While volunteering, I began teaching, and I also became really interested in Korean culture and history. Because of this fact, I decided to take Korean language classes. One opportunity led to another, and I received a scholarship to work in human rights and law in Seoul during my summer break. After that experience, I felt like my time here wasn’t finished, so I knew I had to come back!
One thing I’ve learned throught these experiences is that you don’t need a perfect or dramatic story in order to follow your dreams. Honestly, I sometimes have a hard time explaining my own path. I just try to make choices that feel right to me at the time.
Usually, I know I’m making the right decision because the choice makes me feel a little nervous or pushes me a little bit outside of my comfort zone. And that’s how you grow the most! I hope you all feel encouraged to try new things and challenge yourself, too, after traveling with me and learning about my own journey.
Korean history is incredibly rich. When I first arrived in my city, Gyeongsan, some people told me this place was just boring farmland. But Korea’s history goes back over 4,000 years, and every place has something unique about it, not least of all Gyeongsan
For example, two well-known Buddhist figures are from the Gyeongsan area. Long ago, Gyeongsan was a part of an ancient kingdom called 압독국 (Apdok-guk), which existed from 108 BCE to 313 CE. There is even a large park near my apartment filled with ancient tombs from this time, which is very cool!
Later, in 102 CE, the area became a part of the 신라 (Silla) kingdom, and over time it became part of the 조선 (Joseon) dynasty.
