The initial mix of fear and excitement when I first set foot in Korea eventually gave way to something deeper and more complicated: the realization that I have a unique opportunity to meet people with vastly different experiences with whom I could share my own story.
One of the most striking parts of moving and living abroad is how it exposes the comforts and familiarity you once took for granted back home. Things you never questioned—friendships you’ve easily maintained, food you mindlessly ordered at restaurants and the convenience of navigating public transportation—suddenly aren’t so easy. The absence of effortless connection was the most challenging adjustment, particularly in the Korean context where people rarely make conversation with strangers. At the same time, the effort I’ve put into interactions with locals has always paid off. If you approach new situations with genuine curiosity, you find it easier to go up to people and talk to them.
You never stop learning about what it means to be human and the human experience — what better way to learn that than by being a teacher? On top of that, add moving abroad and learning a whole new language and culture. As an English Teaching Assistant through the U.S. Fulbright Program, I have had the meaningful and unique opportunity to serve as a cultural ambassador and teach English abroad.
Leaving the US to go abroad isn’t only about discovering a cool place or making new memories—it’s about seeing yourself more clearly. Away from familiar friends and family, you start to reflect on what truly matters to you, what parts of you to let go of and what new lessons you want to carry forward.
