Korea... I think we need a little time apart

When I first moved to Korea I was very aware that we were in the "honeymoon" period. Everything was new, interesting, exciting. Eventually there would be those little things that would start to pick at me, the cuture shock would start and the honeymoon would be over and I'd have to find ways to deal. I knew it had to happen eventually. It would probably involve being holed up in my apartment craving real cheese and looking at plane tickets home.

Except.... it never really happened. Sure there were things that bothered me or little things I found difficult to deal with. But those feelings of unbearable homesickness, frustration with the cultural divide never really came. As the weeks went by I become more familiar with Korea and where I was living and therefore become more and more comfortable with my space.

I was expecting the bottom to fall out of my adventure and it just never did... well, until a few weeks ago.

It was finally starting to feel like Spring in The Daeg so I was walking to the store instead of taking the bus. It had been business as usually at school and I got a few "Hello!!"s from the passing middle schoolers. I'm not sure what brought it on really but all of a sudden all I could think about was how lovely it would be to be somewhere... not Korea. Well, no I guess it was more specific than that.

I wanted to be somewhere where going to the store wasn't an "event".  Where I could read all the signs, knew all the brands and could ask for something when I couldn't find it.

I wanted to be where I knew I could completely blend in. Where I wouldn't feel like I was putting people out or see that look of stress appear on their face because they don't speak English and have to take my order (once again people, I live in Korea... you really shouldn't be the one stressing about the language barrier here!). For the first time since I moved here I just wanted to be 'home'. Now where exactly that home is... well, the jury is still out on that.

I wanted to be back in my cozy apartment in Salt Lake City with my oven and walking up to the Luther's for an amazing dinner and chat in the kitchen. I wanted to be in Chattanooga having a beer with Lee and tea with Rachel.  Chilling at Aretha Frankenstein (dang... now I really want a biscuit again!!) with Carla Rae. I wanted to be back in Atlanta with Mandy staying up all night talking about everything and anything going on in our lives and then take Maria and Sarah to Chik-fil-a the next morning.  I wanted to be in South Dakota and get a hug from my mom and dad.

It's not that I was ready to leave Korea at that moment. Far from it, the thought of having to leave Daegu is really quite sad. But just a few days away and back in the completely familuer and normal sounded really nice and almost relaxing.  Turns out that this almost constant state of adventure and newness (yes, that's a word), as wonderful and amazing as it is, can get tiring too.

But (here comes the fluffiness, friends ;) ) on my home from the store I stopped at my favorite coffee shop (with the cute barista) for a coffee and then picked up some chicken from the Super Junior place. Both places knew me and my order when I walked in. Cute barista always uses lots of English with a smile when I order and the sweet couple at the chicken place always turns on the tv for me while I wait. It was familiar and comfortable. As I walked home with tasty chicken in hand I ran into two of my 6th graders who stopped and chatted with me for a bit. By the time I got home my mood was throughly lifted... Korea seems to have a way of doing that when I need it.

I still would probably give away most of my savings if I could beam home for about 48 hours or so. But then, after going through my to do list with everyone, I would want to come right back home... here.

Kpop Song of the Week: Don't Go Home- GD & TOP

I mean, if they really want me to stay that much, who am I to say no?