It’s been a little over a month since I’ve arrived in South Korea. Since I’ve visited the country before, I was convinced that I would skip all of the culture shock and homesickness, and be able to hit the ground running. However, no matter how much you travel or how well you think you know a country, settling in takes time and a move as big as mine hits hard. I found myself missing home sooner than I expected and not having a desire to go out and explore like I thought I would. One month later, I am almost completely settled in and ready to make the most out of the year that I am here.
Sometimes I wake up and forget that I am living in South Korea. I am finally reaping the benefits of all of the work I have put into a goal I’ve had since 2018, it feels unreal and I am so grateful to be here. I’ve gone to a festival, done a bunch of karaoke, taken a wonderful tour and tried to go hiking (I don’t know how the senior citizens climb these mountains so easily). I have had to relearn how to take things slowly and live in the moment, and so far, I can already see how studying abroad will be a life changing experience.
