Another three months
Have come to a close
A country I never thought I’d visit
Let alone for this long
Korea and Japan
Different animals
My time here was dialectic
Now, I want more.

The thing I missed the most about the Japan
Hands down, was the people
Singular in their manners
Rewarding in their bond
Korea, though carnivorous -
Spicy and hot -
The food would be my choice
And the handful of locals I’ve managed to befriend
Next time, I’ll learn Hangul.

I didn’t expect to become versed in K-pop
To chance by festivals and find a job
I was crying one moment, then out on adventure
Maybe I did them at the same time
Maybe they’re two sides of the same coin.

Because Japan was special from day one
Korea, exactly a month after landing at Incheon
Since then, it’s been a ride
Best, worst, happy, lost
I still feel like I don’t belong
It’s a party for locals
And my heart is across the pond
I wanted to be someone else
To fit in, and change my reflection
Painted with the wrong hue
A piece of tofu in a Korean barbecue
But I wouldn’t change a thing
Not one choice
I’d do it again
Hence the songs of this post.

I grieve the ending
A bitter “annyeonghi gyeseyo”
Lonely strolls and heartaches
Tteokbokki and brushstrokes