A family visit: The perfect cure to homesickness abroad

Last May, I got a late Christmas gift in the form of a visit from my mother and younger brother whom I hadn't seen in two years. It was their first trip to Asia and first time family had visited me in Korea. While their week long stay brought a lot of old feelings, there were also new sensations and lessons that I learnt from being in their company again.

They see your blindspots

"You have lost weight" was one of the first things Mama told me at the airport. Which was true, 2kgs to be precise. We usually have regular video calls on the weekends and it is quite difficult to tell if there have been any physical changes. I went through a tough period where I was unemployed and got a knee injury. Since I wasn't as active as before, one of the effects was dropping a few kilos. For someone who knows me well to notice this change made me realize how much physical impact the stress of those low points had on me.

Old habits die hard

It took hours rather than days for me to start squabbling with Simba, which is our personal love language. While our phone calls tend to be about grown up stuff, the physical closeness aloud us to tease each other and wrestle again. Mama also started arranging things in my apartment, as is her natural impulse. (justifiably so... more on that later) The environment was different, but the familiarity between us triggered old patterns.

You are doing better than you think

I always feel that my Korean can improve, especially since I haven't been studying as much as I should have recently. But Simba and Mama were very impressed with my level. They noted how I held conversations with people and was able to ask for directions or place orders in the local language. Another point of admiration was the network of friends I built here. They met key individuals who have helped me settle and been good friends to me. At times, we may feel that we are underachieving in our lives. But sometimes it takes a second opinion from the people who know us well, to show us that you have achieved many successes already and should value them.

Reminding you of your principles and values

I cleaned up my apartment a bit before Mama and Simba came, but upon their arrival, realized that I had done so poorly. For example, there was no space in my closet to put/hang their clothes and they let me know. At first I was defensive about it, but realized I had let my standards drop. In terms of hosting people, Mama gives a service that could rival the best five star hotels and Simba is very clean and meticulous with his space. So off we went to Daiso to get household items that would make my house "guest friendly". These enhancements also made my own life at home comfortable and easier. Having my family reminded me of the principles I grew up with: Keeping a clean/comfortable space and showing hospitality to guests, regardless of where you are.

Old experiences feel new and new experiences are enhanced

Simba and Mama were only here for a week, but we managed to squeeze in so many activities. We explored the Hongdae and Jogno Seoul neighbourhoods in the rain. Watched Simba play with my local football team, The Songdo Magpies. Got treated together at a Chinese Medicine Clinic and ate various types of Korean food. While I had done some of these things before,it was different since I was basically my families guide in Korea and sharing things I thought they would enjoy.

I also experienced some new things with them, watching a professional football match (In the rain again!) in Korea and with Mama which was a first. The match in question finished Incheon United 1-2 FC Seoul, a fixture which had a bit of everything: loud vocal supporters, a red card, goals, dribbles and my favorite Korean player Seoul United's number 6 and captain Ki Seung-Young.

Simba and Mama also visited my school and got to meet my colleagues, a few of my students, the vice principle and principle. Everyone treated them well and gave them gifts which was a great touch.

In my classroom, they both left a little message that they were here. Indeed, as my mom said "We have left our mark". I have not visited home since coming to Korea two years ago. My families visit was a piece of home coming to me and felt rejuvenating. It reminded me who I was, where I came from and where I wanted to go. What about you dear reader? Comment below? Have family visited you while you were living abroad? What lessons did you learn from the experience?