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Life in Seoul became busier after working at the Korea-Africa Summit.The summit officially wrapped up around June 8, and not long after, I started receiving a lot of interpretation offers—probably because the résumé I had uploaded to an interpretation agency platform was picked up by the algorithm.From June 11 to 14, I was asked to take on the role of event PM at the Seoul International Food Industry Exhibition, the largest fair held during the Korea Food Expo at KINTEX. Since I didn’t have any major commitments after finishing the summit, and because the PM’s role mainly involves tasks like compiling interpreter lists and overseeing booth operations, I figured it wouldn’t be too overwhelming—so I accepted.Once the decision was made, I headed to KINTEX on the first day of the event. This was actually my second time visiting KINTEX for work. During the summit, I had been so busy that I couldn’t take in the venue at all, and since this time my focus was again on booth operations, I knew I wouldn’t have much chance to look around either (laughs). Well, I thought, maybe someday I’ll have the leisure to explore the booths properly.At the event, the vice president in charge gathered all the interpreters, PMs, and staff, gave us an introduction, and shared a few reminders. That’s when we learned that one interpreter had canceled at the last minute. The VP asked if one of the PMs with strong English skills could step in as a replacement—and as you might have guessed, that ended up being me (laughs). The fact that my name tag hadn’t been pre-printed was proof enough that the position change was made in a hurry.And just like that, my very first interpreting assignment began.<figure id="figure-menawojo1kmes4epbd"><img id="menawojo1kmes4epbd" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/90jJz8okrqRLGaIYLsocfr2kiOvM3eEJLjrNiPA9rGBic8zgjtHY3mXuJitx5rBd.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 80%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="80%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/90jJz8okrqRLGaIYLsocfr2kiOvM3eEJLjrNiPA9rGBic8zgjtHY3mXuJitx5rBd.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 80%;"></figure>The company I was assigned to turned out to be very popular, so our meeting schedule was packed to the point where I barely had time to eat. Still, I truly enjoyed it. I felt that experiencing firsthand how to promote products, hold meetings, and even make sales would be a valuable asset in the long run.On days when it was tricky to carve out time for a proper meal, I would just wander around the booths instead. It was fun to explore products from different countries and observe how business deals were conducted. Oh, and at one point, I “kidnapped” Mr. Mujigtiger, who was wandering around the booths, and managed to take a photo with him (laughs). He was absolutely adorable.<figure id="figure-89iay7mzwmes4gd9l"><img id="89iay7mzwmes4gd9l" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/12KO6ye7NDyy0A5XEKcpKYjnlchgVKqeZl42zsYUcezV9FRFvfiDLckB1cvpeAm4.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 35%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="35%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/12KO6ye7NDyy0A5XEKcpKYjnlchgVKqeZl42zsYUcezV9FRFvfiDLckB1cvpeAm4.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 35%;"></figure>On the last day, after the meetings ended and before wrapping everything up, I had some extra time and was able to have a long conversation with the company’s president, Mr. Fernando. Over the four days of the event, he treated me like a daughter and shared many kind words. He told me that I seemed to be someone who studies hard and isn’t afraid to take on new challenges, and that he believed everything I pursue in the future would go well. The way he looked me in the eye and shared his advice and encouragement slowly and sincerely still gives me a lot of strength today.The CEO of the booth next to ours, who was also close to Mr. Fernando, often came by to chat during the event. On the last day, he too shared some words with me, saying, “You’re such a beautiful young lady with a promising future.” I don’t think I’ve ever felt such warmth from a simple comment. Because Mr. Fernando had spoken so highly of me, many of the neighboring booth representatives also shared kind words, and even the vice president praised me a lot. I felt truly proud and grateful.<figure id="figure-th8rovgxrgmes4ha7b"><img id="th8rovgxrgmes4ha7b" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1EbHbu0kzz1mNAtwZ18WxWsJBmMtbGz9niVxLs4TUJyneGsmCc2uiCW68RRFCtsm.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 100%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="100%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1EbHbu0kzz1mNAtwZ18WxWsJBmMtbGz9niVxLs4TUJyneGsmCc2uiCW68RRFCtsm.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 100%;"></figure>After the booth operations wrapped up, Mr. Fernando suggested that I join him for a meeting with CJ, and before I knew it, I ended up accompanying him for the rest of his schedule in Korea. Thanks to him, I got the chance to visit CJ’s live commerce studio, as well as Lotte Tower, where we enjoyed a delicious meal together and shared many conversations.Before he returned to the U.S., I could tell he felt quite sad to be leaving. In fact, he had asked me to interpret at his booth again for this year’s event, and I had accepted. Unfortunately, due to some personal matters at home, I couldn’t attend this time and wasn’t able to see him. It’s already been more than a year since we last met, and I find myself missing him from time to time. Still, I’ve kept in touch with his son, Diego, through Instagram, so I hear little updates every now and then (laughs).<figure id="figure-r18jb8s31mes4i2tk"><img id="r18jb8s31mes4i2tk" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/aRxSEFlfWT1LdLxGnJJgcWLYTimCJzAZNRrmJqwpYQYdhLM1aV4oILiD73Sy2LzZ.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/aRxSEFlfWT1LdLxGnJJgcWLYTimCJzAZNRrmJqwpYQYdhLM1aV4oILiD73Sy2LzZ.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Diego is a wonderful person as well—knowledgeable, smart, and with a charming smile. Sometimes he asks quirky questions, and whenever he does, I can’t help but think of how much he resembles Mr. Fernando. I truly hope I’ll have the chance to see them again, maybe at the end of this year or next year.One little TMI: Mr. Fernando’s LinkedIn profile picture is actually one we took together. Every time I see it, it makes me smile. During the entire event, I used to call them “My American Father” and “My American Family.” (laughs)My very first interpreting assignment remains a truly valuable experience, filled with wonderful memories and moments. Even now, it still feels that way.After finishing my work at KINTEX, I spent some time going to various interviews. I believed that gaining long-term experience, such as through an internship, would be beneficial for my career, and personally, I also considered it very important to experience organizational life. Working fixed hours, performing assigned tasks on a routine basis, understanding workplace hierarchies, and learning how to carry myself in a professional environment—these are all essential elements of social and professional life. Even if I might not be someone who naturally fits into repetitive organizational routines, I still believe these are valuable lessons to learn and practice for the sake of future work and relationships.While preparing for interviews and application documents, I found myself with quite a bit of free time. Rather than letting it slip away idly, I decided to make use of it by taking on support work for events at the Italian Embassy on weekends, as well as working with the textile industry secretariat during an exhibition held at COEX.The support work I did for the Italian Embassy event remains memorable in a different way. It was held in August, and since I was helping with outdoor promotions, I vividly remember how unbearably hot it was. Because it was a promotional event, I dressed somewhat formally, and wearing sneakers didn’t quite feel appropriate—so I ended up standing in dress shoes for four hours straight. Needless to say, my feet were in terrible shape (laughs). Still, I thought to myself that this, too, would become a valuable experience.<figure id="figure-huizi04h9hmes4jv0y"><img id="huizi04h9hmes4jv0y" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/13R3SDTbMcX2gLxq2skv3i5I1cFEGLumlOTEL4HqD7AtOmZQKGDP0ioe7vhd2N6l.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 40%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="40%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/13R3SDTbMcX2gLxq2skv3i5I1cFEGLumlOTEL4HqD7AtOmZQKGDP0ioe7vhd2N6l.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 40%;"></figure>Compared to that, working with the secretariat for Preview in Seoul felt a little less demanding. My tasks included walking around to help manage the booths, assisting with contract status checks and meeting reports, and supporting with English communication whenever it was needed, as well as helping out with general announcements.Since there were quite a few Chinese and Taiwanese companies participating, I even tried using my limited Chinese. To my surprise, it went fairly well (laughs). Simple phrases like “Please write this down,” “Wait a moment,” or “I’ll check for you” came back to me, probably because it hadn’t been long since I graduated from high school where I had studied some basics. It felt rewarding to actually use them in practice. Then again, it’s also very possible that those representatives were just quick-witted and understood my clumsy Chinese out of sheer kindness—me speaking in gibberish, and them graciously making sense of it (laughs).<figure id="figure-k4om5xkhrbqmes4l73l"><img id="k4om5xkhrbqmes4l73l" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1dCszHGGH2q8HN181VuoQf9Vw9IL57YeR3KdhW9r8mOvYdejh94tXaT469N7O1Aa.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1dCszHGGH2q8HN181VuoQf9Vw9IL57YeR3KdhW9r8mOvYdejh94tXaT469N7O1Aa.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>After spending a relatively calmer September, in October I was assigned to my very first export interpreting role. Since it was my first time handling export table interpretation, I was extremely nervous. If you look at the setup of the table, there are usually two representatives from the company I’m supporting, and across from them two representatives from the counterpart company, with me sitting right in the middle to interpret and assist. The moment I got the offer, I spent about a week running through every possible scenario in my head and studying the company thoroughly (laughs).At that time, I worked as an interpreter for a company called Lola’s Fine Sauce. Since I had already studied the products in depth, I had also thought a lot about their strengths—the key selling points—and reflected on what aspects might appeal most to potential buyers. Thanks to that preparation, I was able to actively highlight the products during the contract discussions, making sure their value really came across.<figure id="figure-l0fbxm3ysjmes4kmtd"><img id="l0fbxm3ysjmes4kmtd" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/25bbFaTJJG1zIJRC5xkCvplluwmRvCNuj7I8nrXTfEsCzwHHkx1JuLuuC6wO3OwC.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 70%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="70%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/25bbFaTJJG1zIJRC5xkCvplluwmRvCNuj7I8nrXTfEsCzwHHkx1JuLuuC6wO3OwC.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 70%;"></figure>That day, after my interpreting assignment, I received positive feedback in three key areas.First was my appearance. Many people don’t come dressed neatly or prepared, but I was told that my clean and professional outfit, along with a well-groomed image, left a favorable impression and helped a lot. I’ve always believed that appearance matters—especially in business meetings and negotiations. Even in everyday life, most of a person’s first impression is shaped by attire and outward presentation. This experience reminded me once again how important it is to be mindful and well-prepared in that regard.Second was my attitude. I wasn’t just performing as an interpreter, but also showing an understanding of the company itself and taking an active role in sales. Because I knew the company, its products, and the key selling points, many buyers who were hesitant to communicate in English directed their questions to me in Korean. I would then explain things to them, and afterward summarize the discussion for the company’s representatives. This allowed the meetings to progress more smoothly and quickly, and the buyers’ needs were met more precisely—leading to follow-up meetings as well. Toward the end, one buyer who had previously worked in the UK praised me extensively, which also led to compliments from the vice president (which I was very proud of).Third was my proactive communication. Not all buyers are outgoing, so I would gently encourage product testing when I sensed they were interested but hesitant. If they seemed uncomfortable, I offered small sample packs from different product lines instead. Since meetings were often hectic, I also made sure buyers didn’t leave without catalogs or samples, always double-checking with them before wrapping up. I was told that this attentiveness and support left a strong positive impression.Looking back, I realize that I—a talkative young person who once fell in love with foreign languages during a difficult time—managed to overcome hardships through their charm. Ironically, what began as a kind of escape has now become a turning point in my life, opening up countless opportunities. I am still deeply in love with languages, and there are so many more I wish to learn. Reflecting on it now, I think it was around this time that I began to dream of living abroad for a month, traveling to different countries, connecting with people, sharing love, and experiencing life to the fullest.

Ep 3. Talkative Girl Who Loves Foreign Languages.

Ep 2. Nothing but challenges and new beginnings.

In December 2023, I left for the UAE (United Arab Emirates) with nothing but two suitcases as big as my body. I often get asked why I chose an Arab country—where I had no connections at all—as the very first place for a long-term stay abroad.Why did it have to be the Arab world? Why did I feel the need to escape reality?When I first started running my extracurricular activities blog, I wrote a year-end reflection post that resonated with many people and received a lot of love. It even gained significant attention on LinkedIn. Today, I want to share that story here as well. Because this is the most important story—the one that explains why I love the Middle East so deeply, and why it had to be the Middle East.After returning from the UAE, I suddenly found myself feeling how quickly life in Seoul—started so recklessly—was rushing by. When snow falls on the streets and Christmas trees sparkle on every corner, I suppose anyone would feel the same way.Today, I want to write honestly about my story. I called it an “end-of-year reflection,” but in truth, it’s less a reflection and more a piece about me as a person.My first overseas stay—and my first long-term residence abroad—was in the UAE. People always ask me why I chose a Middle Eastern country, one with which I had no ties at all. By now, I’ve grown used to that question. But around this time last year, I was at rock bottom—physically and mentally.It was the result of many different factors piling up, but if I had to sum it up in a single phrase, it would be: “Why live at all?”I worked so hard, pushed myself endlessly, yet the harder I tried, the worse the results seemed to be. Even my first attempt at living on my own was plagued with miserable problems.For example, part of one wall in my room was soaked and had to be stripped bare for two weeks. On top of that, my bathroom drain clogged constantly, flooding the floor no matter how often I cleaned it—forcing me into daily battles with it.They say misfortunes come in clusters, and that couldn’t have been more true for me.My family moved to a new house as well, but the new place was riddled with issues, leaving me without any space that gave me peace of mind. Add to that the full isolation of the COVID lockdowns… it felt like living in hell.I tried to keep myself afloat with optimism—working hard in my classes, winning scholarships, throwing myself into schoolwork. But the emptiness never went away. I often felt a sense of futility, as if none of it mattered.The harder I worked, the more hollow I felt. The college life I had once imagined drifted further and further out of reach under the weight of COVID. I didn’t even get the chance to make friends my own age.Even the friendships I had before entering college began to unravel around this time. Looking back, I don’t think it was my fault. If the same thing happened now, I would probably just cut ties and move on. But back then, it was my very first year of college, and with everything going on, making new friends felt impossible.In the end, to fill the void inside me, I tried many different things. Along the way, I cut ties with anyone who tore me down with negative words. Inevitably, I became isolated.There was one friend I had grown close to, even though we attended different schools. But at that time, they were going through their own hardships. Both of us were at the brink of collapse. Now, we don’t keep in touch. Looking back, I think we drifted apart simply because neither of us had the emotional capacity to support the other during our worst times.At first, I tried to overcome all these terrible circumstances with positive thinking. But after nearly two years of forcing myself to laugh and act like a clown, my body and mind were completely torn apart. I felt like a rag—shredded and worthless.Before taking a leave of absence, during finals week, everything I had been holding in exploded at once. And yet, I still sat there studying, desperate to hold onto my scholarship. I cried while studying, cried while going to the gym. In hindsight, I was already deeply depressed, but I told myself I was fine—I was just “enduring.”Eventually, I reached my limit. Everything felt miserable. I wanted to die. No matter how hard I tried, nothing improved. Nothing around me got better.I began to think: Maybe if I died, things would finally improve.I had always thought of myself as optimistic, mentally strong. But even self-delusion has its limits. I wished I could die—whether by starving or wasting away. Anything felt better than the misery of crying myself to sleep every day.Before leaving for the UAE, I lay in bed, crying, overwhelmed by thoughts of death. And then, suddenly, a thought crossed my mind: If I really wanted to die, why wasn’t I doing it right now? Why wasn’t I jumping off somewhere?The truth was, I was afraid. Terrified. Yes, I was a coward—too afraid to die.And if I wasn’t going to die, then how was I going to survive this miserable life? As much as I didn’t want to, I began retracing the series of events that had led me here.After a sleepless night, I came to a conclusion: I had to face my problems head-on. I was already at rock bottom. Even if I failed, I had nothing to lose.That’s when I chose the UAE. The reason was simple. Nobody there would know me. There was virtually zero chance—maybe one percent—that I’d run into anyone who did. So, without roaming service, with nothing but two massive suitcases, I left.<figure id="figure-1y0pjmgsxhemervrq3j"><img id="1y0pjmgsxhemervrq3j" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/245rRoxwxWAfDSq0LfO2durCLrl99SFRmfUWUpUSKoqJQocHWjXK1qtd1sqO4Ygy.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 20% 75%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="20%" data-positiony="75%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/245rRoxwxWAfDSq0LfO2durCLrl99SFRmfUWUpUSKoqJQocHWjXK1qtd1sqO4Ygy.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 20% 75%;"></figure>Yes, I chose to escape reality. Because isn’t that better than choosing death?Thus began my first life abroad—without plans, without preparation.For three months, I didn’t keep in touch with anyone back in Korea. It might sound like an excuse… and to some extent, it actually was. But since I didn’t set up roaming, I couldn’t use messenger apps without Wi-Fi, and making international calls was obviously impossible. So in a way, I naturally ended up with a perfect excuse not to keep in touch (laughs).In the time I had outside of studying, I met a lot of people. I grew close with my classmates at the language institute, and while riding the metro around the city to explore. Since I was on a language program and didn’t have much extra money, I started cooking meals instead of eating out. Through that, I naturally became close with my roommates as well.<figure id="figure-ugghwu8e9merw2y4k"><img id="ugghwu8e9merw2y4k" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29gE1Q8mz7ITlsbuQ27cLG1IpvenLEI4jQMo27OYwMn0Usfra0xtWHpDiyu9sXib.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29gE1Q8mz7ITlsbuQ27cLG1IpvenLEI4jQMo27OYwMn0Usfra0xtWHpDiyu9sXib.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>On weekends, when I didn’t have classes, I would bake cookies or make cakes and share them with my friends.We laughed and chatted without a care as we enjoyed them together, and though I had been here for less than a month, I found myself smiling far more often.<figure id="figure-mfumnbragsmerw3gc7"><img id="mfumnbragsmerw3gc7" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/16rqaGtXOeXozczRzjygGln3q4S7hfOQAwHMAlA43SNmHPoBXEoT0Na06WlhzKYR.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 30%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="30%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/16rqaGtXOeXozczRzjygGln3q4S7hfOQAwHMAlA43SNmHPoBXEoT0Na06WlhzKYR.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 50% 30%;"></figure>Of course, I had been constantly reflecting on the causes of my problems, trying to find solutions, and doing everything I possibly could. So in a way, the changes I experienced were only natural.Still, adapting to life abroad wasn’t easy for someone like me, who had come with nothing but my own body and no prior knowledge of this place. If I had a lot of overseas experience, it might have been different. But as a complete beginner who suddenly ended up in a country with hardly any Koreans, the struggle was inevitable.At that time, there was a friend who reached out to me—a friend from Colombia. Thanks to him, I was also able to improve my Spanish. For someone like me, who knew nothing, his kindness came with no strings attached. After school, I would often join him and other Latin American friends to explore different places and enjoy delicious local restaurants.<figure id="figure-eb9z7ptxskmerw5lp7"><img id="eb9z7ptxskmerw5lp7" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2epTwOmbeCCI2LMz2ltYdxFzSk2G1iotpNOaEQKQ5RhMYF2j3cN1139D9GeCbAkq.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 60% 70%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="60%" data-positiony="70%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2epTwOmbeCCI2LMz2ltYdxFzSk2G1iotpNOaEQKQ5RhMYF2j3cN1139D9GeCbAkq.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 60% 70%;"></figure>At that time, I didn’t even know the basics—how to get a transportation card, how to take the shuttle bus, or where to buy groceries at a cheaper price. He helped me with all of these things so that I could live on my own for the three months I would be here. And he did it all without expecting anything in return.He had planned to stay for only two weeks, but before leaving, he shared with me everything he knew and gave me deep, thoughtful advice about the struggles I had been facing.After he left, I made up my mind: during my three months here, I would try to completely break away from my old habits and negative ways of thinking.I began waking up at dawn to meditate and started going to the gym every day. By cooking and sharing delicious, healthy meals, I learned how to simply enjoy the moment. Above all, I learned what it means to offer kindness without expecting anything in return.<figure id="figure-ocwwbb0f99merw7fig"><img id="ocwwbb0f99merw7fig" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1aRV5Vs92Fx2OdI04XbZR3D3tAZHY38VYKMRn9A5hkAtqcYVwPYt90mtdD02t8t2.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1aRV5Vs92Fx2OdI04XbZR3D3tAZHY38VYKMRn9A5hkAtqcYVwPYt90mtdD02t8t2.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: center center;"></figure>For the first time, I spent my birthday in a truly meaningful way here. It was then that I realized just how dull and uneventful my life had been up until that point (laughs).Birthdays and Christmas had always just felt like ordinary days to me. I guess it was because, back then, I simply didn’t have the mental space or emotional capacity to celebrate such things.Around midnight, I heard someone knocking on my door. When I opened it, my classmates were standing there with a cake and balloons, singing “Happy Birthday.” I can still remember that moment vividly.<figure id="figure-qhmhu5h2samerw8ldi"><img id="qhmhu5h2samerw8ldi" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/5BNkVwvaHMFkMwMmntEtV1M1Q9VSwhqjjBGYHx3ch4qrnqOMPfx8jczAyMV9QAOn.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 35%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="35%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/5BNkVwvaHMFkMwMmntEtV1M1Q9VSwhqjjBGYHx3ch4qrnqOMPfx8jczAyMV9QAOn.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 35%;"></figure>I think that was the turning point when I was able to shift my mindset—this time, in a positive direction. For reasons I can’t quite explain, I was surrounded by “positivity kings,” and because of them, I found myself smiling a lot more too.Toward the end of my language program, I video-called my parents, and my mom told me she was quite surprised when she saw me. She even said that maybe my true personal color was the UAE all along.At first, I wondered how I would ever get through three long months… but when the time came, I didn’t want to go back home. I was afraid that once I returned, everything would just be the same again (laughs).Before returning to Korea, I spent a lot of time seriously thinking about how I wanted to live my life moving forward.The conclusion I came to was simple: just go to Seoul and try doing what I want to do.For someone like me—a hardcore planner—it was actually a huge challenge. I thought that maybe not making any plans at all could be the best way for someone as rigid as me to change. So after unpacking my bags back in Korea, I went straight ahead and signed a one-year lease in Seoul.

Ep1. Why did you chose 'UAE'?

D'SCOVER

Middle East Speciallist, working in Business Accelerator company between MEA and Korea's companies as a intern. 3 languages(English, Spanish, Arabic). this is my portfolio for arabic and english users