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…

The LONG, long flight (15 hours), for which I am eternally grateful that I could swing flying Premium Economy as the seats were lovely and wide. The 97 meals we had on the flight. Getting myself through THE BIGGEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD. Thinking I had evaded customs and the police were going to come drag me out of my honeymoon suite during the night and throw me in a Turkish prison. The first experience with Korean sandwiches and the many, uhm, interesting things they put on them. This first sandwich was like ham, cheese, and white cake frosting. You think I’m being facetious. I am not. 

Obviously, school has been a big part of my time here. It still astounds me that I legit thought I would just sail through my classes HA HA HA HA HA. It took me the entire first year (four classes) to pass Korean 1. But it has really been an interesting and enjoyable experience getting to know so many people from different countries. It was challenging because we don’t all speak the same language but we muddled through! And I’m grateful to those who helped me out when I was really lost in class.

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 then…there was the food. So Much New Food to Try! My (ex)friend was on board with the mission of  me trying all the different foods, he’d find the best spots for each, and we’d go far and wide to have our culinary adventures. But to be honest, I’m disappointed that I don’t like most Korean food as much as I expected to. I love spicy, I love meat…I thought it was a given that I would enjoy the country’s authentic cuisine. But there’s a lot more to try in the coming year!

Which is not, of course, to say I haven’t liked ANYTHING. And most things it’s not that I DISlike it, it’s just…I tried it, it was fine, but I won’t go out of my way to have it again. The things I HAVE liked are steak, pork belly and pork neck, pumpkin cream soup, pigs feet, pork cutlets, Korean hot dogs, hotteok, bongopong, the many, many varieties of Korean fried chicken, and the plethora of bakeries and coffee shops with interesting items in unusual flavors, beautifully presented. 

What I HAVE enjoyed is the company. The socializing. Like I said before, someone’s always up for going out and getting food. I love the practice of going one place to eat and another to drink…

Speaking of drinking…I HAVE really enjoyed that aspect of Korean life. They are DRINKERS. And since most people don’t also drive, it’s just not the problem that it is in the states. My friend Hyunggun taught me the joy of somek, which is a combination of beer and soju. And is very nice. Drinking came to an abrupt halt when he…extricated himself from my life, but…I’m sure there will be more opportunity in the future. 

There have certainly been some low points…

But also high points!

And then there’s just the overall beauty of this country. I love the asian aesthetic, the architecture, lanterns, I love the signage in hangul, I love all the green and nature spaces in the middle of the city.

There is no end to the activities and events, classes, tours, and places to go.

I just love it.

Now that I no longer feel broken, I can’t wait to get out again in Year Two! 

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!