Thanks To My Friends

In the past few years I have made many new friends. Many more that I would've ever thought myself capable of. I've met people from areas all over the world and each and every one of them has impacted me in some way. I've grown as a person, very much thanks to these people.

I see the world differently now, as my world has grown a lot larger. 

After all, it is because of some of them that I moved to Korea in the first place.

I don't know how to thank them enough for that.

Some of these friendships will last a lifetime, and I am sure sadly some won't, but either way the memories will always be a part of me. Some friendships grew much stronger when I moved to Korea, but it seems that many of them also are burning out. I am learning that life takes everyone on a different course, and no matter how hard you try to hold on to some people, sometimes life sweeps you away. Time passes, things change, and people move on. It has been hard for me to come to terms with this idea, that maybe some people are only meant to be in my life for moments. I don't want to let any of my friends go. However, at the same time, trying to cling to them so they all remain in my life has become exhausting. I'm sure none of my friends intend for this to happen either, but life and routine make the time pass quickly, and suddenly its been months to years since we've spoken. People change. What you have in common changes. Relationships change. Time is my only indicator of what will grow and what will remain in the past. I might always be trying to come to terms with it.

Somehow, at the peak of my university life, I found myself with more friends from foreign countries than my own, a majority of them being Korean. That is what led me to teach in Korea in the first place. After living in Korea for a year and a half I must say to you all, thank you for watching out for me this whole time. I wouldn't have made it this long without all of you.

I regrettably live in an area that is far from nearly all of you, and that makes meeting difficult sometimes. I tried to come to Seoul as often as my wallet afforded so that I could see you all, but Korean life is so busy.

To those of you who scheduled me into your weekends, whether it was for lunch, dinner, or the whole afternoon and long into the night. Thank you.

To those of you whose families opened up their homes for me to stay in, thank you so much. I really enjoyed being able to stay with you. Everyone was so welcoming and kind to me. I liked watching TV with your parents, or having fancy dinners with them because they insisted on letting me experience the best foods. I liked seeing what your home lives were like, and how they were similar and yet so different from my own. I loved the food your moms cooked for me, it tasted so wonderful. I even liked the confusing, bilingual translation filled meals, whenever your parents wanted to say something but didn't know how. It's all special to me.

To those of you who helped whenever I had a question, you seriously are my saviors. I don't know what I would've done without you, helping me translate my thermostat, my washing machine, my rice cooker, and explaining my recycling. Literally I wouldn't have been able to do squat in my home without your advice.


I don't know how I would've traveled if not for your help getting me set with the bus application so I could buy tickets straight from my phone. Or giving me directions the countless times I got lost. Or calling and translating for me over the phone the dozens of times I was in a difficult situation and had no way to communicate.

To the four of you who actually made time despite your busy schedules to come to Naju to see me. You are the best. I know Naju doesn't have much to do, but I really wanted to share my home away from home with everyone. To those of you who made that trip for me, I really appreciated it. I am glad I got to eat out with you, go to the Kimchi Festival, karaoke, or the Naju gomtang place with you. :)

Lastly, there are two friends I want to give a shout out to specifically, even if anonymously. You will know if it is you.

1.) You made more effort than anyone else when it came to being there for me. When I first arrived in Korea, you gave up your own bedroom for me for a few days. Your family was so sweet to me. I think about it often. I only saw your dad whenever he was reading the news, but your mom was so nice. She left little yogurt drinks all over the house for us, cooked for me, and told me she would consider me as a daughter. That meant a lot. I miss hearing her constantly talk to your dog hahaha. Not only were you the first person to come visit me in Naju, but you are the only person who came to see me twice. That also meant a lot to me. Even if the only thing we ever did when you visited was eat food...it was some good food! I think nearly every weekend I managed to come to Seoul you always found time to meet up for something fun, whether it was just a quick coffee, hanging out for the day, or trying new things - like meal worm shakes...

Yum that Bulgogi!

Bunny Island

You were almost always one quick text of HELP ME away. Usually that was all it took for you to come to my rescue. It was such a relief. You were also the only friend I had prior to coming here that ever frequently called me. Sometimes I got so lonely during my weeks in Naju, that without those calls I could've lost my mind. Hearing your ringtone always brightened my day. I know you only started calling me out of a feeling of responsibility to check in on me, but I was grateful that you called either way. You checked on me when I was sick, you even offered to call the hospital for me when it got really bad. You encouraged me. You motivated me to stop being a hermit and leave my house on weekends I stayed home. It was those moments where I really needed a friend that you were there for me. Seriously I don't know what I would've done without you.

I specifically remember you saying, "We can eat all of this no problem."
Thinking you could rely on my huge appetite. No worries.
It was a problem. It was too much haha. 

2.) To the only close Korean friend I made on my own, the whole time I lived here: You made Jeollanamdo a much funner place to be. I wish I could've met you when I first moved here, not after nearly living here a full year. Finally I had someone nearby I could talk to and ask questions about the area I lived. Finally I had someone I could hang out with on weeknights and grab dinner with, or see a movie, or explore Gwangju with on the weekend. It felt so nice not to be alone all the time anymore. When I would get in a slump you would motivate me. For a while you were my study drill sergeant, pushing me to study Korean. Most of all though you helped me with things that others couldn't, since you lived nearby. You helped me find a hospital when I was hurt, and helped me talk to the front desk. You helped me (for hours) figure out how to order food online so it could be sent to my house. Sometimes you called and ordered chicken for me so I didn't have to cook dinner (I loved those days). You helped me find my lost package when the front guard claimed he didn't have it. You helped me mail packages home to my family. You introduced new kinds of foods to me, went to norebang and billiards with me, went to a baseball game with me, and even introduced me to your friends. You're also the only Korean friend that I had the opportunity to travel with to a new place. Traveling Korea with a Korean is a better experience I think, because you were able to recommend things to me that you knew I hadn't tried. Things I wouldn't have even considered on my own, like dried squid and jellied bean sweets. Having even one friend nearby changed my life entirely. I finally had a life outside of school during the week. Finally I had actual human connection, an ally, and a friend.

참치~

Possibly the best kimbap ever

The never ending curiosity that is Korean style pizza. 

Kia Tigers Game

Edge of the Land - Haenam

There is one thing in particular I am extremely thankful for though.

You took an entire Saturday of your time and came with me to about a dozen different animal hospitals, first in Naju and then in Gwangju. You explained to them all what I wanted to study, and how in the USA you need observations hours in order to apply to school. You helped me ask the veterinarians to accept me and allow me to shadow them. After each and every one turned me away, for various reasons, you cheered me up. You motivated me to try just one more place, and that last place we went to accepted me. I could never have imagined I would have the chance to shadow a veterinarian in Korea, and yet you opened up that possibility to me. The chance to do something like that abroad is huge for me, and it gave me something that I could do and enjoy on my own. It brought science back into my life at a time when I was missing it. You helped me find a place where I felt in my real element, where there were things and procedures I understood and could learn from. Most of all you helped me find something that gave me a schedule, that got me out of my house and more active. It helped me feel like I was doing something and being productive. I am so so thankful you helped me gain that opportunity. Thank you so much.  I hope one day you visit the USA and I can be as big of a help to you as you have been to me these past months. 

To all my friends who I care about so deeply, this song is for you...