My First Year in Korea: A Journey from Fear to Fulfillment

By: Holly Hay | Nov.24, 2008
www.outriangle.com

I was twenty-two. I got off the plane in Incheon and searched for my name among the many English signs held by various smiling Korean faces. Lisa, Jim, Julia… my name was absent. I felt a surge of panic as I paced up and down the airport. An hour and a half later I sat down contemplating getting a hotel and sending an email to my school in the morning. Right before I got up to leave, 150 lbs of baggage in my arms, I heard a voice behind me, “Holly?” I turned in relief and saw my recruiter.

At 11pm I got off the bus in Daejeon and was set up in a hotel by my director. I awoke at 4:30am with my heart pounding. What have I done? Why did I think it would be a good idea to leave everything familiar and go somewhere I didn’t know anybody or even speak the language? Is it too soon to miss my friends? As I looked out the window, seeing flashing signs I couldn’t read and hearing a language I couldn’t understand, I was in full panic mode. I wanted to get back on the bus and get on the first flight home!

Considering my first impressions it would have surprised that twenty-two year old girl to know that she would look back on that year as one of the most, influential, transforming, and fun, that’s right, fun, years of her life so far. I cannot imagine my life right now had I followed my first impulses to bolt. Making it through my first month of food poisoning, trying to pick up on strange teaching strategies, and fighting loneliness I finally decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and use my time to do some serious introspection. To begin my path toward self-improvement and realization I joined a gym, bought a yoga mat, filled my fridge with fresh fruits and vegetables, and ordered several books on spirituality, philosophy, and health. Realizing that being at peace and enjoying life was up to me and not my circumstances was the first step toward my incredible year in Korea.

If you have just arrived or if you have been in Korea for a while and are still having a difficult time finding happiness and contentment, here are a few suggestions that helped me to enjoy my first year overseas.

- Make time for your mental and emotional health.
- Write a list of five or ten things that you want to accomplish in your year here. Ex: Read fifteen books I’ve been putting off, learn or get better with a musical instrument, lose ten pounds, become more aware and accepting of my body, visit Japan….
- Take time to stop and breathe and get to know yourself.
- Keep a journal, not just recording events, but also your thoughts, insights, and feelings about your life.
- Find a form of exercise that you enjoy, even if that just means going for a long walk, and practice it 4-5 times a week.
- Reduce unhealthful habits like drinking and smoking and replace them with healthful habits like meditation, hiking, reading, or yoga.
- Order books on subjects that interest you that you did not have time to read in college or in your life in your native country.
- Stay present. It is easy to waste time thinking back to happier times or to dream of the future, but by doing this we rob ourselves of the present. What is happening here and now? What does it smell like? What does it feel like to be living in Korea in this moment? We can never be satisfied with the present if we are living in a past or future world.
- Enjoy the simplicity of life in Korea. When I first arrived I missed many of the comforts and entertainments I was used to in the US, but after a few months I found it freeing to let go of all that and enjoy a more simple life. A life without so many choices and decisions to make.
- Instead of feeling annoyed or overwhelmed by the culture, look for the beauty in it. Record acts of kindness by strangers, random smiles, or anything that gives you even a moment of happiness or peace.

By the time I left Korea after my first year here, I had made life long friends, became comfortable in my own skin, and discovered who I was and set specific goals for my life. I learned that life is short and that I should live life to the fullest, taking time to love myself and others.

I moved back to Daejeon, South Korea after three years. Since my time in Korea I earned my Masters in counseling, became a massage therapist, studied yoga and meditation in India, and became a certified yoga/Pilates instructor and personal trainer.

Last year I was thinking about my first few months in Korea and how difficult it was for me to get to know myself and work through issues from my past that were haunting me all by myself. I decided to come back to Korea and offer my services to anyone who needs them. If you are seeking help with integration of culture, health, spirituality, or life in general and you would like to speak with someone about it please do contact me. I offer massage, personal training, yoga/Pilates, and counseling. You can reach me at Trianglewellness@gmail.com or visit www.outriangle.com for more information.

Namaste,
Holly