Hello everyone, My name is Mia and I am new here and wanted to introduce myself.  I live (currently) in South Korea, but am planning to move my myself, my daughter and our little dog to Spain by the end of the year.  Let me explain... no there is too much, let me sum up.

I am originally from the US, but have lived in Busan, South Korea for nearly 20 years.  I am a former attorney and university lecturer, and most recently was working as in-house counsel for a Korean pharmaceutical company.  But that's all over now.

Two and a half years ago I FINALLY discovered who I really am and started HRT.  Years, decades really, of depression and self defeating thoughts began to vanish.  True, they were replaced by new anxieties, but overall life began improving.  As many of you may guess (or unfortunately be able to relate to) I lost a lot of friends and some family members when I transitioned.  That has been extremely painful, but I endure.  As much as it hurts, it hurts LESS than my "before times" did.

For now, I won't bore everyone with the details of my life, but I hope I can make some friends here and we can discuss our various adventure, troubles, and issues together.  Stay strong everyone!  Mia

Hii Mia,


Welcome to Susan's Place! 💖


~ Lilis 🌷

Hi Mia!

Welcome.  It is quite common for those who have transitioned to move to a new place.
I've transitioned in place socially but that seems to be quite a rare occurrance.

Marion

Mia,
    Welcome. Looking forward to hearing more from you. Also, LOVE the Princess Bride reference...
              Cindy

Hello Mia,

I'm Lori Dee. Welcome to Susan's Place!

Thank you for that wonderful introduction.

We strive to make this a safe place to find information and share your thoughts and comments. No matter who you are, you are always welcome at Susan's Place.

Your journey is very similar to that of many of our members. What is unique to each of us is how we handle our individual circumstances. I think your choice of moving to Spain is a wise one. I think you will enjoy it there.

This website is huge. It is loaded with members' stories of their experiences, as well as various topics of discussion.

When you click on the HOME button, you will see a page listing all of the various sub-forums by category and topic. Each sub-forum has a description of what that forum is about, as well as any guidelines for posting.

Please keep in mind when posting that this is an ALL-AGES PUBLIC Forum and the internet never forgets. Do not post anything that you do not want to be made public.

I will add links below that are important for new and returning members. Pay special attention to the links in RED.

Until then, if you have any questions about the Susan's Place site and the Forums, please feel free to contact me at    LoriDee605@outlook.com

Once again, welcome to Susan's Place!

~ Lori Dee
Forum Staff

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@MiaIsHappyNow
@Sarah B
@Northern Star Girl

Hi Mia

My name is Sarah and I would also like to formally, Welcome you to Susan's Place!

I see that other members of Susan's have also welcomed you as well.

Moving to Spain really does sound like the start of something new and exciting.  Devlyn one of our moderators lives in Spain also and might know about some local resources, though of course it depends on which part of Spain you end up in.

With everything you have done as an attorney, university lecturer and in-house counsel I do not think you will have any trouble finding a good job.  I have been a draftsperson, taught mathematics and computers and even worked as a life guard and swimming instructor, so I know how useful it is to have a wide mix of skills to fall back on.

I will be looking forward to hearing more about your life when you feel ready to tell us more.  I hear you about the years of depression before HRT and the difference it made to you once you started.  It's such a relief when the heavy weight lifts, even if new worries take its place.  Those can be handled one at a time and you have already shown a lot of strength in how to handle those new issues.

I can only imagine how hard it was losing friends and family.  That hurts deeply.  But you are right, it's better to lose them, than to go on suffering in silence.  Your health, happiness and your daughter's too, are what matters the most.

You will definitely make friends here on Susan's and your life sounds anything but boring.  It's full of courage, interesting experiences, and the kind of resilience that keeps you moving forward.

Once you feel comfortable here, it would be appreciated if you add a little bit more about yourself in the other forums and threads.  I would appreciate it very much as, I'm always interested in learning something new about new members.

In addition members of Susan's will more than likely will discuss problems or issues that are similar to yours as most have experienced these issues as well.

Please keep in mind when posting that this is an ALL AGES PUBLIC Forum and the internet never forgets.  Do not post anything that you do not want to be made public.

Take care and wishing you and your daughter all the best and may all your dreams come true.

Once again, Welcome to Susan's Place!

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Devlyn  @Jessica_Rose  @Mariah  @Northern Star Girl  @Lori Dee
@MiaIsHappyNow

Dear Mia,

Welcome to Susan's Place—and yes, the Princess Bride nod made me smile. "Let me sum up," indeed. 🙂

Twenty years in Busan, a career spanning law, lecturing, and corporate counsel—that's an extraordinary life already. What stands out even more is your choice to center authenticity now, to move across the world with your daughter (and your pup!) and build something new. That takes real courage.

Your description of HRT lifting decades of heaviness resonates with so many here. When the fog clears, new anxieties can appear—but as you said, they hurt less than the "before times." There's something profoundly right about finally having the *right* problems to solve. I'm also sorry for the losses along the way. That pain is real. Choosing truth over familiarity is never easy, and the example you're setting for your daughter—living honestly, even when it's hard—is powerful.

Spain sounds like a beautiful place for a fresh start. Many members here have rebuilt in new countries, and you'll find folks who can share practical experience about moving, working, parenting, and settling into a community while continuing your transition. We also have members in Spain who may be able to point you toward welcoming local networks when you're ready.

I hope you'll keep sharing—about life in Korea, the logistics of an international move, and how you and your daughter are navigating everything together. You'll find a lot of lived wisdom here, and just as much simple companionship for the everyday ups and downs.

¡Bienvenida, y mucha suerte en esta nueva etapa! We're glad you're here.

With warmth and admiration,
Susan