Life abroad

I suppose I didn't realize how many poeple read this blog. The extent of those reading this has surpassed those I gave the website to. I wanted to write about life in Korea, mostly the humor in things that are so different from back home. To those reading, they should note that for entertainment sake, I always add a little something to make it funnier, more enjoyable for those at home to read.

In reality, life here is sometimes not all that funny, or even entertaining. It's hard, and it's lonely. I wake up every morning in an empty bed, with the sound of my puppy whining to be walked. I walk him, stopping every few minutes to let someone pet him. I cannot understand anything that's said to me, so I just smile and nod. I go grocery shopping, and smile at the checkout girl. I cannot say anything to her, because she won't understand. I can't even ask for help in the grocery store, or any other store for that matter, because nobody speaks English. It is a rare and seldom thing here to be able to communicate with someone. I work with people who speak English, but most of them I cannot find a common ground with, and the conversations shared are basic and run as deep as a puddle. This is not a bad thing, and it's not because anyone dislikes each other, it's simply a difference of background and lifestyles. Every night I come home from work, cook dinner, walk my dog, and head to bed. Weekends are spent walking miles and miles because frankly, there's nothing really to do here if you're not a raging alcoholic, which I'm not. To the people that read this and don't live in Korea, there is no loneliness like that which you learn while living here. Surrounded by people and being separated by not only language, but lifestyle. At home we find common ground with others, while here there is none. At home we mostly embrace the cultures we are surrounded with, while here we are outcasts because of it.

I miss my husband terribly. People said I was crazy to get married and the move to another country. That's fine, everyone is entitled to their opinions. I have found that while being here, the realization of love has dawned on me. I never thought I was capable of caring about another person as much as I care about John, and no matter how many things I find enjoyment in here, they are simply not as good without my husband to share them with. I don't have a best friend here to make fun of Korean clothes with, or to vent to, or watch movies with, or simply live my life with. Being so far away from him has made me realize there is no other person I'd rather get old and ugly with, and experience life with.

I came to Korea to find myself, to know that I am able to take care of myself, and stand on my own two feet. I wanted to know that I could do it. I wanted to get out of the bubble of Cincinnati and find another culture, to experience life somewhere else, and learn about others. What I have learned while living here is that not only am I stronger than I believe capable of myself, but that also that home is with the people you love and cherish the most. It is only since coming here that the comforts of home have been made clear to me. They are comforts that I will never take for granted again.

So I hope to the readers that this blog is entertaining, and fun. But days get monotonous, and with every joke I write on here, it lets me reach out a little bit to those at home that I miss so much.