A new found love for home whilst abroad

A common misconception we can all make when trying to settle in another country is that in some way we need to remove our previous identities and adopt that of a local wherever we end up. This simply is not true and I think in a way it is very important to always remember who you are and where you came from.

When I first came to Korea I was so obsessed with this idea that I have to fit in, that my language skills needed to be perfect and I needed to find love in everything I did here. But it is okay to miss home, to miss family and friends and to miss the country we have grown up in, to deny those kinds of feelings would be more damaging in my opinion.

I have found since coming to Korea that I miss and appreciate the little things in my day to day life in the UK. Sure there are some things that I feel are better organised here, or cheaper here or more convenient here, but sometimes I think you do not realise how good you had something until it is gone. Being proud of your roots is in no way a negative thing I have found that I like to show my friends British songs when I sing karaoke, or gift people tea because It represents who I am, where I am from, sharing my culture is a really positive thing to do.

We do not come to study abroad to become a Korean, we are simply coming here to strengthen our knowledge and engage with the local people and being able to share and compare your lives in your individual countries is really interesting and positive. It is important to not feel like you are not adapting well by wanting a cuppa or that watching a British TV show online is in some way wasting your time whilst in Korea because it is not the case.

I made the recent decision to go home for Christmas and it sounds ridiculous but I didn't want to go home for the simple fact that I felt in some way I was losing if I did so, that I didn't really study here for a year and that in some way I failed. Then I realised I lose nothing by spending time with the ones I love during a time of the year that is personally important to me. I get to go home and eat lots of food, get lots of hugs and extra encouragement and get to share what I have learnt so far with everyone back home. I then still get to come back here and keep going I can bring more British gifts back with me for my friends in Korea and can take things home from here.

Loving your family and friends, missing them and missing your country is not failing or losing it's showing that you have a strong and positive life and have to appreciate it more sometimes. Never take who you are for granted.

London Nuna x