Lately...

So, lately I've been having a bit of a hard time. I've moved to a new, smaller city with fewer foreigners. I knew that about Daejeon before I took this job. I also knew that I would be working with mostly Korean teachers. I like my co-workers and have become good friends with many of them, even meeting socially outside of work. I also have a high school friend living at the edge of the city, and some friends I met here to go rock climbing with. Deuk Kyun is an hour away by train, we talk on the phone everyday, and I see him about the same amount as I did before moving here. My sister and my dad have been great about sending anything I may need, like English magazines, snacks, or other products to stave off the homesickness.
Despite all this, I have been feeling terrible. Just, incurably awful.

It's not homesickness, but culture-sickness maybe. At my past jobs, I have worked with 4 or more other foreigners and now I'm one of only 2. Don't get me wrong, I'm so pleased to have Thomas as a co-worker, but you know, we just don't *click* as instant friends. We interact at work, professionally, and usually eat lunch together, but nothing more. He's actually been feeling the same as me since he moved here, and he was the one who got me thinking about why I've been so sad. I know I can call my foreign friends anytime, and even my Korean co-workers, but I think I'm missing the daily injection of English and Western culture that comes as a result of working with foreigners. I don't notice it at work, since my co-workers speak English well and I get along with them, but when I get home I realize that I miss having foreigners in my neighborhood, foreigners to walk home with, foreign foods and products for sale nearby... My neighborhood is very much Korean. And at work, most interactions occur in Korean unless I've initiated the conversation. I then need to ask someone to translate it for me. Anyway, it's not really about these small details, but about the big picture. It's just a feeling I get from this different environment, and I'm assuming I'll adjust.

As of now, I feel OK, but I just feel fragile. Like, if something bad were to happen I would just fall apart. Fortunately, I have some things to look forward to. In June, Deuk Kyun is going to get a job here and move into my big, big, empty house. Then in July, I'm coming home for 10 days to visit friends, eat, shop, drive, and generally renew my soul. So I'll hang in there for the time being, and hopefully when summer comes it'll turn around.