Having been born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, I've had the privilege of being able to experience part of my heritage's culture first hand, as well as being exposed to the different parts of the Korean lifestyle. After recent Korean drama binges and looking back on old photos, I've been engulfed in a wave of nostalgia. After living in the U.S. for three years and reminiscing on wistful memories, I've begun thinking about how different I would be if I was not raised abroad.

Christa Pak-Blyzniuk

I'm very fortunate to have been able to experience a good majority of my life in a country like South Korea, and I wish I had taken more advantage of it. Though I spent most of my time on a military base (with school and extracurricular activities), I was still able to explore the great parts of Seoul. At the time, I didn't realize that this was a unique experience and that not everybody was granted the opportunity to grow up overseas. Because I was surrounded by children of military parents, who are constantly moving around, I genuinely thought it was normal for everybody to have been able to grow up in a different country. It wasn't until I moved to the States after my freshman year of high school when I realized that having a childhood in a foreign country is actually pretty cool.

Christa Pak-Blyzniuk

Growing up, I remember thinking that my life was so bland and that if I was in America, I would have twice as much fun and freedom. In reality, it's quite the opposite. I do feel as though I had more independence in Korea than I did when I was in high school in America. South Korea is a safe country, and because it is so safe, my parents trusted me to go out by myself at a relatively young age. I believe that this plays a major role in my strong sense of independence. If I wasn't able to go out and learn to enjoy life by myself or with my friends, I do not think I would be as independent as I am today. Though State College is a pretty safe town, I always get really anxious when I travel to major cities, such as Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. Seoul, Philly, and Pittsburgh are all big cities, but the difference between Seoul and American cities is quite evident. In Korea, walking around the city in the middle of the night was nothing to be scared of. However, in America, it is something I would never consider. I realize this might make me sound haughty and pretentious, but that is not my intention. I only want to express my gratification towards being able to grow up in a beautiful country like Korea, and I encourage you to visit if you get the chance!

Christa Pak-Blyzniuk

There are so many opportunities and aspects of the city that I was able to experience in Korea that would not be in the same in America. For example, Korean food and their many different unique cafes (such as cat cafe, dog cafe, meerkat cafe, sheep cafe, and many more), as well as Korean lifestyle staples, like karaoke rooms (called noraebang) where people go after work with their coworkers and friends to enjoy drinks and karaoke together. Taking the subway, catching a taxi, biking and having a picnic by the Han River, and going to huge shopping districts are experiences I will never forget and will always appreciate. In retrospect, I wish I had appreciated it more.

Without these life experiences, I would not be the same person that I am today. Whether it is the strong sense of nostalgia that I currently feel or the search for a form of escapism, Korea will always have a very special place in my heart, and I cannot wait to go back and visit one day.

Also, a special shoutout to one of my older sisters for letting me include all of these beautiful pictures in this article.