Dear South Korea: We need to talk.

As our relationship matures, I feel that there are a few issues that have made themselves evident that warrant a frank yet sincere discussion. While we have only known each other five months, I feel that our lives are moving in different directions. Our parting was inevitable, and we both knew that when we first got together in July. I appreciate you taking on such a heavy relationship with a known expiration date- July 16, 2011.
Nevertheless, I feel that in order for us to truly enjoy and appreciate what precious time we have together, I would like some space. Lately, I have felt a bit stifled by our relationship-the apparent lack of consideration for privacy and personal space, the piercing stares I receive on the bus and the stresses caused by cross cultural relationships have taken a toll on me. To be fully committed to you in the coming months, I feel that some alone time will allow me to reconcile the complexities of our dynamic relationship.
I guess now is a better time than any to finally articulate some of the issues I have with our relationship in its current state:
One of the things that initially attracted me was your resilience to your self identity.  "I am proudly Korean," you would proclaim. With 5,000 years of collective history, you have a defined set of morals, customs, values and traditions that you diligently uphold, to the point where I assume they're encoded into the cultural HTML of Korean society. It's palpable in everything you do; from the way you eat and drink, to the manner in which you interact with your elders. As a result, you've produced artisans, musicians and artists of the highest caliber.
Yet every now and again, you throw me a curve ball.  I know your recent popularity in the international community was bound to influence you, I just wasn't sure how that would manifest itself. Apparently, instead of completely abandoning your age old cultural traditions, you've opted to fuse them with the recent tide of modernization. The result:

The McDonald's Bulgogi burger. A gluttonous symbol for the fusion of Western and Eastern cuisines

Sure, you may say,
"If you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best. So what If I'm not eating as healthy as I used to?"
Before you get defensive, I am not openly criticizing you, rather curiously inquiring your motives. Korea, you are a proud civilization that has valiantly defended itself against numerous foreign invaders. From the struggles for national unification, to the aggressions of your overbearing neighbors Japan,  and your recent headaches caused by your crazy brother in the north, you've stood proud. (And I should properly commend you on your recent display of self-control. You had every right to punch that communist dictatorial brother of yours in the face. And I'm sure few would've judged you for it). Yet in the face of modern globalization, you curiously combine bulgogi and the Big Mac to form the fusion of all fusions. Strange, but who am I to judge?
Maybe I'm a little jealous, but I'm well aware that I was not the only foreigner drawn to you. Currently, there are more than 20,000 native tongue English teachers sharing the love with you, yet I feel like you and I have a special relationship.   I am actively trying to learn your language. I am painstakingly conscious of your endless social norms, and I always give my seat to the ajummas and ajushis (older folk) on the bus.  And for the most part, you're eager to learn about my heritage as well. While we stumble through and butcher each others language, sometimes babbling like infants learning to command our tongues, I can't help but chuckle sometimes at your sheer "cuteness":

You try really hard,  Korea, you really do. And you have a good things to say too!

You do have a lot of suitors, and for good reason. The Land of the Morning Calm is a pretty sweet place to be. Yet I will bow out of the race for a bit. On December 23rd, I will venture to the exotic lands of India for 2 weeks before returning to you. Think of it as if Odysseus decided to take another detour before reuniting with Penelope. And that story ended happily, right?  Like the former governor of the great state of California once said,
"I'll be back."
Until next time...