I’m a firm believer that changing the environment around you can change the way you see the world. As this post gets published, I have finished up in South Korea and have left its shores after what has been a fabulous year. Reflecting back on the year that I’ve had, I’ve put together some thoughts on things that South Korea has taught me.

• Learn how to spend more money enjoying life
  I think I have bought more drinks here in the past year than in my whole life combined. I’m not talking even about alcoholic drinks but a cold tea or smoothie or coffee. Free from the self imposed pressure of having to save every dollar and that I’m not a home owner because I’ve had one too many cups of coffee and smashed avocado brunches, this has been liberating.
  I remember I had so much guilt spending $60 to attend an art fair here (my first ever art fair at that!) and after that I told myself that I had to work on feeling less guilt at spending money in my normal life for experiences and the odd treat. I know this is still work in progress because I find myself questioning if I really need a delicious cold drink or could just drink water instead. Even at the convenience store here, drinks are sold for less than $2 and I still have trouble bring myself to buy one or to try one from an automatic reflex of not buying drinks.

• When in a new place, friends are everything
  I really learnt the value of friendship by being here. Most of the people I met were other foreigners and a handful of locals. We would often share information about events, how to do admin things, where to buy things, help each other out and lend or give each other things. Being in a foreign country trying the find the ropes is hard enough and having friends and people you can count on is everything!

• It has been nice to live in a place where I (almost) blended in physically
  Growing up in multicultural Sydney was great most of the time but at times, it does register in my mind when I am the only Asian in a cafe or restaurant (previously blogged about here). It makes me feel a little awkward and at times, on guard. But here, I could almost (never 100% based on the way I dressed or until I opened my mouth), blend in here and not have to worry about race being anything that sets me apart. I’m not treated differently and it’s really been nice to not have to worry about it.

• To pay more attention to my appearance
  I think I’ve always been very laid back with appearance and have no problems going out in the daggiest of clothes. But after being here, I could see that would make me really stick out. So I think I’ve polished myself up a little bit more and now I even ‘do my brows’ and try to tame all my fly away hair before going out most of the time.

• That I really enjoy working with students
  Before I arrived, I was pretty sure that I would enjoyed my time as a teacher. But on the whole, I would say that I really really enjoy it. I never know what I’m going to get in the classroom, what new slang they are able to explain to me or an unexpected story they will share with the class. Sometimes the younger kids break out in song and dance together. These young minds yet tainted by the world and sometimes still so confined. For example, I told my elementary school class that I went to the dentist earlier that day and they were shocked with wide eyes asking if I went to a Korean dentist.
  I think for the first time in a long time, I actually looked forward to going to work.

• To live with more tenacity
  If you’ve been reading for some time, you know that I love doing administrative matters in another language that I don’t know. I’m joking. But, I had to persist at going to the bank a few times to get everything I wanted sorted (and had put off for months), trying new hairdressers and going to healthcare services and explaining myself. I’m not going to lie, it made me anxious and I needed to gather my energy to do it but it all worked out. Even now, I still get a little anxious going to a new place and trying to figure out the system or spending more time translating the menu and then ordering.
  Another aspect of living with more tenacity is realising how blasé I was living back home. Put off by long distances and traffic, I would not really like to make the effort to explore new places or try new things. I think also, there are not that many choices in terms of attractions and that the public transport system would only get you so far.

• I really like high density living
  I knew this before but when a whole country is centred around high density living, you have more amenities within reach and a better transport system to connect people. This is the first time that I’ve truly experienced it. With the option of being able to leave the apartment (it might’ve been hell during lockdowns), there is a lot of green spaces and scenery around to enjoy despite it looking like a concrete jungle from above. With better building, I cannot hear neighbours that much (much less than in Sydney) and with decent natural light, I have found that it has really suited the way that I want to live.

If you’ve lived abroad, what are some of the things that that place taught you?