Expat to Expat Q&A: October

Last week, was the monthly Expat to Expat Q&A link up with Belinda and Bailie. I had some other stuff planned for last week, so I thought I would share my answers with you today. If you missed any of previous Expat to Expat answers just click here. 

Question #1: How does your family and friends back home perceive your new life, and is it accurate?

Other than most thinking we are pretty crazy for moving to South Korea, I think many of them have this idea that Matt and I teach a little and travel a lot. I understand that if you look at our life according to this blog it kinda seems that way, but we actually work a lot. As much as I want this blog to be a real interpretation of our lives here in Korea- I think our Monday-Friday life is pretty boring. We are still real people- we are just in Korea. Some weekends we are exploring around our area, and some we are just catching up on things to get down around the house. {For example, we still don't have a couch or plates for our apartment yet...} Matt and I are essentially homebodies that sometimes like to explore :) For the most part, we watch way too much Hulu and read in bed. 

{Matt and I in Hawaii- you know living the 'glam' life of travel} 

Question #2: Do you find the need to edit your life from friends and family? 

Hmmm edit... not really. I pretty much share what happens in our day to day life exactly like it happens. Maybe not on this blog - I mean who needs to hear that Matt and I bickered about getting lost on our way to Seoul... But I do Skype with my family a lot, especially my mom, and I tell her everything. She then tells everyone else. I don't want my family to worry, so I tend to make sure they know everything that is going on. For as long as I can remember, I have used my mom as a sounding board when I am upset. To completely cut this habit would be strange. So if I am upset I usually tell her everything. 

 When looking at this blog, I tend to share a lot, and if I have a bad day- I usually mention it. But again- I don't want to completely bum people out, so I usually share the basics. I think some feelings should stay private. I really think there's a balance of sharing and over-sharing to the point that your readers think you're a whiner... which I totally am, but I don't want YOU to know that. :) 

{Since I talked about my family- I thought I would share a picture. This is my Abuela, me, and my little sister Olivia. By the bye, how awesome is that t-shirt quilt my MIL made me.} 

And there you have it! What do you think? If you're an expat- what are your answers. I would love to hear from you. 

PS- If you're a new follower- Welcome! I'd love for you to stay and read awhile! 

Happy Monday Y'all! 

Expat to Expat Q&A: September

It's time for another link up for Expat to Expat Q&A brought to us by Belinda and Bailie. 

If you missed last month's link up click here. So here we go with this month's questions. 

Question from Belinda: How do you fit in to your new culture without losing some of your identity? 

Okay, this is kinda tricky because at times I feel like I am never going to be part of the culture here. I feel like wherever I go I stand out. I don't speak the language. I don't look like the people. But I am trying my best to immerse myself in the culture. So here is how I am trying to fit into my culture: I try to  say hello and thank you in Korean. I try to be aware of certain customs and practices (i.e. Korean Thanksgiving is coming up and we got gifts to take to our co-workers and bosses.) I always try to do what others around me are doing.

In terms of not losing my identity, I think keeping up with the daily practices that were important to you back home. If you always went to Starbucks on your way to work- try to keep that up. If you watch a certain show- watch it. And be yourself. Drinking is a big part of Korean culture, but Matt and I don't drink. Just because we are in Korean doesn't mean we are going to start drinking. I believe that you can adapt to a new culture and be yourself at the same time.

Question from Bailie: What do you think your biggest trigger for homesickness is?

Holidays! Even though I am lucky enough to have Matt with me during all the holidays regardless of where we are, I still get really homesick. Thanksgiving is the hardest holiday because it is my favorite one, and I am very picky about what food I like to eat. I want exactly what my mom and Abuela fix every year. Matt and I were married the day after Thanksgiving and our rehearsal dinner was Thanksgiving dinner. It was the coolest experience ever. All my favorite foods, plus all my favorite people were gathered in one room. It was awesome. But being away always sucks. I think it will be especially hard this year because we are in a country that doesn't celebrate American Thanksgiving. We don't get the day off of work, and it will just be the two of us.

Another trigger is seeing my little siblings growing up without me. My youngest siblings are 10 and I feel so guilty I am not living in Georgia to see them grow up, or to be able to help my mom out. I love participating in their lives and being away always makes me sad.

I guess what I struggle with is remembering that being expat means living with give and take. There are great things about living abroad and there are not so great things. There is a time to be homesick and there's a time to just go with it and be perfectly happy.

Expat to Expat Q&A: August

So I guess the rumors are true. We moved from small town Laie on the North Shore of Oahu, and we moved to the hustle and bustle of Suwon, South Korea. We are now expats... at least for the next 12 months or so.

 I really want to connect with other expats, so I am linking up with Belinda from Found Love Now What and Bailie from The Hemborg Wife for their monthly link up Expat to Expat. 

*Now, I have only been in South Korea for a week, so I am in no ways an expert. My answers to the following questions are purely on what I have seen so far in my little part of the country. 

August Questions: 

1. What is your favorite food store in your city and why? 

Funny story, the first time I went to our local grocery store for the first time I started crying. I have never felt so overwhelmed with doing a simple task like buying groceries. Luckily, my husband was kinda waiting for a breakdown like this and we bought our few items and left the store. 

From what I have seen there are small connivence stores on almost every corner that have most of your basics (i.e. milk, eggs, cereal, meat, etc.) They also have these Lotte super stores. This particular Lotte store has different stories full of stuff you would need. The bottom floor is dedicated to groceries. I don't think I have a favorite yet, but we have lots of choices!  

2. For your answer to number 1 is it ok to buy the store brand items or do you pay extra for a name brand?

I have not shopped enough to know the difference between name brand vs. store brand. I can't even read most labels! :) But when I figure that out I'll let you know. I know in past experiences we usually do what's the cheapest option. 

3. What do you think is the best way to get about your city? i.e. bus, bike, car, etc

Here we have tons of options and it really just depends on where we are going. If we want to go to the downtown area we can take the subway. There is a subway station really close to where we live now. I like going on the subway because there were signs in English, it is really clean, they have AC, and it is easy to use. If we want to go a little bit further (like to work) we take the bus. There are transportation cards that you can get and put money on them, and they work for the bus and subway. If you don't have that card you can buy a one way ticket for 1,600 won (close to a $1.50) and you can redeem them at the end of your ride and get 500 won (close to .50 cents) back. There are tons of things within walking distance to us, but right now I am hating walking around because it is so hot, although it's the cheapest option. Usually when we go out for dinner we just walk to a restaurant close to us. 

4. Which store do you turn to for basics like toilet paper or cleaning supplies?

We can go to the Lotte store to get these things, or to HomePlus. You can get whatever you want from these places. 

5. Where do you think is the best place in your city to get a cup of coffee (or beverage you prefer) and catch up with friends? 

One thing I have noticed in the week I've been here is that there are tons of coffee shops- like on every corner. You have places like Holly's Coffee or Starbucks. Matt really likes Holly's Coffee, but we usually stick to any place that has good lemonade. 

Questions from Emma at Adventures of a London Kiwi: 

1. What was your “eureka, I’m practically a native” moment?

Haha- that has not happened yet! I'm not really sure if that will ever happen. But hopefully I can at least feel comfortable enough to get through day to day living. 

2. Does your real accent get in the way? 

Yes- but I'm pretty sure the main thing that gets in my way is the fact I don't speak Korean. Both Matt and I are trying to learn a little Korean so we can survive as best we can here.