When I packed our suitcases to move overseas for the first time, carefully checking each piece multiple times to make sure it was just the right weight, I had no idea that a silent stowaway had crept in that would rear it’s ugly head time and time again once we got to our host country:
DOUBT.
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When we first moved overseas it was on a two-year commitment, unsure of what our future beyond that would hold. After a few months, we knew we wanted to make a life here. We enjoyed our jobs, had great chemistry with our co-workers, and loved the culture and people. Our kids adjusted exceptionally well, and although we dealt with our share of challenges, overall we had a wonderful first two years in our host country. When we left, we were excited to return.
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In some ways, during this time of social isolation, I find myself more connected than ever.
In the past two weeks alone, I’ve been on more video conferences than the rest of my life combined. I’ve had countless conversations through text and other messenger apps with friends. People have emailed and reached out to check on our family. We’ve chatted almost daily with our family in the States.
And yet, after a video call with several friends recently, I found myself messaging one of them saying, “I just wish we could sit across from each other with coffee and have a conversation face to face.”
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My mother’s family spent several years in the early 70’s living in Seoul, South Korea, when she was a teenager. Because of her vivid memories and my relationship with my grandparents, the influence of Korea on my family was marked. My grandparents’ home in the States was filled with beautiful artwork and furniture from Asia. My grandfather often answered the phone with the Korean greeting, yobaseo, rather than the typical hello.
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