Have you ever needed to overcome a language barrier while accessing healthcare in Korea? Many of us have, even those who speak Korean somewhat fluently. Language barriers can be challenging but not impossible to navigate. This blog post offers some tips on how to overcome such language barriers that may help.

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January flies past quickly and if you don’t have a plan you might miss the fun! It’s very easy to stay home all January because it feels great to cozy up with some video games and Netflix. However, January exists as the perfect month for adventure and building a rich life in Korea. Making the Most of January Every year I look forward to January in Korea. In fact, I love it so much I wish I could shout it from the rooftops. January when I get to go snowboarding, focus on my hobbies or studies, take a break from running around, and spend cozy time with friends. The month always flies past faster than I would like. Therefore, I make an effort to very intentionally plan my January time so that I can treasure it. In my first years in Korea, January became a key part of my yearly Adaptation Plan that I created each year to prioritize learning about Korea and building my community. Of course, this approach to winter was one I was raised with since I’m from the frozen north. A little cold and snow never bothered me anyway. Funny enough, I spend a great deal of time at the beach in January. Something I hadn’t really thought about before I went searching for images for this post…. anyway, jumping back to what this January post is all about…. learning to love January. My View on Cultural Adaptation I take adapting to a new culture seriously and I schedule it into my life throughout the year. When I moved to South Korea, I had to rely heavily on such adaptation processes in order to survive. Dealing with everything being different all at once felt like drowning. You see, I become easily overwhelmed quickly. I can’t race to adapt, or my mental health will crumble like a stale cookie. Instead, I have to break life into scaffold-ed chunks and work through tasks over time. In order to scaffold my learning in healthy amounts, I trust in human science, like the fact it takes an average of 66 days for automatic habits and the importance of sleep for mental health. So instead of pushing myself to my limits, I methodically work toward my integration goals over time and work toward building new habits and caring for my mental health. As you can imagine, taking such a detailed approach to embrace my Korean life requires extensive research and planning. However, since I’ve already created my own assimilation plan (and I’ve been refining it for 12 years because I create a new plan each year), I decided to share it with my community to better help others who value the same approach. My System for Adapting in Korea Gamification works for me. I create missions for my year so that I know what I’m working toward and I can make choices around the tasks. My missions might be based on cultural skills I need to learn, family life, or hobbies. I don’t schedule things weekly, but I do have goals. When I achieve such goals, I make sure to celebrate them as well. Adventures keep me motivated. I grew up having a LOT of adventures, so I need to keep them scheduled in my life. Just staying home makes me feel restless. I want to climb a mountain, slide down a mountain, or swim in something. This means I carefully keep my weekends free for doing big activities. My choices may not be your choices. What I choose to do with my time in Korea will likely not match your values and choices. I am sharing my monthly ideal plan to help you conceptualize a framework for creating your customized Adaptation Plan. Let’s jump into how I plan my first January in South Korea. You will quickly see that my January has so much to do I don’t have any time to feel sad about winter. In fact, I look forward to winter every single year! I absolutely LIVE for December, January, and February because life feels full and lovely. January Integration Missions The following integration missions will help you dig into January. Struggling through making your first Korean meals, falling in love with characters from dramas, and reading books that build cultural empathy sets the tone for a more integrated life. So let’s go! What to Cook January Recipe Recommendation: Kimchi Jjigae The cold weather means spicy hot soups hit the spot! Thanks to KimchiRednecks our community has an easy online outline for slowly building Korean cooking skills throughout the year. In January the have us start with the Korean classic kimchijjigae because it’s likely to become your comfort food after a year in Korea. Kimchijjigae is a spicy Korean stew made with fermented Napa cabbage, also known as kimchi. It is typically made with various other ingredients, such as pork or beef, onions, garlic, and tofu, and is often seasoned with gochujang, a red chili paste. The dish is traditionally served hot and can be enjoyed as a main course or as a side dish. It is popular for those looking for a flavorful and spicy meal and is often served at Korean BBQ restaurants. Kimchijjigae is believed to have originated in the 1950s and has since become a staple of Korean cuisine, enjoyed by people all over the world. What to Watch January Drama Recommendation:  “Crash Landing on You” With the cold winter officially set it, it’s the perfect time to spend time watching Korean dramas. South of Seoul volunteers created an entire list of the most watched dramas, everyone, who lives in South Korea should consider watching to build cultural talking points. Crash Landing on You is a popular South Korean television drama that premiered in 2019. The show tells the story of Yoon Se-ri, a wealthy South Korean heiress, and Ri Jeong-hyeok, a North Korean military officer. Se-ri accidentally paraglides into North Korea while on a trip to South Korea and is rescued by Jeong-hyeok. As they try to find a way for Se-ri to return home, they fall in love and must navigate the difficulties and dangers of their situation, including the tensions between North and South Korea. The drama is a romantic comedy-drama that combines elements of action, espionage, and political intrigue with the portrayal of the complex relationships and personal growth of the main characters. Having opinions on popular Korean TV shows helps a great deal with making friends. Every culture loves to gossip about shared knowledge and you don’t want to be left out. What to Read January Book Club Recommendation: “I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir” Starting the year with a memoir about mental health might seem like an odd choice. The cold days and dark nights coupled with feeling isolated in a new country can feel overwhelming for the best of us. It’s important to see the value of reaching out for therapy and support when you struggle. It’s also important to know that people in South Korea go to therapy. It may not be common to talk about but it has become much more common to do. The South of Seoul book recommendation for January “I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir” shares one Korean woman’s mental health journey and documents her time in therapy, her personal struggles, and how therapy impacts her. If you find that you connect with the author and also need extra support in the winter months, you can find English-speaking therapists in Korea. Weekend Activities Of course, you don’t want to only stay home on the weekends. You want to explore Korea and build your portfolio of adventures! Here is how I would spend my first January if I could do it all over again. Weekend 1: Home Life We prefer to spend our first weekend of the year in our own city. We might hang out at home doing laundry and organizing the house, or we will prioritize meeting up with friends for coffee or having friends over for dinner. The first weekend of January is a time to feel connected to our life and community. If our community has other plans, we use this weekend to try a new cafe, eat at a new restaurant, or explore a new neighborhood. The point of the weekend is to find the small joys of mundane life that create the infrastructure for stability and a sense of belonging. Weekend 2: Snowboarding and Ice Festival When it’s winter I want on the slopes as much as possible. In Gangwondo, it’s also easy to plan a day of snowboarding/skiing and then the next day visit an Ice Festival such as the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. Weekend 3: Art & Theater in Busan or Seoul For whatever reason, I enjoy attending musicals during the winter months. I’ve always pictured the theater as a cold-weather activity. Therefore, in January it’s nice to bundle up and head to a big city to enjoy the hustle and bustle. Most musicals will be in Korean unless they included an international cast. Keep in mind, many operas and other theater pieces are often performed in languages other than English and they still move you at the core. We can hardly understand anything that’s being said but we never regret attending. We will find a nice hotel and enjoy our time visiting museums and attending a show. You can book theater tickets in English on Interpark. Weekend 4: Byeonsanband National Park I love the outdoors so I’m going to fit in a lovely hike even in winter at Byeonsanband National Park. This will keep me on target for visiting all the National Parks in South Korea in one year. Byeonsanband National Park is a protected area located in the southwest of South Korea, along the coast of the Yellow Sea. It is known for its beautiful beaches, cliffs, and forests, as well as its cultural and historical significance. The park is home to a variety of plant and animal species, including the endangered Korean red pine and the white-naped crane. Visitors to the park can enjoy activities such as hiking, swimming, and bird watching, as well as exploring the park’s many temples and cultural sites. The park is also a popular destination for photography and filming, due to its breathtaking natural beauty. In addition, I’m going to use this weekend to make sure I have February outlined in advance. It feels good to plan the next month’s adventures while on an adventure. Schedule Reflection Time Don’t forget to make time to reflect back on how you felt at the end of the month. Consider asking yourself variations of the following questions: Actually, using Reflective Questioning such as the ones above might exist as the single most helpful thing I do for managing my mental health and fostering my own joy. Tools for Building Your Own Adaptation Plan As I mentioned, you may have different interests than I do. In order to help you create your own Adaptation Plan for the next year. Consider using these tools to get started. You may quickly notice that seeing everything in Korea can quickly feel overwhelming. This is why creating Adaptation Plans can help you manage your anxiety over time. Breathe deep, set your intentions, and build your plans. Good luck and I hope you have the best January ever that creates the perfect foundation for a great year. Still Struggle with January? When I’m having trouble seeing past my own emotions or anxiety about the past or the present. The following meditation can bring insight into how I can overcome the stories I tell my self. It’s a very simple 10 minute mediation that allows me to find a starting point for finding joy or movement in areas I feel trapped or stuck. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She...

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Songdo, labeled the International Business District of Incheon, houses a decent sized international population. Several members of the Songdo international community have expressed a need for English-speaking mental health services. While known as an international district, mental health counseling services prove to be limited in the Songdo area.

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English-speaking mental health counseling services exist throughout South Korea. However, finding such English-speaking mental health counseling services, particularly outside of the Seoul area, may feel like an overwhelming or difficult task. Read more to learn about some mental health counseling services in the Pyeongtaek area.

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South of Seoul Public Health (SOS Public Health) thanks everyone who participated in the SOS Public Health Mental Health Access Survey on Incheon Global Campus (IGC). Information collected has helped identify potential resources that students, faculty, and staff would like to access on or near campus. .

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Want to support improvements in access to mental health resources for students, faculty, and staff on Incheon Global Campus (IGC)? Take the South of Seoul Public Health (SOS Public Health) Mental Health Access Survey. This blog will tell you how.

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About Mental Health on International Campuses Studying or working on an international university campus may be rewarding and also stressful. For example, many challenges may exist when adjusting to campus life: a new culture, and language differences while discovering how to access campus resources. Experiences such as these may stir positive and negative emotions such as excitement, joy, nervousness, and fear. Such conflicting emotional experiences may impact the mental health of some students, faculty, and staff at international universities. When such experiences impact mental health in a negative direction, some students, faculty, and staff may find it unsustainable to study or work on international campuses over time. In short, the mental health of students, faculty, and staff needs to be well supported in order to foster a healthy learning environment. Listen to the BlogCast Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible content through the use of AI technology. We don’t have time to read each article but we do our best to make more of our content accessible. If you would like to join our Accessibility Team apply to volunteer with South of Seoul. Please note that the pronunciation of some Korean words may be inaccurate due to AI technology’s limitations. What is Mental Health? Mental health includes a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health challenges affect how we think, act, and feel. For example, mental health stress can affect sleep habits, affecting how one does in school, social life, and physical health. Why is Mental Health Access Important on Campus? Access to mental health resources may significantly affect academic performance. Additionally, among university populations, delayed access to mental health resources has an association with substance use, academic achievement, employment, and other social factors. Why is Access to Mental Health Resources Important? Mental health resources are tools that individuals and communities can use to manage mental health challenges. Resources for mental health may have great significance in improving lives in individuals and communities. Why Research How Mental Health Resources are Accessed? It is vital to understand what may prevent individuals from accessing mental health resources. For instance, a Social Solutions blog on Mental Healthcare Access shares the following reasons: Understanding what prevents access to mental health resources can open doors to improving access to those resources. Similarly, as access to mental healthcare increases, communities and individuals can learn about the importance of those resources and how to access them. The Mental Healthcare Access Social Solutions blog discusses that access to mental health resources can reduce: SOS Public Health’s Research on Mental Health Access at Incheon Global Campus Understanding the difficulty of navigating mental health in an international setting, South of Seoul Public Health (SOS Public Health) created an initiative through their practicum program to research access to mental health resources at Incheon Global Campus (IGC). University of Utah Public Health Practicum student, Colton Johnson will lead this initiative. SOS Public Health Mental Health Access Survey for Incheon Global Campus Mr. Johnson has developed a survey to assess access to mental health resources both on and off-campus among students, staff, and faculty at IGC. Students, faculty, and staff at all IGC universities will be asked to participate in this survey which will be implemented via email, social media, and group chats. The survey will be open from Monday, April 11, 2022, to Friday, April 15, 2022. How will Mental Health Access Research Help the Incheon Global Campus Community? Data from this research will provide information on: Understanding gaps in knowledge among the IGC community on mental health resources will allow SOS Public Health to compile a list of possible resources available on and off campus to university students, faculty, and staff. These resources will be shared on the South of Seoul Blog, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. Additionally, the research may inform how South of Seoul compiles information for international students across South Korea. Where Can the Community go to Stay Updated on the Research? Follow the research by checking out SOS Public Health on Facebook and Instagram. The SOS Public Health team posts information regarding research initiatives and other important public health topics on our blog and social media accounts. Follow SOS Public Health for More Resources Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated on SOS Public Health Initiatives. If you have questions about healthcare in Korea, visit the Health and Wellness in Korea Facebook Group, or feel free to message SOS Public Health with any questions or concerns. Apply for an SOS Public Health Practicum Opportunity Are you a graduate student looking for practical experience in public health? Apply for a an SOS Public Health Practicum! Click below to learn more about the SOS Public Health Practicum Program. Research Design & Implementation Team UX/UI Supervisor & Editor Research Compliance Supervisor & Editor Primary Researcher & Author Colton Johnson Colton Johnson is a current student at the University of Utah, completing his Master’s in Public Health. He holds a Bachelor’s in Public Health as well, from Brigham Young University – Idaho. Earlier in his graduate program, Mr. Johnson participated in a semester study abroad at the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) located in Incheon, South Korea. While studying in South Korea, he became interested in research focused on the mental health of international university communities. Because Mr. Johnson developed a passion for supporting his fellow international university community, in January 2022, he applied for a Public Health Practicum with South of Seoul Public Health (SOS Public Health). Through his practicum with SOS Public Health, he has begun developing an initiative to increase access to mental health resources on Incheon Global Campus (IGC), a campus that houses five separate universities, including UAC. Mr. Johnson hopes to apply what he has learned from his practicum to his future career in Public Health.

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Pyeongtaek has a variety of excellent clinics to help with pain management. Here are three options used by SOS Volunteers.

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