Hi Mingus! Everyone has a different experience here.... Some people grow to love it (like me!) but some people honestly never adjust.
My experience: I moved from a small-ish city in the US to a small city in the southern part of Korea. It was also my first time living for an extended period in a different country: I was excited and anxious about it. To be honest, my first week here, I was pretty miserable, confused, homesick and lonely. I didn't even see another foreigner until my second week here (your experience will be much different than this I imagine, living in Seoul!). I questioned my decision to come to Korea constantly: the culture shock was a lot for me to deal with, completely alone. I told myself to get through the first month without making any real judgements about this place. The food was a big change, not being able to read or understand anything, and people constantly bumping into me was something I had to get used to (and honestly, is something I still sometimes have trouble with!). I thought I had prepared myself for the change, but getting here went way beyond my expectations.
Luckily, after my second frustrating, lonely weekend here, I managed to find an 'in:' one friendly person (whom I incidentally no longer even talk to!) who heard my cries for help and introduced me around to the people I now know and love. All in all, it took about two months for me to begin feeling like this place could really be called home, to feel comfortable and happy here. Now I'm in my sixth month and I can't imagine going back. I've made a life here, I've made amazing, meaningful friendships, and I love my life. I look back at the first two weeks I was here as a necessary adjustment period, no matter how much it sucked at the time.
Anyway, the most important thing here is to keep a positive attitude. If you do that, you will surely do well for yourself here. I wish you the best of luck, welcome, and if you need anything/have any questions, feel free to PM me!
