Artiom Plesko (FMF): „Gedis' Trip to Korea and Japan"

The journey of our VILNIUS TECH wolf talisman, Gedis, begins in Seoul, South Korea.

The first place he visited was a traditional Korean tea house, where he had the opportunity to refresh himself with a warm cup of tea. The establishment offered a variety of beverages, ranging from hot, vitamin-packed citrus teas to cold cinnamon teas and coffees. Following Korean tradition, he sat on the floor while enjoying his tea, fully immersing himself in the authentic experience.

Later that evening, Gedis decided to spend time by Cheonggyecheon Stream. Located in the heart of Jongno District, surrounded by towering skyscrapers and office buildings, it turned out to be a cozy and peaceful place. He enjoyed the atmosphere so much that he found himself returning there almost every evening throughout his journey.

    To travel around the city, Gedis almost always chose the metro. He was surprised by how well-designed, convenient, and affordable the Korean subway system was. At first, navigating the system and figuring out how to pay for rides was a bit confusing. But luckily, Gedis is a friendly talisman, so he had no trouble getting help from kind strangers who were always happy to assist! Some metro stations were so large that they felt more like airports or train stations. However, he quickly learned that during peak hours, the train cars could get extremely packed - so squeezing in and out became a daily challenge!

  After a few weeks, Gedis found himself in Busan, a coastal city on the opposite side of Korea from Seoul. He loved Gwangalli Beach, which had a stunning rainbow-lit bridge right in front of it. He was also lucky enough to stumble upon a drone show, which takes place there every Saturday.

Gedis always took every opportunity to make new friends - whether with locals, students or other university talismans! During his study semester at Kyungpook National University (KNU), he stopped by their international office, where he met not only their super friendly and helpful staff but also their university’s cow talisman, 호판우 (Hopanu). The two mascots got along very well! Gedis even taught the KNU staff some Lithuanian words and left behind some VILNIUS TECH merchandise as a gift

The second country our wolf talisman had the opportunity to visit was Japan.

He started his adventure at traditional temples, where he immersed himself in Japanese spirituality and architecture. He was fascinated by the unique design of each temple, noticing that many had their own dominant colors, gardens, symbols, and architectural styles - some even featured animals like deers or turtles!

  One of the most memorable cultural experiences was seeing people dressed in kimonos at parks and temples. Gedis was amazed by the elegance and beauty of these traditional outfits. It was heartwarming to see entire families wearing kimonos, proudly embracing their heritage and culture.

After an exciting yet exhausting day of exploring various temples, Gedis went for lunch at a Maid Café in Akihabara, a popular tourist attraction. The staff, dressed as maids, served adorable, themed dishes. Gedis was welcomed with great enthusiasm, and they even gave him a Japanese name - コタ (Kota

    For the evenings in Japan, Gedis spent time in a legendary spot for car enthusiasts - Daikoku Parking Area. As a passionate car lover, he made many unforgettable memories and lifelong friends there. He even got the opportunity to ride in modified high-performance sports cars like the Nissan GT-R R35, Lamborghini Aventador, Subaru STI, and more. Witnessing Japanese automotive advancements firsthand was a huge milestone for him. From brand-new hypercars to 50-year-old classics, Daikoku truly showcased the evolution of Japan’s automotive engineering and car culture.

    This is just a glimpse of the many places Gedis had the chance to explore, all thanks to VILNIUS TECH. Before the exchange semester, he made a bold decision - to stay with someone he had never met before - and he did! Even now, he continues to proudly represent our university in safe hands abroad.