Editor’s note: we think of an expat life as one of constant adventure. And while Mike certainly had a lot of that while living in South Korea as he shares, he also talks about it as the opportunity to disconnect from routine and focus on self-betterment. That is a powerful message. For more of Mike’s writing, please click here to visit his index page.

I moved across the world in 2013 from a small town in New Jersey to Seoul, South Korea, one of the biggest cities in the world. On one hand it was an incredible adventure to live in another country; on the other hand, there was significant culture shock suddenly waking up in a foreign place that overwhelms the senses. I didn’t speak any Korean, had never eaten kimchi, and knew very little about Korean food. But I grew up close enough to New York City that I felt at home with the bustle of a concrete jungle. It was obvious from the start that Korea wasn’t my forever home, but that life in Seoul would offer a lot of opportunities that I’d never have dreamed of back in New Jersey. First and foremost, travel!

I quickly learned to navigate the subway, and eventually mastered the korean bus too thanks to Naver Bus Maps. Eventually I studied Korean and worked my way into an incredible teaching position, giving me a month off twice a year! I learned to focus on myself, my hobbies, and my interests. I developed a passion for photography and expanded my love of nature by exploring countless hiking trails throughout the country. It was in these first years as an expat that I truly polished my website, Live, Travel, Teach (the links in this article will take you there) while taking weekend trips to visit national parks, islands, festivals, and beaches throughout South Korea.

Equally as exciting to me as being in Korea was the access it gave me to the rest of Asia. I’d first heard about the discovery of the world’s largest cave in Vietnam a few years prior. A national geographic magazine highlighted Hang Son Doong’s majesty with jungles and atmospheric conditions INSIDE a cave and I promised myself I’d visit one day. So when the announcement of the first tours came out a few months after I arrived in Korea, I thought it was meant to be. Instead of flying from New Jersey I could hop a short flight from Seoul, and I managed to be one of the first few hundred people to enter and explore Hang Son Doong!

When I signed up for my Vietnamese cave expedition, I realized that I would need to get myself into better hiking shape. I wanted to get the most out of the experience. In between teaching I started exploring the trails around Seoul even more. I planned my own trips to Bukhansan and Seoraksan National Parks before meeting Warren Kim, the leader of Seoul Hiking Group and Korean hiker extraordinaire. Warren and I became quick friends and before long I had traversed hundreds of miles of trails.

I went on my first winter hike, learned to love night hiking, and began countless hikes at 3am so we could finish a long traverse by dinner time. Out of all the places I visited in Korea, Seoraksan National Park remains my favorite. The Seoraksan cable car is perfect for experienced hikers and non-hikers alike, and there are countless other mountains, waterfalls, and temples to see in Seoraksan. It truly is a four-season park that is worth visiting as much as you can!

Little did I know that my new passion for hiking would compound with my growing aptitude for photography and help me fall in love with writing. As a student I despised writing, but now as an adult who’s had plenty of time alone on the other side of the world, I love it! Words flow out of me onto the page and I smile, hoping that my friends or family will see what I’ve written. I quickly realized that people prefer my photos and learned to embrace the compliments about photos, disregarding the fact that people rarely read the article. Perhaps that’s indicative of a growing trend in the 21st century.

Regardless of whether others were reading it, writing became cathartic for me. Writing helped me process stressful situations at work, injuries, geopolitical threats like North Korea, friendship struggles, and heartbreak. Today I still love to write and bring that joy to my classroom with regular journaling. When we returned to the classroom amid a global pandemic, I knew my students needed a way to process and share some of their feelings so we started journaling regularly.

I shared personal stories with my students that I drafted in front of them and others that I had meticulously planned for my blog like this favorite about the Dalat Waterfalls in Vietnam. My students were enthralled and got excited about their own experiences, feeling empowered as I showed them how to add photos to a class blog.

I could gush on for weeks about motorbiking in Thailand, traversing India on a tuktuk, or climbing volcanoes in Indonesia. But instead I want to focus back to the idea of being an expat and “finding myself.” As an expat, I dedicated time to myself, followed new passions, and strengthened old hobbies. I solidified friendships and realized that acquaintances could dissolve without worry. Living on the other side of the world was difficult in a variety of ways, but I had all the time I needed to focus on myself.

I was fortunate to have a job that let me explore new places and passions, but that doesn’t mean developing passions and bettering yourself can only happen while in a foreign country. In fact, I find that by sharing my experiences and leading by example, my students are more engaged and excited to be in the classroom. I believe that everyone can have a similar “expat experience” to mine even in their hometown, but focusing on themselves and their needs.

I’m sure you know a lucky few who had the motivation and resources to follow their passions during a Covid project and better themselves. Perhaps they finished that project they always wanted or learned a new skill while the rest of the world battled a pandemic. But that just further proves that you can find yourself without becoming an expat or moving to the other side of the world.

Take time to breathe and build a home environment conducive to your needs. Explore new ideas and hobbies until you find one that excites you, then don’t be afraid to dedicate time to that new passion. Practice getting comfortable saying no to social or other commitments if they become too stressful or take away from your other goals. At the same time, learn to be comfortable saying “yes” to something interesting but outside your comfort zone.

If you can do all that then I’m certain you can make it as an expat. But then again, you’re just as likely to see yourself growing into a new you in your hometown as following my footsteps and leaping out into the world!

Comment below and and let me know if you would you rather hear about more of my Asian or Alaska adventures for my next post!