Modern Religious Experience: Personal Commemoration- Reflection #7

Modern Religious Experience: Personal Commemoration- Reflection #7: "Think of an event in your life- past, present or future. You are going to create a commemorative ritual for this event. First, describe the ..."

One of the most significant events of my life so far was when I left Indonesia in July of 2009 to come to Seoul. I had never moved before and everything I knew and loved was in that country that I had called home for 15 years. Leaving it to go live a foreign land was a very difficult time in my life, but has had a huge impact on me as an individual.

We landed in Seoul on July 15th, so my commemoration would occur annually on that date, all day. When we arrived, I remember being very upset and unwilling to accept this new culture because of how much I missed my old home. That's why for my commemoration I would only eat Korean food all day. This would be a reminder to me of how even though I was hesitant at first, I ended up liking the Korean food and culture once I gave it a chance. It also reminds me that I should embrace change and new experiences.

The hardest part of coming to Seoul was not having any friends here in the beginning. I would spend hours online talking to my friends in Indonesia to try and make the distance between us feel smaller. For the commemoration of this event I would call my family in Indonesia as well as my friends, in remembrance of the nights I spent missing them terribly but knowing that they are only a phone call or 'instant message' away.
 On this day, I would read this quote that my friend showed me: 
"Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends." - Richard Bach. This quote was very relevant to my life during this time, and made me think more positively and look forward to the next time I would get to see them. I'm very blessed to be able to travel to other countries and visit my family and friends. 

Finally, every year after my graduation I would try to come back to Seoul on this day, or at least during the summer, to remind myself of how this country which was once just a foreign land to me was now another place I could call home.