Nearly Home: A Post-Pandemic Trip Back to Asia

Weeks turned into months, months turned into years. Ever since the day I got on that plane back to America from Southeast Asia, I counted the days until I would be able to return. If you would have asked me shortly after returning back to the states how soon I'd be returning to Asia, I would have optimistically told you by the end of 2020.
Here we are, growing closer to 2023, and I am finally able to jetset back to the part of the world that I fell in love with. The part of the world that I formed so many special connections in, had so many, often unexpected, adventures in. Although I won't be heading back to Peace Corps or Myanmar as I had dreamed for years, I am so ready to be making my way back to an area of the world that is so special to me.

For those of you that followed my blog in it’s prime, you know that Myanmar very quickly became a second home for me. In a matter of weeks my host parents and sisters truly felt like a second family, I knew the exact layout of Icon Mall by heart, I had perfected my ordering at local restaurants, and I could (mostly) navigate my way around the city of Bago.
I won’t be heading to Myanmar, not yet at least, but where I’m going I feel nearly home. South Korea is approximately 2,300 miles from Myanmar (give or take a couple dozen miles), or a little over 5 hours in flight. So close, at least compared to my current 8,560 miles between my first and second ‘home’.

Same side of the world; however, South Korea is quite different from ‘the golden land’. And although I'll miss the beep-beep-beep of the motorized tuk-tuks and the sizzle of dumplings as I sit on a plastic stool at my beloved Bago dumpling spot, I look forward to the new experiences and memories that I'll create in Korea. One thing I know I can count on is that the food will be delicious and savory, the culture will be rich, and I'll surely end up getting on the wrong bus or train at some point (throwback to my accidental Yangon almost-adventure).

For asthetic purposes: snowy fields as I depart New York in March 2022

Before ever knowing Myanmar I had Korea on my must-see list. It was always one of those ‘how cool would it be to go there’ places that I never really thought I’d actually get the chance to see. And now in a few days I’ll be boarding a plane to the city I’ve quite literally dreamt about, Seoul. Months of meticulous planning, anxiously walking routes through street view on Google maps, and hours upon hours of reading through travel blogs, Facebook groups and Reddit posts - the 14-hour flights are booked and my bags are, literally, packed.

I’ve always had a thirst for travel, even though I haven’t gotten to do too much of it in my lifetime. After graduating college I had made up my mind that after finishing my two-year service with the Peace Corps I would travel as much as possible. I would set foot in every country, every city. I’d make it a goal to spend more time abroad each year than in my own hometown. Forever, always wandering.
Although a pin was put in those plans temporarily, I am so excited to pick up on those dreams and begin making them a reality. It starts with Korea, but there is still so much of this world I’ve not yet explored.

I have kept this blog published because of the importance I felt on educating others about the Peace Corps and Myanmar. And with many new adventures in sight, I plan to continue to keep this blog active. I do hope that one day I will be posting again about my journey back to the Peace Corps and posting about a return to my beloved Myanmar, but until then I hope you will all follow me along on my wanderings abroad as a traveling therapist.