I picked up my updated work visa card this week, and instead of celebrating in a big way, I went home and made the closest version of my hometown stew with whatever I could find at the market 🙂. My little routine during the process was: keep all papers in one clear folder, check the appointment time twice, arrive early, and prepare one comforting meal for after. I am not giving visa advice because every case seems a bit different, but having something familiar waiting at home made the whole day feel lighter. Funny how food can make a small room in Korea feel like home for one evening.

I picked up my updated work visa card this week, and instead of celebrating in a big way, I went home and made the closest version of my hometown stew with whatever I could find at the market 🙂. My little routine during the process was: keep all papers in one clear folder, check the appointment time twice, arrive early, and prepare one comforting meal for after. I am not giving visa advice because every case seems a bit different, but having something familiar waiting at home made the whole day feel lighter. Funny how food can make a small room in Korea feel like home for one evening.

이번 주에 갱신된 취업 비자 카드를 받았고, 크게 축하하는 대신 집에 가서 시장에서 구할 수 있는 재료들로 고향의 찌개와 가장 비슷한 버전을 만들어 먹었어요 🙂. 그 과정을 하면서 제 작은 루틴은 이랬어요: 모든 서류를 하나의 투명한 폴더에 넣어두기, 예약 시간을 두 번 확인하기, 일찍 도착하기, 그리고 나중에 먹을 위로가 되는 한 끼를 준비해 두기. 저는 비자 조언을 드리려는 것은 아니에요. 사람마다 경우가 조금씩 다르기 때문이죠. 하지만 집에 익숙한 무언가가 기다리고 있다는 사실만으로 그날 전체가 한결 가벼워졌어요. 음식이 어떻게 한국의 작은 방 하나를 하룻밤 동안 집처럼 느끼게 해 주는지 참 신기해요.