"...and so it goes, and so will you soon I suppose..." - Billy Joel
I've heard that once you finally begin to 'get' Korea, you leave.
I've heard that many people choose to stay another year because after the first 12 months are up, they suddenly begin to realise what it's all about here.
On Sunday, I decided to head back to the sauna, filled with naked women and young girls, who scrub and sauna themselves to pure cleanliness.
I haven't been for a couple of months because the weather has been so nice but it used to be my regular Sunday routine.
And when I walked it, it just felt, well, dare I say a bit like home? Like home in the way it smells and the sounds and that feeling you get after being away too long and realising it's exactly like you never left?
I suddenly just felt part of it. Part of something that I really enjoy about Korea. A relaxing couple of hours pampering myself. For only 5 bucks.
There are so many things to get frustrated about here that it always catches me by surprise when something feels just absolutely perfect.
Next week, we will have been here a year. ONE YEAR. I remember writing here when we first arrived, wondering how I was going to survive an entire 12 months. And now, here we are.
And although we've extended our contract by a month, to take advantage of making a bit more cash and avoid travelling in the rainy season, we're still leaving very soon.
I'm finally realising how much I WILL really miss this place.
You begin to slowly realise that all you need is comfort and familiarity and anywhere becomes home. Anywhere becomes a place that you feel comfortable in.
And perhaps this is all stating the obvious. And perhaps I've stated it before. I know there was an isolation period both in Leeds and Belfast.
I guess, for future reference, the acclimitization time for Korea is one year.
And so it goes.
I've heard that once you finally begin to 'get' Korea, you leave.
I've heard that many people choose to stay another year because after the first 12 months are up, they suddenly begin to realise what it's all about here.
On Sunday, I decided to head back to the sauna, filled with naked women and young girls, who scrub and sauna themselves to pure cleanliness.
I haven't been for a couple of months because the weather has been so nice but it used to be my regular Sunday routine.
And when I walked it, it just felt, well, dare I say a bit like home? Like home in the way it smells and the sounds and that feeling you get after being away too long and realising it's exactly like you never left?
I suddenly just felt part of it. Part of something that I really enjoy about Korea. A relaxing couple of hours pampering myself. For only 5 bucks.
There are so many things to get frustrated about here that it always catches me by surprise when something feels just absolutely perfect.
Next week, we will have been here a year. ONE YEAR. I remember writing here when we first arrived, wondering how I was going to survive an entire 12 months. And now, here we are.
And although we've extended our contract by a month, to take advantage of making a bit more cash and avoid travelling in the rainy season, we're still leaving very soon.
I'm finally realising how much I WILL really miss this place.
You begin to slowly realise that all you need is comfort and familiarity and anywhere becomes home. Anywhere becomes a place that you feel comfortable in.
And perhaps this is all stating the obvious. And perhaps I've stated it before. I know there was an isolation period both in Leeds and Belfast.
I guess, for future reference, the acclimitization time for Korea is one year.
And so it goes.
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