Seoul feels safe, organized, clean, and efficient every time I visit. I think it must be because there are so few foreigners like me around. Every country has its challenges and discomforts, but as a short-term visitor, it really feels like this is a place I can stay and be entirely insulated from nagging annoyances that plague daily life; this isn’t typically achievable in many of the countries I visit. I suppose one risk of staying in South Korea for an extended period would be feeling isolated. I would guess it could take five years before a local approaches you to say hello. It isn’t that people here are rude or inconsiderate; quite the opposite, it’s just that you could live anonymously in Seoul without anyone ever noticing.
No new surprises this time in Seoul, which was just fine for me. I was relishing revisiting my favorite neighborhoods and eating as much Korean food as I could find. I met my local friend Justin and his wife, Laura, who moved from Bogotá to Seoul while her US visa is being processed. They had met in Bogotá and then obtained a one-year visa in South Korea along with a rental apartment in a cool neighborhood near Gangnam. I stayed in a neighborhood called Seongdong across the river for the week I was visiting. The Airbnb I stayed in was easily the most cosy and charming I have stayed in. The entire design was created as a sort of velvet-soft 1950s lounge, featuring modern forest-green bathroom tiles, corduroy window shades, fragrant sandalwood perfume, and vintage retro furnishings that made returning each evening a welcome relief after a day out exploring. While working inside, I rotated jazz records on an old record player, needing to halt my work progress every 15 minutes or so to flip the record’s side.
The only challenging aspect of living in Seoul for me is the time difference with my work obligations in the US. For the past several years, I have had a lot of flexibility with that, but it still necessitates some accommodation for late-night and early-morning meetings when I’m in Asia. However, the necessitated flexibility also presents opportunities to break out of acquired routines and habits; for instance, I would never be working from a cafe late at night if I weren’t forced to. When we travel to destinations that require us to adapt (even on very basic things like work hours), I think we can become stronger and more capable in other areas of our lives by learning to accommodate change. It’s a fun game to adapt to every destination I find myself in, even if the requisite changes are as minor as a new gym routine based on available equipment, a new diet, or a new daily commute. I still love that stuff.
I feel great when I’m in Seoul. Maybe I should make this place my Asian hub and return to some part of Asia each year. Autumn fits well because it’s not hot and I can wear pants without sweating. I love the food, culture, and history, so why not? Following attraction and desire are enough for me (along with a healthy dose of curiosity and adventure). Seoul caters to all of that. So I think it’s time I make more room Asia (and Seoul) in my yearly migration. That will mean less time for Europe, which I am happy to accommodate. Overtourism, overpricing, and increasingly EU-homogenized culture make it a good time for me to prioritize other destinations. Challenge accepted.
