A Letter from a Young Emigrant
It’s funny how they say time flies when you’re busy and having fun. Somehow, my time in Korea feels both long and short. I’ve been here for nine months, but there are days that have felt incredibly long. During those long days, I began to wonder to myself, “Was this worth it?”
Now, as I look back and prepare to go home, I realize that I’m returning to South Africa as a changed person. My personal growth is immeasurable and invaluable. I’ve learned so much more than I ever could have anticipated. It was in those slower days, when I had no distractions, that I was confronted with deep reflection and internal processing. I allowed myself to experience different levels of change and growth.
Living alone in a foreign country played a big role in this. It created an environment where I had no choice but to face my own thoughts, emotions, and challenges—without the usual distractions and support systems I would have at home. Reflection hits differently when you’re sitting alone in the sixth café of the week, surrounded by an incomprehensible language, with just your inner work to keep you company.
As an overthinker, many of my days were filled with relentless thoughts and reflection. Without the presence of a friend to help diffuse the noise, I was forced to rely on journaling to make sense of it all. This prompted me to ask myself deeper questions about who I am and what I truly want. I gained clarity about my values and what independence and space mean to me.
Reading became my new best friend. Some days, I woke up as a new version of myself, one I didn’t fully understand, and that brought new emotional struggles. A quote by Jalaluddin Rumi stuck with me—he says we are like a guest house, and every day, a new guest, a new emotion, may arrive. We should welcome them all, as they are sent as guides from beyond.
During my time abroad, I created the space to learn, dream, and build resilience. This growth has been evident not only in everyday skills but also in my emotional intelligence—learning how to comfort and support myself in moments of loneliness and stress.
Now, as I prepare for my return, different challenges await. I want to ensure that when I go home, I don’t let this new version of myself slip away. I’ve worked hard to allow myself to simply be.
The Body Keeps The Score
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
