Six months and four days ago, I boarded a plane bound for America.
Since landing at LAX last November 17, time has literally flown by. I'm currently preparing to move up to camp in Idyllwild (5,400 feet up in the San Jacinto Mountains about 100 miles from my current residence) for my 5th summer working at Idyllwild Arts Summer Program.
While in Korea, I saw firsthand that life is boundless, its possibilities endless, and its wonders countless.
Undoubtedly, I've mentioned the impact that I feel Korea has made on my life. My experience there has infiltrated my mind to the deepest parts, I think it shall never leave. But some things have come to mind only recently. Others have been on my mind, but I haven't been able to express them.
On a recent visit to the grocery store, I suddenly noticed something that I hadn't before. I don't use shopping bags anymore. I mean, I'm conscious that I haven't been using shopping bags, but I suddenly realized why.
As you may recall, shopping bags cost money in Korea. A great alternative was simply to box up your groceries using the plethora of boxes provided. These were free--and it actually made carrying your purchases much easier (considering you sometimes had to walk a great distance with them).
To my knowledge, no stores in America offer free boxes (other than Costco), but they do have the carts. I simply put all the groceries into my cart and I steal the cart to bring my groceries home.
I was kidding about that last part. I simply roll the cart to my car and load all the groceries in. I just don't like using shopping bags anymore. Korea has done that to me. Just an interesting observation.
But Korea has changed the way I view the world. When I first returned from Korea, I was overjoyed to be home. While that feeling of joy has not waned completely; returning to America has caused me to question certain things I hadn't before.
I will say, it didn't take me long to start comparing Korea and America. I started to resent the negative things I saw in America (the ridiculous traffic, the horrible music played very loudly from people's cars, etc.). I longed to return to Korea. I would look at pictures from my time in Korea and cry. Weird, perhaps.
I see America in a new way. Perhaps not a new way, but I have a clearer view of it's positives and negatives.
I'm afraid we've completely forgotten the freedoms the forefathers fought for. South Korea has had "freedom" for 56 years (official end of the Korean War--July 27, 1953) while America has had it for 226 (official end of the Revolutionary war--September 3, 1783). Our sense of personal freedom has overshadowed our sense of personal responsibility. To use a Star Wars quote, our sense of freedom has "betrayed and murdered" our sense of perspective, and specifically, the responsibility that comes with having freedom.
The freedom the people in South Korea have is still fresh in their mind and all they have to do is look North to see very clearly what they came from and what they could return to if their freedom was taken from them. They understand full well the impact of their freedom. However, we in America have largely forgotten. We'd do well to remember.
Korea has changed the way I see my own life in relation to others.
I am more keenly aware of language, and specifically how I come across to other people. I find myself apologizing to people for things I've said (whether the person was hurt or not), when before I wouldn't have even thought I possibly owed them an apology. I understand more fully the importance of communication; to a degree I, ironically, cannot articulate.
Though I appreciate people more (much more), I have difficulty expressing it. Not because I don't have the words, but because my mind and heart are so full, the words and thoughts are gone nearly as quickly as they entered. Sadly, this renders the good thoughts ultimately unhelpful to the person who deserves to benefit from hearing how much I appreciate them.
I have somehow given in to the hustle and bustle of life here, which I typically appreciate, but unfortunately my mind seems incapable of keeping up. Thusly, I cannot focus on anything, any time, any place.
Korea has also changed my perspective about a great many things.
For instance, since I spent a year without a cell phone, I still find telephone conversations a little difficult, though I'm trying to get better.
Since my brain now recognizes the various signs/billboards, etc. (whereas in Korea, I couldn't read anything), I find that I'm more appreciative of things. Obviously, I can communicate easier, and this is both a relief on my brain and a shock. It's a relief on my brain because my brain doesn't have to be stuck in "Confused" mode, but can now work in "Understand" mode. However, while in Korea, I got used to not being able to understand anything, so my brain basically hibernated. Coming back to America was like stepping out of a pitch dark cave after 6 months and being blinded by the sun. It hurts a little bit.
I also appreciate the things around me more, and don't take them for granted as much as before.
Since returning from Korea, I've been to a Dodgers game, a Giants game; Universal Studios, Disneyland, various California Missions, and many other fun activities. I don't sit around on the weekends nearly as much as I used to.
Money isn't as big a deal to me as before. I'm still frugal (especially now that a gallon of gas is more than a gallon of milk), but I also don't hoard money like I used to. I want to experience life more--and I don't want to just sit around and wait for a big movie deal to come across my path.
I think it's taken the past 6 months and 4 days for some of these things to really sink in...and I'm sure there are more lessons to come.
