Why I Call Myself the Seoulful Islander?

 

Why I Call Myself the Seoulful Islander

People sometimes ask me, “Why do you call yourself the Seoulful Islander?”
At first, it sounds like just a name. Something catchy. Something creative.

But for me, it’s much more than that.

It’s my story.

I grew up surrounded by the ocean—places like Fiji, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Life there was simple. Slow. Peaceful. Time didn’t chase you. You woke up with the sun, felt the breeze, and didn’t rush through life. People smiled more. Talked more. Lived in the moment.

That’s the island part of me.

Then life brought me to South Korea, a place completely different. Fast. Busy. Always moving. A country where people walk quickly, think quickly, and live with purpose every single day. At first, it felt overwhelming. I felt like I didn’t belong.

But slowly… something changed.

Korea started shaping me.

I learned discipline. I learned how to work hard. I learned how to keep going, even on days when I felt tired or lost. Life here wasn’t easy, but it made me stronger.

Still, no matter how much I changed, I never lost that island part of me.

There are moments—walking through the busy streets of Seoul—when I suddenly miss the sound of the ocean. The calm. The silence. The feeling of being free. And in those moments, I realize something important:

I don’t fully belong to just one place anymore.

I’m somewhere in between.

Part of me is still that island boy, relaxed and smiling, carrying the warmth of the ocean wherever I go. And part of me has become someone shaped by Korea—stronger, faster, and more driven.

That’s why I call myself the Seoulful Islander.

It’s not just about where I live.
It’s about who I’ve become.

A mix of two worlds.
A balance between calm and chaos.
Between slow and fast.
Between who I was… and who I am becoming.

And maybe that’s the beauty of living abroad.

You don’t lose yourself.
You just become more of who you are.


Thanks for reading Seoulful Islander, a blog about life in South Korea.


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