Until We Meet Again~ Blog Assignment #8

Although it has only been one week since I've left South Korea, I can already boldly state, without a doubt, that I really miss that country. It truly feels as if the entire month of July has gone by in a flash. Now that I'm in Japan, with about five days to go before my return to the United States, the realization that my journey is ending has finally hit me. Though I am saddened by the fact that I have to return to my normal, less-adventurous life in Fort Smith, I will always remember that this trip was the first of many more to come.

Throughout my stay in South Korea, I really wish that I could have had more confidence in my speaking abilities. Several times, usually during our meals, I missed the opportunity to practice ordering food or asking for things in Korean. Strangely enough, my proudest moments also had something to do with my Korean language speaking abilities. The first time was a conversation with an older Korean lady in a public shower room, the details of which I'm sure you do not want to hear. The second was talking with a shop lady about her products and it involved using numbers and pricing. The best way to learn a language is to use it with it's native speakers, right? I will definitely continue to improve my knowledge of the Korean language and use it more during my next visit.

Interestingly enough, the culture shock that I seemingly skipped in South Korea has found me in Japan. My knowledge of the Japanese language is poor, as I only know a few phrases and some random hiragana characters. At times, I really feel like a foreigner wandering around blindly. Thankfully, I am staying with a friend that can speak Korean, Japanese, and English, and he has really helped a lot with translating and helping me find what I need. I will now enjoy the remainder of my trip in Asia and hope that I can return again soon.