Sophomore Haeley Deeney moved to South Korea before school started this fall after her father, Lieutenant Colonel John Deeney, became a commander of the intelligence squadron on Osan Air Force Base, an hour from Seoul. Although Deeney doesn’t mind moving around, adjusting to a new culture can prove to be challenging.
“People [in South Korea] don’t have personal space. They touch my hair because I’m blonde,” Deeney said. “And they drive ridiculously fast.”
Deeney describes South Korean culture as polite, and although she was worried about making friends before she left, she’s settled in easily. Despite many changes, Deeney is enjoying her time there.
“I miss my family and friends like crazy,” Deeney said. “But I do love being able to walk around on base and having so many friendly people around.”
Before moving, Deeney expressed concerns about North Korea and its aggressive stance against South Korea and America.
“Being afraid of North Korea is always in the back of my mind,” Deeney said. “But you can’t do much about it.”
While at Fauquier, Deeney was a cheerleader and played on the varsity lacrosse team. The school Deeney now attends only has 185 students, most of whom are in the military families. Deeney is currently on the school’s volleyball team. Deeney will be returning to Virginia this summer and plans to spend her junior year at FHS.
“My best friends are there, and all of my animals are still in Fauquier,” Deeney said. “I miss being able to get up and see my horses right out my window. I also miss the football games and being part of the Zoo.”
Deeney has moved seven times in 14 years including Texas, South Carolina, Pennslvania, Okinawa Japan, Las Vegas, and Kansas. Her favorite place remains Fauquier.
“I have liked most of the places we have lived, except for Las Vegas,” Haeley said. “It was just too dang hot.”
For some young people, moving so often would be difficult, but not for Deeney.
“I feel like moving around so much has become the norm for me,” Deeney said. “I think staying in one place would freak me out more than moving again.”