We are investing our time in this country, more than anything else. You are what, 23? Your 20’s is the most crucial part of your life. How you spend this decade will mostly define what you will do for the rest of your life. That’s why I’m telling you to learn everything that you can in this land. No, don’t just learn from the books. You can learn all these theories in your country, if not better. I’m saying that you’ve got to immerse. Spend time with the local people, try to learn their language and understand their culture. Not everyone will be nice and willing to make friends with foreigners because of the language barrier. But you got these people around you --nice Koreans who are willing to help you and make friends with you despite the challenge of communication. Appreciate them. I mean, what are the chances that you will get to see them again after 2 years? Savor the days. Find happiness anywhere you go. Yes we don’t have the luxury of time to tour this land, but I’m sure when you really open your eyes you can see all the beauty that this country can offer. I know there will always be something missing in our hearts that only home can fill, but take what you can get. If you manage to do all these, that’s the only time you can say that you really learned.
In life you meet different kinds of people. You meet some in the boring ride in the subway. You meet a nice seatmate in a conference. You meet friends during your stay in a foreign country. Not everyone will be good to you. Not everyone will become your friends. Some will just say hi. Some will be a bitch. But every day that you’re given a chance to meet new people, always keep in mind to learn something from them. It could be a simple fact that the temperature in Dubai is awfully hot or what is the marrying age in Korea or what is “how are you” in Hanggul. It could be a more sensible conversation about seeking for work-life balance. It may be a painful lesson that regardless of what they say, you cannot trust all people. Or, if you’re lucky you can learn that some people will really stay with you and you'll be willing to stick with them too.
Learn from all of them.
The other day I was talking to a friend about the sad side of living away from home. I told him my sentiments. Lately my siblings are always sending me messages saying they miss me a lot. My friends are being more awesome than ever because they are always with me during my meltdowns despite the distance. They listen to my random stories and we joke on each other and they make me feel as if I never left. I loved them more when I went away. Everybody knows that my friends and family are my rock. Now that I am away from them, I feel the separation anxiety and it’s difficult for me to be happy.
But as my friend said, there are other kinds of happiness.
A fulfilling career, the joy of learning, travelling to new places, meeting new people, gaining new friends – it can bring happiness to a person. It just happened that my happiness depended on people and now that I am far from them, my focus shifted and got blurred. But yes, he’s right. I can still be happy.
I have to find different kinds of happiness on every corner of my new life. To fill the jar of happiness with memories, new experiences, fulfillments, peace of mind, life realizations, appreciations and lessons and to take it with me wherever I go. So when it’s time for me to come back home, my happiness jar will be overflowing that I have to share it with other people.