Home Sweet Home?

Last weekend, I took a three-day trip to Tokyo, Japan with two of my friends from my study abroad program. We traveled all around Tokyo, hitting the best spots in the city. Delicious ramen, beautiful gardens, and castles were must-see tourist destinations for us. I had a difficult time navigating through the city, especially because of the language barrier and the fast-paced nature of the city. Overall, it was a very enjoyable time. A trip of firsts: I ate at my first Michelin-star restaurant, stayed at my first hostel, visited my first Shinto shrine, and spoke my first words of Japanese. It was definitely a memorable trip.

At the end of the third day, I was excited to return to Seoul, South Korea. It was a weird feeling for me. At the beginning of the semester, I remember struggling to adjust to the new environment of Seoul. It made me uncomfortable to a certain degree. Within a few months, however, it started to feel like my second home. I was grateful to return to a place where I could speak the language comfortably and stay in a place of familiarity.

I was not the only person who felt this way. One of my travel companions had a similar realization. We looked forward to coming back to South Korea, because it felt like home. We realized our growth since August. It is a weird yet amazing feeling. The ability to adjust to a foreign country is a rare thing.

I often think about how my opinions and mindset would change if I stayed in South Korea for another semester. Will I become even more comfortable? Will I start enjoying this place more than the United States? Will I finally feel accepted as a Korean? Questions like these fill my mind as the semester winds down. I have decided to come back to South Korea in the near future. Perhaps I will live here for a year or two after graduating from Pomona College. Although I do not know what the future holds for me, I do know one thing: Korea will always have a special place in my heart. I have made great friends and memories in such a short period of time. I am glad to have journaled during my travel abroad experience. I will look back on my entries in the future.

I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with my parents as well. They have not been to South Korea in a few years. I know they would enjoy listening to all of my stories when I go back to the United States. Maybe I will even show them my blog?

People often say this phrase: “home is where the heart is.” For me, “home” is where my family lives. I have immediate family in the United States and extended family in South Korea. After my study abroad experience, I can finally say—with confidence—that South Korea is my second home.