I went to a Korean baseball game where I sang songs and said chants in Korean for the players. I learned more of a new language and went sightseeing in Seoul, one of the coolest placest to visit! I joined a dance group at Korea University and performed in front all of my classmates. I saw the ocean on the other side of the world and made friends for a lifetime! My time in South Korea was an entire rose garden of incredible experiences and new friendships.
Second, the thorns: the hard lessons I had to learn. It can be hard being in a new country where you do not know anyone and do not speak the language well, but my experience in South Korea showed me that it was worth it! When I felt lonely, I took trips alone, such as when I explored the Jaman Mural Village by myself. Sometimes I had to look up a phrase or word in Korean that I did not remember, or a nice Korean who knew English would help me with directions. Classes were not always easy, either. Even though I was on a cool trip halfway around the world by myself, I still had a lot of homework to do every night. Studying was a challenge, but my teachers and friends were a huge help, especially when I asked for it! Asking for help is a very important skill that I learned. When I had a hard time at the grocery store because of the language barrier, I was respectful and kind, but most of all I asked for help when I needed it.
Finally, the buds: all the new opportunities that I have now because I stayed in school and continued to learn. The best thing I have done with my life so far is to learn from different cultures and study languages in school. By going through this journey with me, you have learned a little bit about what it is like to live in South Korea.
