As I begin my third year in a different country, life abroad is starting to take on a new meaning.
My first year in Korea was full of unknowns. I had never traveled solo, had never mastered the subway (even in my hometown), and never thought of living my life in a completely different way that I had been known.
I embraced all of the changes. I explored almost every weekend for six months straight until I exhausted my town of spots to visit. I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and was amazed by anything Korea had to offer. I visited four other countries that year, all on my own, on trips that changed my views on the world in more ways than one.
After that year, I thought I would be done. Everyone was convinced that the travel bug would be satiated and I was ready to be an adult. False. Almost exactly two years later from when I landed in Korea, I became a resident (well, an alien resident), of Japan.
And again, I explored. There are endless places to go in this country. There were months that I didn't see my apartment on the weekends. And so when I had to go home for family reasons for a few months, I already signed a new contract to ensure that I was coming back.
And I can't put my finger on it. But it's different this time. The excitement of the unknown has worn off and it feels more like the same old. Old friends who made this place home are gone off to their homes or other adventures. And I certainly miss my old apartment by the water where I could stare out into the distance for hours from my favorite cafe.
And so now starts a new challenge: making this life exciting again.
I've had trouble sticking around in the same places before. Always switching jobs, driving anywhere and everywhere on the weekends, and embracing a lifestyle on the move. But for now, I'm going to make a familiar place into a new and exciting place. Hey, if I can figure out how to use the subway in Beijing, I can do this, right?
Stay tuned, and follow me on Instagram @travel.a.map for travel inspiration.
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