I'm protected from culture shock by the transplanted piece of the US called the military base. Case in point, I had Burger King for lunch today! They must have gotten a good deal on roofing because the buildings look exactly the same as every other base I have visited. The only difference is that all the non-military staff are Korean, but they all speak very good English and are used to being surrounded by Americans. I don't know whether to be thankful or disappointed. I want the real experience, and I'm quickly realizing that it isn't just going to happen on its own! Seong and I need to make our own experience so that we can get everything we can out of our time here.
To that end, we try to leave base as much as possible! In this past week I have gotten to know the streets surrounding the base and have tasted delicious new foods. The strange thing about this new place is that I feel like I am in an unrequited love story. I notice and am interested in everything I see, but I am invisible. I feel like a major 외국인 (foreigner)! Every person I see, I wonder who they are and where they are headed. I didn't notice anything in the US. I had my own places to go and things to focus on. Now, I just focus on my new surroundings.
As a matter of fact, everything about this life is so new...new husband, new language, new country, new to army wifehood, new to NOT being in school. So, at the request of my friends and family, and as something to fill my days, I'm posting this blog with my husband. I'm sure I will post more than he will, because he actually has a reason for being in this country, while my only purpose is to be with him and enjoy myself! Well, maybe that's not true. I'm praying earnestly that God will use me during this "break".
This is SPC. Cho reporting.
I am a enlisted U.S. Army soldier and have been PCS to Korea. I have been U.S. Army since 2013.
South Korea is my mother land, but I have not been here for 14 years. So it is a bit strange to be return in this nation. Many things are changed; such as I am not a Korean anymore, but I came back as a U.S. Army military personal so my view point about Korea is different than I was a young when I was in Korea.
I can speak and listen Korean fluently and know well about Korean cultures. Living in Korea is not that much different than living in states for me. The only difference is I cannot have a car so I have to walk a lot and use public transportations, so I got very tan (and I also bike too). The most difficult thing for me is getting used to military culture because I have only been in Army for a year. Another weird thing is working alongside Korean civilians in the hospital because they acting different than people I worked with in states. Their working styles and how they are interacting with other co-workers are so different and strange for me. I guess that is Korean culture and I got a culture shock. (They are really nice to me. ;))
Living with my wife Christina is really fun and she makes me so happy. I try to show her what is Korea and I want her to understand my cultural background. I think this year, we will stay in Korea, have lots of good and bad things and our relationship will grow.
The purpose of this blog is to document our adventures and everyday joys. We want our friends and family to feel closer to us even though we are far, far away. Skype and Facetime are becoming very important to us! Since there is a 14-hour time difference between Seoul and the Midwest, when you wake up, you might read a new post from us with your morning coffee! Please join with us by raise your cup to the new, whatever that may be in your life. Maybe you are taking up running, buying a house, planting a church, or trying to accept a difficult situation. We hope that we all have the courage to face all these things with the joy of the Lord as our strength!
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