Hello!!
My name is Kim Insuk (김인숙) and I live in Greenland :)
In Korea, family name comes first, so 'Kim' is my family name and 'Insuk' is my first name.
So I am sure that you already realised that I am Korean!
Yes, I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea and I have been staying here in Greenland since August 2015!
So now you might wonder why I am here in Greenland and how I came here ;)
I will tell you from now on.
In 2010, I was having a gap year in Japan spending working holiday. In Korea, it is very common to have a gap year while taking bachelor's degree. After working holiday, I wanted to go somewhere, however I had no idea where to go. So I just spread the world map and started to look through countries. While reading the world map, I found a big icy island on the top of the map. It was written 'Greenland' but it was white.
Even world geography class in my high school, we did not learn about Greenland properly. In addition, Greenland is very often omitted from the world map. It is a very shame that in Asia, we often ignore the largest island in the world. Yeap, I know how it could happen.
I was so curious about this land so I started to search this big white island on the internet by myself and I found various images of Greenland. Most of pictures included colourful houses with icebergs background. It was so fascinating and attractive. Right after that, I just really wanted to see Greenland in person. I just couldn't wait to meet them!
So I just left Greenland!! When I wanna do something, I do not think that much. I just do it!
In 2010, eventually I visited seven towns in Greenland (Narsarsuaq, Qassiarsuk, Narsaq, Nanortalik, Qaqortoq, Nuuk, Ilulissat) alone and I had a really really great time. I met a lot of people with different backgrounds at restaurants, souvenir shops, hostels even on the street.
Sometimes I met a really unexpected event. It was a rainy day in Nanortalik. Surprisingly, a lady just invited me from the window while I was walking on the street. It never happens in South Korea - invite a stranger from the window!! It turned out that day was an important day which was the first day of school. In the house, there were so many people and some were with Greenlandic national costume. I was offered cakes and coffee. Later I knew that it is Kaffemik which a home party in Greenland. One of the very Greenlandic culture!
I just totally fell in love with Greenland very soon because it was so different from where I come from. I loved this unique culture and of course, also nice and kind people.
After my visit to Greenland, I started to study about Greenland at a graduate school in London. As a result, I received my master's degree in Cultural Heritage Studies, Archaeology and I wrote Greenland's cultural heritage / natural heritage affected by climate change as my master's thesis.
After that, I went back to Korea and I got a job however it was not related to Greenland at all. I couldn't forget about Greenland. So I decided to leave for Greenland. It was 2015. Since then, I have been staying in Nuuk, Greenland. Currently I am finalising my 2nd master's thesis in West Nordic Studies at the Social Science Department, Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland). I am also a freelance writer and a photographer. My first book which is about Greenland with full of my stories will be published soon this fall 2019.
Since then, I had a lot of good friends in Greenland not only Greenlandic friends but also foreign people all over the world. You will be surprised if you found out how many various people from different countries are staying in Greenland. Also I got a lot of great memories in Greenland and still I believe that those good memories keep filling in my heart. Especially in 2017, I had a great opportunity to travel from South to North Greenland again.
What images do you have about Greenland?
Icebergs? Snow? Polarbears? Cold weather? Climate change?
Let me tell you my adventure in Greenland from now on ;)
Stay tuned!
Me in Qaanaaq, North Greenland 2017
Qassiarsuk, South Greenland 2017
Narsaq, South Greenland 2017
