iam.alive

Wearing my fall coat, a cargo skirt, knee-highs and leg warmers made from a sweater I’d accidentally felted, I headed out the door for the trek into Seoul. Fourty minutes on the bus later, I somehow got three 5,000 won sweaters for 10,000 won and transferred onto the subway to meet Andy and Hanna for Peruvian food.

They were waiting for me, so we hustled out exit 6 only to find out that the restaurant was closed. Poor, freezing cold Hanna. She’s from Texas and was deeply regretting not wearing a hat. In my opinion the weather was too cold to be brisk but to warm to be cold. We walked back to the station.

Plan B: Head to Itaewon for Ethiopian food. Plan B, however, also happened to be a bust and they were closed. The choice was now Latin American food from a small restaurant Hanna knew about, or pub grub from the Wolfhound.

Peru is in Latin America. Andy had been pretty stoked about eating Peruvian, so plan C becomes the Latin American restaurant with Plan D (god forbid a 3rd restaurant we try is closed) being the Wolfhound.

My life in Korea is, in every way I know how to define the word, serendipitous. The meal at the Latin American restaurant was incredible. We never would have made it there had either of the first two restaurants been open. Finding the Peruvian restaurant was similar. Greg and I went to see a very boring martyr’s shrine and then went for a walk. Something bright down an alley caught my eye and we found this restaurant. Hell, meeting Greg, the person who makes me happiest in this world, was completely unexpected.

Korea brought me out of my shell. It reminds me to take a left turn when I usually go right. To walk through the park once and a while. To leave my house. Korea has brought many wonderful people in and out of my life. Some of them are lasting connections, whereas others, transient – but beautiful and fulfilling for that time when our paths cross.

Korea has its downsides as well but I won’t focus on them in this post except to say they have made me a bolder person. I can stand up for myself. Speak my mind. Realize that I have worth as a human and deserve better than whatever poor treatment I may be receiving at any moment.

Four years and two days ago I came here with a mountain of debt and less than $500 in the bank. Today I am debt free, saving, and working towards real goals and a life that could lead me anywhere.

What’s Korea like?
It’s an experience.