(Yes, this is me being me. Don’t judge.)
So, it’s my birthday. And I’m not writing this post to brag or fish for birthday salutations. I’m writing it to talk about another cultural difference between America and Korea: basically, in Korea, you are one year older than you consider yourself. So, I’m turning 27 today, but in Korea I’m 28.
Why is this?
Well, it’s simple, really. When a baby is born in Korea, they consider the baby one years old. I mean, I guess that makes sense, but it’s still a pretty big kick in the pants. I don’t want to be 28! Almost 30? Yikes!
Anyway, and in all seriousness, I really don’t mind turning another year older. I’ve been fortunate in my travels, well, in all my endeavors, really. I have seen a great many things in the world and I still have a great many more to see. Being in Korea is hard, for sure, but it is single-handedly the greatest adventure I have ever embarked on. I truly believe that you don’t know much about yourself until you push against your own boundaries. Until you set foot in the unknown and dapple with what scares you. These are the things that help you discover who you are.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a quote guy…not by a longshot. But a friend forwarded me this quote, said it sounded like something I’d say, so I’m going to put it up because I really dig it. Here you go:
It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. -Alan Cohen
How true. Okay, cheesy moment over.
I’ve been here for roughly three weeks. I still love it and I still have a great deal more to report on in the coming months. I’m hoping to take some pictures of my co-teachers and school and students next week, so that should be fun. They are a very rambunctious group of boys, but really fun. I got really lucky with my school and I’m very fortunate for that. This has been my first real work of teaching and I love it. I love helping students learn. I love being in the classroom and seeing their skills improve. I love being a part of that.
Anyway, this weekend I’m going to visit friends in Busan (on the southern coast) and I will have tons of pics when I get back. Oh, and I’ll be posting some pics of my neighborhood soon too. Yes!
Ciao.
Happy Birthday old man! 😉
Just wait ’til January 1st when everyone simultaneously turns the next year age all together, or so they say, and you’ll get to be 29…all while still being only 27. It’s pretty impressive.