Life in Jeju
Hi,
Come share real story, and let the wind carry a little weight off your shoulders.
After years of running without rest, here’s a breath of Jeju wind for you.
Inside Dolcori Village, the shadow-play room turns a simple wall into a stage. Our two set down their flashlights, moved the black panels, and chased the cat-shaped shadows across the wall — no screens, no instructions, just light and a little imagination.
→ Read more: An Interactive Cat-Story Exhibit for Kids
Somewhere between the ocean and a new culture, we’re all growing up together.
— us as much as our kids. From the first nervous drop-off to the day our son finally asked to use the school bathroom on his own, this is the part of Jeju life we didn’t plan for as carefully as we should have.
→ Our First Week at Jeju International School
→ The Real Cost of Jeju International School Tuition
→ The Day My Son Couldn’t Use the School Bathroom Alone
→ Grade 2 Parent Life at Our Jeju International School
Curious about the full list of international schools on Jeju? The International Schools Database has a helpful overview.
Find the best International School in Jeju, South Korea
FAQ
Is it too late to start over in your 40s?
It’s not about starting from zero — it’s about starting from experience. Most people who make this leap in their 40s bring skills, savings, and self-knowledge they didn’t have at 25. The fear of “too late” usually fades within the first six months.
How do you know when it's time to quit your job?
When the exhaustion stops being about the work itself and starts being about who you’re becoming. If you no longer recognize yourself after another late night at the office, that’s the signal — not the salary, not the title.
Won't moving disrupt my kids' education?
Disruption and growth often look the same from the outside. Kids adapt faster than we expect, especially when they see a parent who’s calmer and more present. An international school transition is a real logistical challenge — but it’s solvable, and often becomes the thing they thank you for later.
How do you make money without a 9-to-5?
Slowly, and rarely from one source. Most location-independent parents combine 2–3 income streams — blog, investment, freelance work — instead of replacing one salary with one new job. The first year is about testing, not perfecting.
What do you tell people who think you're 'running away'?
Nothing, usually. The people who matter don’t need an explanation, and the people who need one usually wouldn’t understand it anyway. This choice isn’t an escape — it’s a redirection.
Is it selfish to prioritize your own healing while raising kids?
It’s the opposite. Kids don’t need a parent who has everything figured out — they need one who isn’t running on empty. Modeling rest and reinvention teaches them something no lecture ever could.
"It is better to fail as your Future Self than to succeed as your former self."
– Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Be Your Future Self Now
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