More recently came the struggles of pretending to understand bullet-paced conversations at the start of my year abroad, which slowly but surely became less bullet-paced. And finally — the moment I had longed for — I was able to connect on a deep level with others in this third language. I was pleasantly surprised to see that these connections grew... See more

Then there’s my English, of course. It is perhaps the language I feel the most at ease in when expressing my ideas, thoughts, and feelings; it is also the language in which I am the most serious and scholarly . The word feels heavy, but it fits: having been educated in this language, I have written my most analytical pieces in it, notably in the... See more

my Korean usually remains at a basic — one might almost say childish — level, because the place I use it the most is at home, when speaking to my parents. It is the language that I associate with “home” and “family”. Therefore, I sense a gentler, softer side emerge as I speak the language. This also affects the way in which I engage with other... See more