Right at home... not quite.

When I first arrived in Korea, I was so fascinated by everything around me. I took it all in and tried to remember as many details as possible because I wanted to report back home and tell you all what was going on. For better or for worse, that fascination has worn off and I am finding myself at home here.

It's not to say there is nothing new. Every weekend I try to go out and explore. But during the week, I have my routine. I am used to seeing all the things that were at first strange to me. I know where to go to buy most of the things that I use regularly, and I have gotten much more comfortable taking public transportation. I am used to taking my shoes of when I enter a person's house -even us Westerner's do this. I am also used to wearing my bathroom slippers so my feet don't get wet. I've learned what channels play American TV and movies, and have learned that most of the time it's not worth it to bother turning the thing on. I know how to get to all the bars where the cool people hang out. I'm used to spicy food and expect to have to pick meat out of anything I order. I'm even used to some of the stranger foods, like the rices cakes -not rice cakes like at home, but gummi-like things flavored with fruits and beans. I'm getting used to teaching too, though sometimes the kids make me want to pull my hair out!

The Koreans are getting used to me, too. Most of my Korean friends have stopped trying to get me to eat the foods I don't like. I think I've won over most of my younger students by giving them candy. And many of the older students are starting to open up. Just yesterday, one girl brought me a very good chocolate bar and another brought me some fancy cookies. Even the shiest ones are now talking in class. There is an older parking garage attendant who looked at me in fascination every time I walked past him 2-4 times a day for the first month I was here, but now he smiles and nods at me. Even the roaches in my apartment are getting friendly! Actually, only one dared to come out, but I wasn't going to take any chances. I bought -probably too many- traps the very next day and haven't seen one since. Hopefully, it will stay that way!

For me, this trip is as much a personal journey as a physical one. Before I came, one of the things I though about the most was how I would do on my own in a foreign country. Now that I've been here a while, I can safely say that I am doing pretty well. It's not just living in a different county, but also just living by myself for the first time. I'm pretty confident that I could deal with most issues that come up. I'm no longer scared at night. I've figured out all my appliances. I've learned how to download things on my computer. I've found my way around the city.

I've also had plenty of time to think and I think a lot. Sometimes I let myself think and my mind wander and watch where it goes. It goes to some pretty crazy places. Sometimes I stop myself from thinking altogether, and give my brain a rest. There is so much to think about I have to do this in order to not get overwhelmed. This trip is definitely a milestone in my life and I think that my experiences here will have a strong influence on my future. Korea's not a bad place at all, not home, but not bad.