When I first moved to Korea back in late October of 2009, I was 23 years old. I was coming for a year to experience something new and different before I moved home to begin my ‘real life.’
One month into my time here, I hated it. Let’s be honest, winter in Korea blows. It’s the absolute worst, and it really didn’t help that I was living in a small city in the middle of nowhere. I couldn’t wait to get back home.
Then about halfway through my first year, I hit a super high point – summer. Summer time in Korea is, without a doubt, the best times you’ll have here. Now all of a sudden I was glad I lived in the center of Korea because I could go to Seoul or Busan without much trouble either way. A weekend trip to the beach? Perfect! A Saturday rooftop party in Hongdae? Why not?
By the end of my first year, I knew that I didn’t want to go back home… but I still had a nagging feeling that I was somehow putting off my ‘real life,’ simply delaying the inevitable and that every year I spent here would ultimately be a year wasted.
Now I’m still here, almost seven years later, and I have no regrets. [Read more…] about How Long Should I Stay in Korea?