Happy One Year in South Korea Anniversary to Me!
Can you believe I’ve been here in Korea for a YEAR?!? I arrived on August 23, 2023.
I can still remember how I felt when I first got here – so much excitement and possibility. AND anxiety and stress and uncertainty. Now the honeymoon phase is over and Seoul is just where I live, so although there are still things l love and appreciate about the country, it’s easier now to see the negatives, or I should say the realities, of living outside the US. And it’s just easier to get caught up in the day-to-day living of life and no longer “see” the exoticness ot a new and different place.
In hindsight, it really feels like the full first year was all about adjusting. Which, when I look back at other big changes in my life, seems about right. Moving from one place to another, starting a new job, starting on meds, relationships: new and ended, losing a loved one. I always think one month, three months, and I’ll be good to go. But when I think back, that has just not been the case. I’ll have to try and remember in the future to give myself a little space to adjust more slowly.
And HERE, well, besides being SUCH a huge change, I was doing it alone, not knowing the language, for most of the time not having much-needed technological support (#thecellphonethattriedtokillme), struggling in my new role as student, disappointments about housing, pain, pain, and more pain, betrayal and heart-break…at times it felt like everything here was working against me.
MOST of the time I managed to hold onto my resolve to stay here and make it work…only recently, during the whole friend debaucle (link), did I seriously consider giving up and just going home.
ANYWAY. The GOOD NEWS is while it took six months to find, I had JUST started back on welbutrin right before all that went down, and while it doesn’t FIX anything, it makes sadness easier to move through…and eventually I leveled off.
So, I don’t blame KOREA for my difficult year, I still want to be here. But I’m (knock on wood) grateful that all the “challenges” of Year One seem to be behind me, and now I can look forward to Year Two.
But let’s take a look back at my first year here in Korea…
I’ve met so many lovely people since I’ve been here. I’m not much of a “meeter” by nature, but being here is such a different situation. We’ve all left our normal lives and responsibilities and dropped ourselves into the Korean ocean…and people reach out quickly and grab onto others. And since this is our first time here, everyone wants to go all the places, do all the things, eat all the foods – there’s always someone somewhere who’s up for doing something. Sadly, it’s also a bit of a transient situation – I’m here longer than most. So no sooner do you make a friend than they leave…and you have to start all over again and hope the next class will have a good peer for you.
And through it all I had the support and friendship of my kind followers who have been here through all the ups and downs…so thank you for always making this blog a safe place for me and everyone!
Here’s to another year of adventures!
Penny
OMG Bettye – you’ve been so brave. I mean I really know what it is like to live in another country for over a year. I did that, but I learnt the language very quickly as I had the basics from school. You chose a really difficult language. And oh yes, how different it is, the country we are temporarily living in, to the one we’ve grown up in. Oh yes, you really get under the skin of a foreign country that way. I am so glad you had some good times – these you will remember with delight over the years. Enjoy your very big adventure through the following year. And give yourself a very big pat on the back!
bettyewp
Thanks, Penny 🙂 Patting myself on the back daily 🙂
Lisa Elliott
Happy one year anniversary!! You did it! Yay for you!! I’ve told my husband about you and last week, we were at a neighbor’s house for dinner and I heard him say, “Lisa sort of knows someone who is our age-ish who moved to Korea.” I started laughing, but because I’ve been following you for a while, I do feel like I “sort of know you,” especially since you’ve been so kind to let us all follow along!! Once again, happy anniversary!
bettyewp
Ha ha, I do that all the time. “Oh this girl I know,” meanwhile I follow her on IG and she has responded to some of my comments. Period. Ha ha. Seriously, whenn I was coming here someone asked if I wasn’t afraid to go somewhere where I know NOBODY, what if something happened and I needed help, and I sincerely felt like I “do” know people here…because I’ve followed them a long time on social. And I thought if I REALLY needed A Person, I could reach out to them. Ha. Maybe I’m delusional, but that was my plan.
xoxo Bettye
Sally in St Paul
Congrats on your 1 year anniversary! It has been a YEAR, hasn’t it? It feels like you’re entering Year 2 on an upswing, and I hope you have a great time on your break from school.
bettyewp
Oh, it has been A Year, for sure! I feel like I have those a lot. Do I just ATTRACT…what…”non calm time”??
jodie filogomo
It’s crazy to think it’s been a year.
You have a great perspective on the ups and downs and sending tons of love and hugs,
XOXO
jodie
bettyewp
Right? CRAZY! And I feel like the coming year will seem to go even faster!
Tina von Tinaspinkfriday
🥂🍾 Best wishes to you for the future , Bettye. Time flys. a huge hug Tina
bettyewp
Thanks, Tina!
Gabe Pettingill
Congratulations!! 🙂 I wish I could be as brave as you <3
bettyewp
We’re all brave in our own way. I’m brave in doing stupid things 🙂
Gabe Pettingill
Haha! Well that’s the sort of brave I’d like to be then
Daenel T.
Happy anniversary! I can’t believe it has been a year, but also I CANNOT believe it has been a year. I will forever be proud of you for doing the danged thing. Such a brave move. I love seeing your pictures and living vicariously… Congrats on passing your class – FABULOUS!!!! Sending you all the best for year two.
bettyewp
Thanks, Daenel. Re doing the danged thing..I’m on a bus right now headed to a seaside town on the east coast for a couple days. How many times in the past 48 hours did i almost bail and just stay home? So. Many. Times. I’m finding travel So Stressful! But it’s the only way to get to All the Places. Sigh. And yeah, I’m still proud of myself for passing. Let’s see how Korean 2 goes. I actually had a decent little chat this morning with the Uber driver, that felt good 😊