To recap the events: Korean Folk Village, Itaewon (Ribs night at Sam Ryan's, All American Diner, My Thai), a cruise on the Hangang, Insadong, Nandaemun, Dongdaemun, Namsan Tower, some Korean palaces that I can't remember the names of, Korean pork barbeque, kimchi bokkumbap, dolset bibimbap, kimchi jung, panchan, Starbucks, Holly's Coffee, Paris Baguette, TG's, Butterfinger Pancakes...)
Pictures, you ask? Don't mind if I do...
I think that's it. I think...
Anyway...my favorite part of this experience didn't actually happen while she was here--it happened after she got home. My stepfather asked her when I was coming home and going to graduate school. She replied,"Look, she may not. She has a life there." Mission accomplished. Mom gets it now. I'm happy. I love my life here. Grad school may not happen...
Fast forward to yesterday.
I was with a Korean-Korean friend (quick explanation. my friends here are described as followed: foreigners (read: Not Korean), gyopos (Koreans who are born in Korea but go to another country and grow up there), Korean adoptees, and Korean-Koreans (those who are born and raised here).
Anyway--so we're having coffee and we are discussing of which she is currently enrolled. I always give her a different point of view to think about and I end up counseling her on different things. Side note: her masters program is in counseling. Weird, eh?
So she turns to me and says, "You should enroll in my program. You'd make an excellent counselor." I know I have some analytical and discernible gifts. And I have never truly been a fan of psychology. Maybe I'm just resisting. I dunno. Anyway...she started telling me about her program. And I got interested. I'm not going to lie.
I have spent most of my time shunning grad school because I really did't want to shell out anymore money for an education--especially since I have no idea how I'd get the money or that I would even want to use said degree.
But here I am...thinking about grad school.
I know I don't want to teach forever. All I have ever really wanted to do was write...and sing, dance, and act. Basically, I want to be famous. Whaaa? ^^
But I know that I have this unique ability to provide a safe space for people to unload their troubles. Maybe a degree is counseling wouldn't be so bad. Now. If I were to do this, I would certainly have to learn and be proficient in Korean. Which is something I want to do anyway. But now I'm confused as to what I really want in life.
I could be quite happy counseling people--especially if I plan to stay in Korea, I could provide a unique insight for foreigners as well as others. This is all so new and I'm trying to keep an open mind to it rather than just shut it down for being something that I never thought I wanted to do. I truly enjoy helping people. I just know that I won't be able to teach people forever.
One of my concerns is that I will stop writing. But perhaps I can use the information that I learn to better my writing? Learning new concepts can and will make me a better writer. Maybe my stories will become much more psychological? hehehe I digress.
Part of what is truly bothering me is the confrontation of becoming an adult. Yes, I am, by age anyway, an adult. But I don't feel as if I am one at times. There is a little voice inside my head that ponders the accusatory question, "How can you possibly help someone when you can't/refuse to help yourself?" Perhaps it's the assumption that those in power ALWAYS know what they're doing, which in fact, can be quite a fallacy.
Furthermore...am I only considering this graduate program because my mom finally said that, "it may not happen." And that she is seemingly okay with that?
Okay...ponder session is over. Please return your seats to their upright positions.
And if any of you have any insight/advice/jokes, please share.
xox
c
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