I'm home!!! Just as I left Korea, I am still feeling every emotion in the book. The exhaustion from jet lag has set in and I can barely keep my eyes open at times. However, being back is wonderful and confusing at the same time. I am experiencing more of a culture-shock at home then I did when I first arrived in Korea. I want to apologize for such a late post on my trip home. I have been so busy running around and preparing for family gatherings and attempting to organize my life, that I have not been able to write a justified blog, but here it goes.
I left the last post Thursday afternoon. After that I continued my packing and met with friends for one last cheeky drink outside the GS convienence store. Then, I attempted sleep and was successful for about 3 hours. I woke up at 4:30am and spent the next 2 and a half hours packing, reflecting on my year, and walking around my apartment. It still had not hit me that I would be leaving the DongMokKohl forever! At 7am I was off to the airport via taxi, then bus. When I arrived at the airport, I had to wait one hour for the desk to open. Upon that time, I met a wonderful couple from Korea. The husband was an Alabama-American and the wife was Korean. They told me all about their children living in California and how they were going to the states for two weeks to visit family. He is stationed in Korea through the military and had been living in Korea for the past 25 years. Finally, it was time to check-in. I was able to snag a first-class ticket to Japan and an economy-plus ticket to Chicago for only $130!! It was absolutely worth it! Economy-plus is offered by United Airlines and it basically means more leg room. I was comfortable during the flight and could fully stretch out, which was worth the money.
Japan was a pretty cool country (from what I could tell in the airport) but I knew that Korea was the right choice for me verses Japan. I got the feeling that the culture in Japan would have been to materialistic and judgemental based on the airport experience. The workers in the airport stahls, were unfriendly and walked around like they were better. Of course, the actual country experience could be different, but I am just happy than I chose Korea instead! After the 12 hour flight from Japan to Chicago (which felt like 3 days), I was so happy to be back on American soil, but only at first. I got through customs and had quickly had my first taste in a year of the American girls. There was this girl, probably in her early 20s, who was directing people to the ticket counter and she had too much attitude for her own good. She yelled at a man in a wheelchair for getting to close to her, and she seemed extremely bothered by people asking her questions. After that, I thought "hmmmm, how many more months til I go back to Korea??" I was immediatley shocked by the blunt, brash, and aggressiveness towards complete strangers in Chicago. Of course, I had to remind my self that this is Chicago! One of the largest cities in America, and people are generally unfriendly in big cities. I was so happy to leave the Chicago airport and finally get to Michigan.
On the plane to Michigan, I had another bad experience. I sat infront of this 12 year old kid and his dad. The boy was so mean to his father and saying, "Dad! Why isn't the plane moving! Make it move dad! God! I am so bored! Dad! Do something!" And the dad just sat there so whimpy and said "Well son, the pilot is working on it. We'll move when we move." I wanted to turn around and tell this boy to stop acting like a baby and to be respectful of his dad and the people around him. We all had to tolerate is attitude and his snottiness. That is something that you would never see in Korea. Children being so disrespectful to their parents, especially in a public place.
After arriving in Grand Rapids, I practically ran to my parents and knocked anyone in my path, out of my way. I was greated by my mommy and daddy and we all cried for about 5 minutes. It was a huge feeling of relief to finally hug them after a year. Next, we went to Wendy's!! Finally, I had a delcious Wendy's hamburger. I was enjoying every bit, until I sunddenly felt ill from consuming it so quickly haha! Then, we went to the train station and picked up my sister. Seeing her was great and we cried again! Next, we went home and I saw my doggies. They were so confused as if to say "I think I know who you are, but I'm going to wag my tail because you might be a new person." After that, I walked around my house, discovering the changes and familiarizing myself with home again.
The next three days were spent getting used to life in America and discovering the old life I used to live. As I said before, I am in more of a culture shock being home then I was in Korea. When I went to Korea, I wasn't as surprised by the life because I was expecting it to be different. Many things surprised me, but I accepted them and adapted to them. Being home, I was expecting to immdediatley fall back into my element of the lifestyle, but it is just so hard. For example, the culture of people is shocking. How people behave confuses me. In Korea, strangers will speak to you like you are a family member, but here, strangers speak to you formally and with as little personal information as possible. Being able to understand every conversation around me is freaky. I really don't like it! I like sitting at a restaurant, not being to understand most of what's going on around me, and being in my own world of English :) Also, I am so surprised at how fat most people are. I am not trying to be mean, but I never understood the "obesity problem" in America until now. Young people, my age or younger, are just huge! In Korea, if you saw someone overweight, you noticed it and sympathized with them. Being fat in Korea, is extremely rare, but here it seems the norm. The most shocking thing about being home, is white people. I have not been around this many white people of all ages in a year and it's so so so so so weird!! Going out in public, I feel like I am in foreign country, not my home. The shock may wear-off, but for now I am very uncomfortable in public. Being in my home, I am so happy and I feel like I was only gone for a month, not a year. I fell right back into the routine of using my shower, sleeping in my bed, watching T.V., using the washer/dryer and dishwasher. I feel so comfortable in an American home!! And I love it!!
These next six months, will be a wonderful time at home. I am so happy with the timing of everything. I get to be home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, my Dad's birthday, and my parent's 35th wedding anniversary. I will probably get used to this lifestyle again, but shortly after, it'll be time to return to Korea! I am already planning my next adventure to the Land of the Morning Calm and I can't wait! To say that I feel comfortable in Korea, is strange. I never thought I was comfortable there, but after being home I realize that the lifestyle of Korea goes well with my personality. There are things I will never get used to there (example: being stared at all the time) but I adapted myself to those things, and appreciated the things I enjoyed (example: food, culture, and convienence).
To anyone who is considering a year in Korea, my reccomendation is DO IT! But first, evaluate yourself. Are you looking for a new experience? Are you okay with being out of your element and lifestyle? Are you okay with leaving everyone and everything you know for a year? If your answer is "yes" or even "maybe" to these questions, then I suggest you take the leap and prepare yourself for a year you won't regret. I have been through some hard times in Korea. I lost two family members during my year, had an explosive eye infection, went through an attack from North Korea, the Tsunami in Japan, and a break-in at my apartment. If I can say "I have no regrets about my year, and I am unbelievably happy about this experience," then I know that other people will have a great year and enjoy it just as much as I did. The lessons I learned and the values I gained about my personality, work-ethic, and relationships are things I will keep with my forever. This was truly a life-changing experience.
I suppose it is time to officially conclude this blog for the time being. I have so much enjoyed writing this, and I know that I can look back on my year and remember it in great detail thanks to these posts. To my handful of readers :), thank you for your comments, support, and interest. I have enjoyed getting to know many people from all over the world through this blog. In about six months, I will start up this blog again, and start the second chapter in A Year in My Seoul. I hope you have enjoyed reading and walking through this amazing journey with me. Now, it is time for me to have another journey, of discovering the things I took for granted or didn't notice before about home. I became a new person during this year, and I learned to bascially be an adult, especially in Korea. Now it's time to apply those lessons and enjoy my time with family and friends.I am looking forward to having new experiences, adapting to my former life, and making new memories...Especially in Michigan.
