Two Years in Korea: A reflection

 So...today is the anniversary of my arrival in Korea... 2 years ago!  I can't really believe that I have been here for two years now.  Time is a little bit crazy in Korea, some things seem to go really fast, and others really slow. I don't feel like it has already been two years - and yet I feel like I have been living here forever!

So much has changed in two years... I went back to read the blog I posted the day I arrived and found myself laughing a lot and thinking about all the things I didn't know then that I know now!  I have also changed a lot since then - for starters I am now married to the love of my life...who I probably never would have found if I hadn't come here!

I thought I would take this time to list a few of the top things I have learned, observed, noticed or discovered since I have been in Korea;

• Being a millionaire every month is awesome.
• Paying rent in the equivalent of $10 bills makes you feel rich.
• Spam is a major food group.
• Spam can be given as a gift on family holidays provided it's in a gift box
• older Korean women can be lovely or frightening & there is no way to tell until you interact with them.
• If you eat enough garlic you can't tell how bad everyone around you smells from eating too much garlic.
• English movies where they speak other languages suck - they only translate those sections into Korean.  (I may never know what the apes said in the new Planet of the Apes movie).

• You don't need to speak another language to make someone understand you.
• The Google translate app is legendary; as long as you only write really short sentences.

•  If you are going to drive, drive like a race-car driver, otherwise get off the road.
• Mini-skirts and hot-pants can be worn all year round - if it's cold just wear stockings underneath!
• Samsung makes everything.  If Samsung doesn't LG does.  If neither make it...it must be rubbish.

• Dokdo belongs to Korea. End of Story. Lol.
• Everything is negotiable.
• If you get married while in Korea you must immediately have babies.  If you are not married...why not? You are getting old. You must get married soon or no-one will want you.
• What do you mean it says no parking?

• What do you mean you need more notice that we were planning to have a school dinner?
• The voices over the loudspeakers on the trucks that go past are only selling fruit. DON'T PANIC!

• The F-16's that fly over your house are just practicing.  In case North Korea decides to be really naughty.
• Don't forget to turn your hot water on BEFORE you get into the shower...otherwise the water is going to take a really really really long time to warm up.
• Galbi is awesome. Soju is a bad idea.

• If you can't find it at Homeplus then you can probably live without it.
• Having fried chicken delivered to your door at 1 am is awesome.
• If it doesn't come with a freebie attached to it then it probably isn't worth buying.
• When it's really cold street food is the best.
• Socks are everywhere.

I am sure I have missed loads of things but that's the shortlist off the top of my head!  All in all I am super glad that I made the decision to move here two years ago.  I learned a lot and my life has changed a lot... and all for the better!  Looks like we are going to be here in Korea for at least another year and then who knows where after that!  In the meantime there is still plenty for us to explore... and a party to celebrate my two year anniversary this Saturday night which should be awesome!

 Last but not least I would like to add that today is doubly special because it has been 5 months since I married my darling husband.  I wanted to say thank you to him for being so wonderful and finding new ways to make me smile every single day.  Every day that I have been with you has been happier than the last my darling - I truly feel like the luckiest girl in the world!