— Julia Quinn, To Sir Phillip, With Love (via sorakeem)
(Source: simply-quotes, via awelltraveledwoman)
arrived back in Seoul officially a little over 2 weeks ago after a 2 month stint in south east asia and america. came back jet-lagged, heart-broken, jobless, and homeless (for only a short period). during the almost full 2 weeks back, i had to keep reminding myself why i came back.
1) learn korean
2) save money
3) continue to research my adoption
4) explore working with KUMFA (unwed mothers)
5) write and explore grad school options
time has passed slowly at moments but now i am almost into week 3:
-moved into my apt
-got a language exchange partner/signing up for korean classes/studying korean during my free time
-got a job with half the hours i used to work
-made an appt to go to Holt again to review my adoption papers as well as pursue my birth family search.
-took a family camp weekend trip with KUMFA and all the little ones to the countryside.
still time heals all and i need to continuously remind myself why i’m here in Korea. just the importance of being here as a korean adoptee is strong…it can allow one to grieve, cope, and heal the loss of our korean identities which were stripped from us at the time of our adoptions. i know i don’t want to leave permanently with a list of regrets or things i should have done. I have two identities, Alyssa Perry and 정연지. the later that which is forever connected to this country.
Today marks the 27th year of me coming to America as a baby from the ROK. Last year, I was in Korea. This year, I am in San Francisco but headed back to the motherland very shortly (in a few days to be exact) to continue my life that I have created there. Strange where life takes you. Never predicted this to happen but I am satisfied and content with my decision to go back to Korea.
— St. Augustine (via travelchannel)
(via awelltraveledwoman)
city dweller, international traveler, adoptee, ex-pat
