Going to a new place always means meeting new people. That probably is the most fluttering, yet terrifying aspect of going to a new place. I did not expect any of this because I did not intend on starting a new relationship.

It started with an email I got from my roommate. First, it was my first time living in a dorm so I was not sure if emailing your roommate was a tradition in a dorm-life. Second, it was Korea, my native country. I didn’t have to make new friends and I, honestly, did not have time to spend with the new friends I will be making because there wasn’t even enough time to make visits to my average of 50 relatives in 4 months. Lastly, I had other plans already made.

However, you can never expect life to turn out the way you want. There was a 2-week cultural excursion planned from the program that I participated in. The activities were already included in my payments so I could not drop out or I could have but I did not want to waste my money. Studying abroad is expensive and that forces you to make the most out of it. Also, my motto is to enjoy it if you can’t avoid it.

I ended of enjoying every part of the excursion because even if I was a native, it has been 13 years since I’ve visited Korea, so I only know so much of its well-known places and history, although I am familiar with some part of the culture through my parents. Visiting museums, which was the most boring activities in the past, gave me the time to let Korea immerse into my soul and identity.

I planned this post to talk about the relationship I developed with my new friends. However, it didn’t turn out the way I wanted to, like how life does. I’m going to leave it as it is because you just let life flow and that’s the most mysterious, yet cherishing moment of living in this world.