I crossed the world alone and realized that I can do anything, testimony of Emile Brito

Traveling to South Korea was my first international trip. I spent a month in the country and for me, even this period was like a dream. 

My friends (Brazilian and Korean) and my family were essential for me to make this dream come true.

I traveled through Seoul, Busan, and Gyeonju, which are the most popular cities in the country. South Korea seems to have been made to entertain people, it is a pleasant country to explore. There is a great ease to have fun all night long: whether in the norebang (Korean karaoke), bowling alleys, themed cafes, little shops, and thrift stores with affordable clothing. Outside urban centers, there is a lot of greenery, museums, and mountains. 

My time in South Korea was very dual, but with a lot more pros than cons. The black population in South Korea is very recent and the country is becoming more popular and open to tourists every passing year. I was constantly being observed with curiosity or praised EVERY DAY by people working in street markets: they would say "iepuda" which means beautiful in their native language.

My heart was filled with love especially for the elderly in the country, because as a black person traveling to an Asian continent, I was very afraid of experiencing racism (and went through some unpleasant situations), but nothing and no one could ruin what I experienced.

I definitely want to go back to South Korea and visit more places! My current plans tell me that my next long-awaited stop is South Africa (faith).

And you know what? After traveling to Asia and crossing the world alone, I realized that I can do anything, it may take time, finances may tighten, but nothing, not any comment, will stop me! Black traveler, yes!

#VivaDiaspora

Text written by Emile Brito. Send your travel story to contato@oldhospedagem.diaspora.black and join our social networks!