South Korea went from being a country I’d just read about on Internet blogs to a real country with real people. I was met with kindness whenever I stumbled over my clumsy Korean grammar. I learned about the amazing history of King Sejong and his creation of 한글 (hangeul). I tried new foods. I travelled to different historical cities in South Korea. I visited beautiful palaces. My entire stay in South Korea was a learning experience. I was also so awed by the similarities and differences between Korean culture and my own culture. Those similarities and differences range from history to language to cultural practices. After visiting South Korea for the first time in 2015, I was determined to come back and learn more about the country I'd loved since I was 11 years old.
No matter how much time I spend in South Korea, I feel like it’ll never be enough to fully understand all the details of Korean culture and society. Nonetheless, I’m up for the challenge! Now I’m back in South Korea to surround myself with the language and culture and gain a new perspective as a 20-year-old university student.
