Adjusting

Finally got some time for myself and am back to my writing routine.
I know that people nowadays prefer to record everything as a V-log, but since I’m more into writing and reading,
I’m going to keep my memories in this humble blog.
I tried to migrate this blog to other platforms suitable for English(with automatic hyphens..), but still couldn’t figure out how. 

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1. Just Arrived
Delft is a small city with a cozy atmosphere. The first impression I got when I arrived was, ‘This is a REAL European town.’ The city is surrounded by old buildings yet still holds a scent that carries traces of people.
I was so excited to see the city market that’s held every week, in almost every city.
It feels so heartwarming to see the market, especially since many markets in Korea have disappeared.

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2. Meeting New Friends
Many of the friends I’ve met since I arrived in Delft are really kind and friendly. Time flies when I’m talking with them. Every moment feels like when I was a freshman in undergrad.
Even though I’m quite introverted, I genuinely feel the emptiness when I’m alone.
A fun fact I’ve realized is that K-pop, K-dramas, and even K-foods are way more popular than I expected. Although I’m not a big fan of K-dramas, I should probably watch a few to join in on some fun conversations. 😂

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3. Sports
The Netherlands is a flat country, below sea level, which means there are NO mountains.
As a hiking lover, this fact sometimes makes me homesick. I’m still in the process of searching for suitable sports or outdoor activities to relieve my stress. I’m currently debating between bouldering, swimming, and yoga.
TU Delft X is one of the biggest sport complex building I'v ever seen. There must be something I can gladly enjoy. 
 
When summer vacation starts, I’ll be somewhere in Europe, surrounded by beautiful mountains. I’m especially looking forward to the mountains in Norway and Italy.

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4. English and Dutch
Born and raised in Korea, English still feels like a faraway foreign language to me.
Sometimes, slang and everyday vocabulary—which are NOT in the goddamn TOEFL test—are completely new to me.
 
An embarrassing yet funny episode is that I felt so nervous on my first day of the IP that I called my old English tutor in New York to talk about it right away. (I was so relieved that New York and the Netherlands have a bearable time difference 🥹)
 
"OH MY GOD, Diego, will I be able to survive this English and Dutch-speaking environment? I feel so nervous. It’s totally different from traveling. I HAVE TO SPEAK ENGLISH 24/7. I’ll probably have to continue studying with you from time to time. I feel like my friends will laugh at me when I mess up my grammar or something. Am I even going to be able to graduate.. blah blah blah."
 
His firm yet encouraging words really helped my mindset a lot. 😂
 
"Damn it, you really don’t need to practice with me anymore. Just try talking with your friends as much as you can. They won’t kill you... Just go with the flow and you’ll get comfortable. And you might not realize it, but you’re talking to me in ENGLISH about your looong experience. lol"
 
That last part felt like being hit on the head.
 
"Oh, am I? Yes, I am! Hahahah."
 
I really like my old tutor, who cheers me up a lot🥹.
I hope to get a chance to visit New York to see him someday.
Though I know I still need to put in a lot of effort to learn English, I’m feeling more comfortable with the language day by day.
 
By the way, I’m planning to learn Dutch next semester. Though I learned a little with Mr. You, it seems I’ve almost forgotten everything... I’ll probably spend my spare time learning the basics of Dutch and attend the intermediate course on campus.

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5. Adjusted
Now, this tiny yet cozy room feels like home. I make lunch every day in the Dutch style.
Dutch people prefer to have cold food for lunch and warm food for dinner—which is what I’m doing these days. Haha.
I was so glad to hear one of my Dutch friends say, "You’re well adjusted."
 
Still, there are mountains upon mountains to overcome.
I have to start preparing my internship portfolio, I’m still in the process of making new friends, and I also have to deal with clients’ stuff in Korea.
 
But, for sure, I feel like I’m adjusting well currently.

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6. Other Memories that I would love to remember