Settled

Settled...what a powerful word on so many levels. I can honestly say that I didn't expect to have that word or any of its meanings pop into my mind when describing life here at all this first year. Much to my suprise, that is exactly how I have started to feel. Bored? not in the slightest. Assimilated? Not a chance. Acting like a local? Not quite. Settled? I do believe so :)

When I come in the door of my apartment, it feels like home. Not like my parent's home, like the house I share, like the place I am staying...it feels like my home, when I am starting to build my life as my own. Things that seemed so foreign are just my normal activites now. Don't get me wrong. Going to the grocery store is still an event, but I know where things are now and all of the people on the microphones marketing thier tastly treats doesn't even phase me anymore. I can read enough Korean (and recognize the words) to know what some of the ingredients are. I can sound out words of things I have translated so that I can ask where to find them. All things that I thought would take FOREVER to get use to are part of my routine now. All of the entertaiment that comes along with public transportation is still entertaining, but it is still what I am use to. When one of the families mentioned that they are looking at getting a car, it hadn't occured to me that it would be so weird thinking about driving somehwere. Oh how my world has changed. 

It is a bit sad that some of the newness has worn off and I don't have nearly as many 'oh my gosh, this is real life' moments. There is no replacement for the excitement and rose colored glass attitudes that come with a brand new adventure. On the other hand, I have started having awesome moments when it occurs to me 'this is my city...were I live' and those moments are equally as rewarding. Its an ownership and realization that I am a small piece in a 20 million piece puzzle...but I am part of the puzzle and I like it.