I am from Puerto Rico, a small island from the Carribean and U.S.A territory. We are a small colony with an interesting cultural history. A ridiculously tragic cultural history. My culture differs greatly from Korean culture and despite me being confident about adapting quickly to Korean customs, I have my fears. I worry that I won’t be able to adapt fully to the life I want to live there. For example, the pollution problem in Korea is serious. They blame Chinese factories for the increment of pollution in Korea, but Korea also plays a significant role in this situation. I was doing some research on the polluted air over Seoul and I found out that Chinese factories are in fact NOT to blame for the environmental issues in Korea. Korea is responsible for poor air quality that is heavily increasing health issues among its population. If you’re interested and would like to research more, here is a link where a native Korean female talked about this (she also attached a link to her post, but it’s in Korean) topic 2 years ago. Here in PR, we are affected by the Saharan dust storms. It affects us but is not as problematic or dangerous as polluted air. It is hard, especially for people like me that suffer from sinusitis, but it is bearable and we don’t have to wear masks whenever we go out. I am not accustomed to wearing masks, not even when I’m sick. I don’t even check the weather app, because it is pointless to do so on a tropical island where it is always hot and only on some rare occasions a little bit cold. That is the only factor that I’m dreading to experience already.

The thought of being a foreigner in another country that I have never been before being scary. I am constantly traveling to the U.S, but I don’t feel like it is strange for me nor I feel like a foreigner, (the problem of PR’s colonial status kicks in, haha). Also, I visited Canada once in a school trip, but it was cool and it didn’t feel like a completely different culture. Obviously, the difference between what I am accustomed to where there, but it wasn’t trouble. However, I have never been to any Asian country, so I think it’ll be a mix of nervousness, excitement, and curiosity to explore and wander around a new place I’ve never been before. I have eaten Korean food and I am 100000000% sure I can eat it every day without getting tired of it. (Korean food is ridiculously good. Like, seriously? *cries in Korean* ㅠ_ㅠ) I have heard about foreigner discrimination in Korea is very common. I have never found myself in a situation where I have felt discriminated and knowing the kind of person I am (looking tough on the outside but over sensitive in the inside), I worry that if something ever occurred to me, I let it get to me… but I know I will do fine.

In conclusion, the cultural shock will always be there, for sure. However, I don’t think it’ll be as shocking for me than other people. I have researched for almost 2 years about Korean culture enough to feel confident in my decision, but anything can happen. I am a person that can adapt to situations and different environments quickly. I have lived a beautiful but rollercoaster-ish kind-of life. Even though I like to be in a status quo as much as I can, I have learned I cannot live that way. At least not now that I’m a college student. So I am very confident in plans, but I don’t want to be overly confident and mess up big time. Taking things slowly and researching thoroughly, is what will keep me afloat and with hope for now. Because the next step is the life-changing step.

-1:18 p.m february 20th, 2019