Living in another country for an extended period of time teaches you a lot about yourself. You get to see how tough you are, if you can adapt to difficult situations and, in general, what you’re made of. During my time in Korea I learned those lessons and more, but the most important and permanent thing I brought back with me is this…there’s no place like home.
I returned home from Korea almost a month ago now, and though it’s been a rocky transition back to suburban America it’s also been filled with a lot of laughs, hugs and smiles. Catching up with old friends and family members has been incredibly rewarding and, believe it or not, telling the same stories over and over has reinforced the great memories and made the bad ones fade a bit.
The end of my time abroad brings a few questions to myself and probably a few of you reading at home. We’ll start with this (a question I’ve fielded a few times since returning):
How was it over there?
I answer it with caution, being careful to bring up the positive but making sure the hardships of life in another country are given their deserved time in the spotlight. For the most part while I was there the difficulties turned into good stories to look back upon and laugh at. Attempts to communicate with taxi drivers, ordering food at restaurants and interacting with Koreans on an everyday basis are things that would fall into the “aggravating” and “entertaining” category.
Are you glad you went?
This one is tougher to answer. I hated putting that much distance between myself and my family. It didn’t seem right missing out on holidays and visits with those relatives who have precious little time left. That being said though, it was absolutely a good trip. I value so many little things that I didn’t prior to this adventure. The moments I spend with people now seem more precious and I’m glad I had a situation like this one to show me just how important the people of my life are. Perspective is an amazing thing.
Did you accomplish what you wanted?
I had a lot of goals with this trip. You don’t put yourself this far away from everything you know and love without a purpose right? I came up short on a few things, but I’m really happy with what I WAS able to complete. I didn’t learn Korean…not even close. I learned enough to get around, ask my students to share their candy with me and order my favorite foods. Oh well. I’d rather concentrate on the things I DID achieve. I laid on the beaches, skied the mountains, took in the views, ate the cuisine and did some traveling. Not bad for six months.
What’s next?
This is a question I DON’T have an answer to. This is a new feeling for me. For the most part during my life I’ve had at least an idea of what was in the immediate future. This time, I simply don’t. There is really only one thing that is certain in my life; I’m very glad to be home.
