I had wanted to go to South Korea for a long time, for several reasons: to see an old friend again, to understand the world of Korean coffee, which plays an important role in the lives of Koreans, and to learn about Buddhism.

I like to volunteer when I travel because I find it one of the best ways to understand the local society and culture I am going to immerse myself in, as I love the world of coffee, I always try to combine the two. Recently, I volunteered on a plantation in northern Thailand and three years ago at a coffee roastery in Bangkok.

Before leaving for Seoul, where I wanted to spend a couple of months, I started sending emails and messages on Instagram to every café and roastery in the city in the hope of finding someone willing to give me a place to stay or food in exchange for free labour, I wanted to get into the South Korean coffee industry, but despite my efforts and hundreds of messages, I couldn’t find anything. The trip to Asia would go ahead anyway, and if I couldn’t do it by working in a coffee shop, I would look for something else.

Time passes and I have an idea that is definitely inspired by something greater than myself, fascinated by Buddhism, even though I don’t consider myself a Buddhist, and fascinated by the lifestyle of monks, I think, why not try spending some time in a temple, considering that I practise meditation daily and many of the principles of Buddhism? it could be an opportunity to meditate in a more spiritual setting, understand more about this religion and, in my free time, visit cafés and deepen my interest in South Korean coffee culture.
….. anextraordinaryandordinarylife…