By Honorary Reporter Isabelle Pia Sison from Philippines

Photos = Isabelle Pia Sison

Turning 25 this year, I realize how influential Korea has been in my life given the experiences I've had over the past decade. This piece chronicles my experience with Korea over the last ten years.

How it started (2010)
Like many Philippine families, my mother and I often spent weekends at a shopping mall. One weekend, we saw a poster advertising a Korean boy band performing live in Manila for the first time. Given the growing popularity of Korean dramas in the Philippines and our vacation in Seoul the past year, she and I decided to buy SVIP (super VIP) tickets to Super Junior's "Super Show 2" in Manila. We had no idea what an SVIP ticket was but it placed us at the mob pit of one of the greatest live shows I've seen.

Later in school, a classmate who was a rabid fan of Super Junior taught me to read the Korean alphabet so that I could learn and pronounce the names of the members properly. Fascinated by Hangeul, I got a private tutor to teach me Korean.

Moving to Korea (2013)

I moved to Korea in 2013 as a student, and my basic command of Korean came in handy, as I struggled to communicate with people at traditional markets, restaurants and supermarkets. I remember how my Korean classmates even tried to improve my Korean by having me read the Korean text in our book with them. At the same time, they encouraged my 17-year-old self to not fear moving to a different environment because they could learn English from me and help me adjust to Korea. I eventually learned the language and can now hold a proper conversation in Korean.

Another highlight of my stay in Korea was winning the 2017 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-ROK (Republic of Korea) Multimedia Competition. Receiving the first-place award from a Korean diplomatic official earned me a visit to the ASEAN Secretariat in Indonesia. This experience only familiarized me with the Korean government's initiatives but also made me revisit my roots as a Filipina.

Leaving Korea (2018)

Living in Korea was the best time of my life despite the rollercoaster experience I had. The country is where my big dreams started, where I fell in love with cultures and where I met lifelong friends. All of my good memories helped me grow as an individual and achieve my goals in life.

Right before the COVID-19 pandemic started, I took part in the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan as a Korea.net Honorary Reporter.

Reflecting on my Korea experience (2020)

As the 2010s come to a close, I reflect on the past 10 years with smiling eyes and a thankful disposition. Over the period, I have grown with Korea through its opportunities and culture, with my eyes opened to new ideas, cultures and knowledge. I am grateful for all the experiences, adventures, people and lessons Korea has instilled in me.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.