Change of Scenery
Walking in Sejong
One of the issues with living in a small town is that you have limited places to walk. I walk a lot and have seen basically everything around Gongju. It is ok when you just need a little exercise but today I wanted a change of scenery. So, this morning, I drove to nearby Sejong to check out the new pedestrian bridge (금강보행교). It is a big circular bridge. There are two layers with the path on the lower deck and the pedestrian deck above. The bridge is about 2km in circumference and has a lot of things for families to do up there. It also seems like a great place to walk your pet.
Meaning
A change of scenery means moving to a new location. It doesn’t have to be a different city. It can just be somewhere different. This phrase is most often used in regard to mental health. The assumption is that a change in location or circumstance will help the person make a positive change in their life. The reason why someone might want a change of scenery could be due to stress, boredom, or they need something to change to feel good. You can get stuck in the same routine talking to the same people. So, a change of scenery might be good for you.
Example: Let’s have our meeting outside today. I feel like we could all use a change of scenery.
Discussion
Since today’s phrase is fairly literal, there isn’t much to be said about its origin. Scenery originally meant a subdivision of a play. It dates to the 1530s. In particular, it usually referred to the decorations and backdrops associated with a part of a play. So, changing scenery was changing the backdrop and decorations to make it seem like a new location. Since then, scenery has evolved to mean the physical things at a location (landscape). Does a change of scenery make you feel better?
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