Happy New Year in Korea! 새해 복 많이 받으세요! The holiday season has slowly come to an end, the new year has begun. Christmas was spent with friends in Jeonju. It was a truly remarkable experience. New memories were created and there was a lot of laughter involved.

On Monday, December 26th, I went to work with optimism in my heart. “It’s the last week of 2016, I will do my best in every situation,” I said to myself. Sure enough, I spent the week finishing up my planning for winter camp.

I engaged in a badminton match with fellow colleagues on the last day of sports day and enjoyed eating ripe tangerines, pizza, and chicken afterward. I raced my students after school and jumped with my young third graders in the cold school hallways when they shared their excitement about English camp.

The last week of 2016 was eventful, to say the least.

Apsan Mountain

Yesterday, my husband and I met up with a friend in Daegu and climbed Apsan Mountain to see the city view at night. Sike! We took a cable car. It was too cold to go hiking at night. I can’t afford to be sick.

Anyway, we got to the top and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking.  It was so surreal. Even in the winter time, there are beautiful places to go in Korea to see the skyline of the city.

When I think back on my life in 2015, there was no such thing as climbing a mountain on New Year’s Eve. But here in Korea no matter what season it is the adventures continue to blossom and shows itself in new ways imaginable.

Timeless Memories

I must say 2016 was an amazing year. One of the most memorable experiences I had was the cruise from Busan, South Korea to Osaka, Japan. It was one of the best experiences all year.

It was my first time on any type of cruise. I was able to watch the sunset and rise. Watch the shooting stars in the midnight sky. Get lost in the sounds of the ships roaring engine and the constant movements of the ocean waves below.

I wandered through the city of Osaka, Kyoto, and other surrounding cities. I was able to see myself outside of myself. I had to open my eyes wide from time to time to remind myself that I wasn’t dreaming.

Every time I blinked my eyes I was reminded that this life I am living is my reality. Timeless memories were experienced in 2016. I look forward to the many lessons, adventures, and growth in 2017. Happy New Year!

Are you currently living in a foreign country? How was New Year in your host country? Let us know in the comments section below. 

Willynn taught in the education field for three years. It was her curiosity and interest to see the world from a different perspective that lead her to Daejeon, South Korea. Willynn is currently working with young learners teaching English for EPIK in South Korea. In her free time, Willynn loves to go on adventures with her husband, Micah, engage in language exchanges at coffee shops with the locals in her community. As well as participate at Open Mic events across Daejeon and Seoul sharing her spoken word pieces. Follow Willynn on Youtube  or on WordPress.