I first visited the UK in 2018, on a solo trip while taking time off from university. London was the first city I visited abroad. Maybe it was the excitement of travelling overseas for the first time, but I still remember that trip fondly.
Walking the streets of London for the first time, my immediate thought was "People seem very peaceful and free." This was it. The streets were filled not with people rushing about, but with those leisurely drinking coffee or sitting on park benches reading books. It was a stark contrast to Korea, where people live non-stop, and that unfamiliar sense of freedom felt refreshing.
After returning to Korea from my trip, one regret lingered. "If only I had been better at English, I could have experienced so much more..." That thought kept swirling in my mind, and from then on, I seriously started studying English.
At first, film dialogue was too fast for me to follow. Listening again and repeating the lines helped me get used to it. Eventually, watching the same film 50 or 100 times without subtitles and shadowing the dialogue became a regular habit. I wasn’t perfect at it, but I enjoyed the process. British films and podcasts also made me grow fond of the accent. That led to another thought.
"I want to live in the UK at least once."
At first, it was simple curiosity. But as time passed, that feeling grew stronger. The free and diverse culture, the old architecture and streets, the relaxed atmosphere... I became curious about things I hadn't fully experienced through travel.
Around that time, I was studying front-end development. Wouldn't gaining international experience as a developer open up broader opportunities? After much thought, I applied for the UK Working Holiday visa, and in the latter half of 2022, I finally got accepted. Since I had enough time until my departure, I could focus on studying English and development.
But as the departure date approached, worries began to flood in.
"Will I truly be able to do well?", "My English isn't perfect, will it be possible to get a job as a junior developer?"
Honestly, I wasn't confident. Unfamiliar environment, language barrier, technical limitations... there were many obstacles to overcome. But one thing was clear: I still wanted to give it a try.
I knew living in the UK would be different from travelling there. But I didn’t want it to remain something I only dreamed about. I wanted to try it for myself, so I wouldn’t wonder later what might have happened.
And so, I ended up leaving for the UK.