Safety Abroad
Whenever I pack up and leave the States the most common thing I'm told by family & friends back home is "Be safe." The gag is, it should be the other way around and here's why...
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Everytime I've moved abroad I've felt safer than when I'm back home. Every country has their pros and cons, but as a black female AmeriKKKa is definitely not the safest place for me to be. While living abroad my heart doesn't skip a beat when I walk by the police (partly because I rarely see them 🤷🏾♀️). Walking alone at night doesn't feel like dancing with death. And the biggest benefit? Being black is not a crime. Be safe though.
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Everybody was so concerned about me coming to Korea during a pandemic, but the energy just isn't the same anymore. Look how the tables have turned. So many issues in the States came to light in 2020 and I'm going to let you in on a little secret... None of the "major news" from last year was new. Police brutality, disparities in healthcare access, incompetent leaders. That's BEEN America. Be safe though.
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Living in other countries has really shown me the other side of the tracks. One of the biggest things that stands out to me is the freedom children have. For example, in Korea I see kids that can't be older than 8 walking around the streets like they're running late to a meeting at all hours of the day and night. Eleven months in and I still can't help, but think, "Where ya mamma at?" The level of safety in Korea is really elite and it's not just here. Living in Korea has really shown me the real definition of safety from walking home at night to leaving my purse unattended in a bar (still getting used to that one so I still put all my valuables in the pockets 😅).
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As a child I was always going somewhere. My mother made sure my passport had stamps QUICK. I was exposed to life outside of the States early & it showed me that the grass indeed was greener elsewhere. I'm forever grateful for the opportunities to be able to see & experience the world (one of the privileges of having an American passport 💁🏾♀️). Being an expat is necessary for me. The peace of mind. The safety and security. The quality of life. It makes language barriers, cultural differences and everything in between look like drops in the bucket. But again, be safe though.
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So for all the people wondering when I'm moving back to the States. The answer is never. I come home to see my people and pack my bags for the next destination, but live in AmeriKKKa? You'll never see it. For y'all staying I have one message: Be safe.
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