Ahhh, South Korea. A little piece of my heart will always be in South Korea. For a year and a half, South Korea was my home (February 2021-June 2022) and I really enjoyed my time there. Like a majority of Americans (that aren’t in the military) that move there, I too moved there to teach English. I had an incredible time there. From the friendships I formed there through my church, teaching a class of the absolute most adorable 3 and 4 year olds, the safety I felt walking alone, the unique cafes, and THE FOOD, living in South Korea was an unforgettable experience.

Although by the time I moved to South Korea I was fairly well traveled, this was truly my first time being in a place as homogenous as South Korea. It was an adjustment being in a place where people could look at me and automatically know that I wasn’t from there. I had experienced a bit of this when I visited India, but the differences felt more pronounced in South Korea than it did in India. In India, I felt like I blended in a tad bit more. In South Korea, there was a contrast between my skin tone and the locals, so I felt like I stuck out more. I also got a lot of stares, so that made me feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb.

I was always tickled whenever locals would praise my awful attempts at communicating in Korean. I knew they were just being nice but hey, it gave me the encouragement I needed to hang in there with continuing to learn the language. And, I’m pleased to say, I became really adept at using chopsticks. Like, I could pick up a grain of rice with my chopsticks with ease!

I miss walking everywhere, I miss being in the same country where Yoogane and A Twosome Place both exist; I miss Korea.

Seoul

Songpa-gu
Gangnam-gu
Yongsan-gu
Mapo-gu
Seocho-gu
Jongno-gu
I-Chae Cafe (이채 카페)
Dongdaemun-gu