of beautiful Buddhist temples. In comparison, Protestantism was recently introduced and has since grown to be impactful on Korean culture. One of the biggest unifiers of South Korea is the easy access to amazing public transportation that enables people to travel throughout the whole country. Yenim Kwon, another exchange student, encourages the trip to Seoul: “If you want to experience many different things in Korea, I think Seoul is the best place to go. It’s such a beautiful city where you can experience both nature and city life at the same time!” Oklahoma Christian exchange students have an opportunity to encounter many famous Korean sites by going to museums, exhibits and the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). A week trip to Seoul is available and encouraged with the study abroad program Asian Studies. Email the Office of International Programs for more information at: studyabroad@oc.edu.
In Case You Didn’t Know
By Ella Mae Lucero
Monday, October 26: National Pumpkin Day
Tuesday, October 27: National Black Cat Day
Wednesday, October 28: National Responders Day
Thursday, October 29: National Internet Day
Friday, October 30: National Candy Corn Day
Fun Fact: Cleopatra lived closer to the Moon landing than to the building of the Great Pyramid, highlighting how deep ancient history truly is.
Weekly Wellness
By Madeline Ross
Having trouble falling asleep or spending the night tossing and turning? Your bedtime scrolling habit could be part of the problem. Studies suggest that using your phone before bed can interfere with your sleep, while putting it away 30–60 minutes before bedtime may help you fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and feel more relaxed.
In one small randomized study, participants who stopped using their phones 30 minutes before bed for four weeks fell asleep about 12 minutes faster and slept roughly 22 minutes longer than they had before. They also reported better sleep quality and a more positive mood. Taking a break from your phone may help in a few ways. It cuts down on stimulating content, keeps scrolling from pushing back your bedtime, and reduces exposure to screen light that can interfere with melatonin, the hormone that signals to your body that it’s time to sleep.
Better sleep may start with a simple change: giving yourself time to unplug. Putting your phone away 30–60 minutes before bed can create space to wind down without the distractions of notifications or endless scrolling.
Oxford Academic- Effects of evening smartphone use on sleep and declarative memory consolidation in male adolescents and young adults
Harvard- Blue light has a dark side
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