Unexpected Happiness

'Whatever you're doing, something unexpected will always find you in Korea and make you smile.'

When I first started thinking about coming here, my friend Amy told me that. And it's true. On Easter, I was walking down the street and was handed an Easter Egg by a bunch of friendly Korean girls who wished me a Happy Gisu's Birthday. I can be having a stressful day at work and one of my students will walk in with a thoughtful little gift for me. And you never know what or who will be waiting for you when you have a night out with the girls.

Today was no different. On my walk downtown to meet some people from theater group this morning, I was minding my own business when two college girls came up to me and asked if they could interview me for their final project before graduation. Of course! I'd love to help.

Their project was to interview as many foreigners (way-gook 와 국) about their feelings of how they're treated in Korea. I was asked to give a brief description of myself, which may have been too brief because I wasn't quite sure of the information they wanted. I was also asked if I've visited other cities in Korea, and how the number of foreigners in those cities varied from that of Gwangju. I was then asked if I feel I've been treated negatively by Koreans in general, and what my thoughts were on the 'issue.' I said I have never been treated badly, and that is completely true. I love it here. I am treated very well wherever I go, and everyone is always so nice to me. I am given things for free just because I am a foreigner. Random people always want to say hello to practice their English. Koreans who know little or no English always apologize and try to do their best to communicate with me. I am happy here and I love it.

Yes, people stare at me all the time because I look different, but I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me. And yes, some shop owners can be rude and laugh at me and tell me to leave their store because nothing in it will fit anyone above a size 0 and they're discriminating against me as a foreigner, but you know what? One day when they come into my store I'll have the opportunity to make them feel welcome and maybe it will change their minds, maybe not. But things like that don't make me like it here any less.

The most important thing in life is to be happy. Once you've got that down, the rest is a walk in the park.