Let me describe to you this incredible place in which I live

As I fly back to the US for a brief work trip, I consider how I will answer the inevitable questions my coworkers will ask me.

"Where did you work before this?"
"Got any kids at home?"
"Where do you live?"

"Where do you live" is an easy question to answer. I live in Korea, near Seoul. The next question, though, is harder. "Why?"

Let me build a picture of my home. Imagine it not from the perspective of the Seoul you know, but rather start with a blank slate.

I live in a little suburb. It's surrounded by trees, and playgrounds, and backs up into a little mountainous park where I can go hiking with my kids. They go to a private school a little way down the road, where they get a really good bilingual education. I never worry about their safety. We can walk to restaurants, or coffee, or their music lessons.

I can afford to send them there because our cost of living is much lower than it would be in America. Food, rent, utilities, travel - everything is less expensive. Our budget allows us to live in a modern, spacious, three story house, with a little outdoor central courtyard. Each subdivision has its own style; ours takes inspiration from Scandinavia.

We technically live in a city of about a million people. It is similar to California's Silicon Valley, with a concentration of technology companies and the associated wealth. There are great restaurants, shopping, and even a Costco. It is connected to the capital city by subway and high speed train. There's very little crime, either violent or petty. I can feel a sense of cultural responsibility in the community that does not permit selfish behavior. It means the cities are clean, the shopkeepers do not try to cheat you, and people are generally friendly and helpful to each other.

It is monsoon season in Korea right now, and we got caught out in a downpour while walking around the city. We were sheltering under a building waiting for the worst of the rain to pass when a woman in a car stopped, rolled down her window, and offered to give us her umbrella. There is kindness here, and people look out for each other.

The train can also take me to most parts of the country in just a couple of hours. Or, in an hour I can drive to the beach or to the mountains. In the winter I can ski where they hosted the Olympics and in the summer I can surf. Vacations will take me to the beaches of Thailand, Bali, or Vietnam, the ski mountains of Sapporo, or Aomori, and the cities of Kyoto, Shanghai, Taipei, and Singapore. My children will see the world.

My work is concentrated in Asia. Trips will start and end in various major cities from which I can quickly fly home. I will get to spend more time with my family, less time on airplanes, and less time at work. My children are still young, and my time with them is a priority.

We live within an hour or so of my wife's family. Their time with my kids is priceless, and it gives us the opportunity to help them as they get older.

Services like health care, government offices, and public spaces are efficient and well maintained. I can walk into a doctor's office the same day and not worry about the bill. If I need an appointment for a license or a visa I can be in and out in 15 minutes. I can take public transportation because it is timely, clean, and safe.

Could I live the same life in the USA?

What is the cost to live in a modern home in a good school district in a safe city in 2024? Would I worry about the quality of my kid's education, my family's safety, or the security of our property? Would I be forced to live in safe little suburb enclave detached from any sort of culture? Would I be forced live so far from the beach or the mountains that I would never get to see them? Would my children be ostracized by individuals threatened by their bi-racial heritage? Would they embrace their second language and culture or feel the need to hide it?

In conclusion, while the inevitable questions from my coworkers about my life in Korea may seem straightforward, they often open the door to a much richer story. My home near Seoul offers a blend of modern conveniences, cultural richness, and a sense of community that I deeply cherish. The lower cost of living, exceptional education for my children, and proximity to both urban amenities and natural landscapes create a lifestyle that, for me, surpasses what I could find in the US.

Living here means prioritizing my family, enjoying efficient public services, and embracing a vibrant culture. It’s not just about the financial savings, but the quality of life we can afford. As my children grow up surrounded by diverse experiences and opportunities, I find myself grateful for the unique blend of tradition and modernity that Korea offers.

So, when I’m asked, “Why do you live there?” the answer is simple: because it’s home, and it’s the best place for our family right now.