Art and Travel Ramblings
Canceled plans, canceled trips: No week in Ireland or Comic-con weekend this year, no birthday celebration with friends and family (I turned the big 3-0 at the end of March), and hoping that my wedding in November will still be able to move forward. As I’m writing this I can hear the kids who live […]
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The final class of my last semester teaching for Chungdahm Learning in Seoul, South Korea was one of the most bittersweet moments of my life thus far (as cheesy as that sounds). Saying goodbye (or annyeong 안녕) to the land of kimchi, soju, and gorgeous mountains was not an easy choice. The joys of overindulging […]
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A few weeks ago, Korea celebrated the holiday of Chuseok (추석) – which is most comparable to American Thanksgiving in which you spend some quality time with family while you consume (engorge) your daily calorie allotment in one meal and loosen your belt a few notches. Overall, the main theme of these gatherings revolves around spending […]
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Every fall, the nearby city of Suwon holds the popular Suwon Cultural Festival centered within the late 18th century Hwaseong Fortress. It’s a 3-day extravaganza with cultural performances, activities, and other events. My boyfriend and I had already planned on taking the train out to see the famous fortress, so the festival was an unexpected […]
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As I’ve said before, summertime in Seoul is hot – one of the only respites being the singularly wonderful invention of air conditioning. -But it is perfect weather to spend some quality time with the sun, sand, and some ocean waves. A group of coworkers and I planned a girl’s trip to the seaside city […]
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I was thinking about titling this post “Sweaty Summer in Seoul”, but I thought that would make me sound too much like a gross person…. well, too late. I’ve said it anyway. When I noticed the handheld electric fans starting to be sold in the underground shopping markets I should have known what I was […]
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Since living in South Korea, we’ve visited two of the “Five Grand Palaces” built during the Joseon dynasty. As with a lot of the historical structures in Seoul, the palaces were ravaged, pillaged, and destroyed by the Japanese. All have been burnt down or partially burnt down, or burnt down multiple times and rebuilt over […]
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After living in Southern California for 7 years, you almost forget that weather exists. Enter South Korea’s monsoon season. If I could describe the weather succinctly I would say hellish haha. It’s a muggy, steamy, hot, humid, mess. Also, my hair expands to hilarious and frizzy proportions (If you’ve ever watched the television show Friends, […]
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On any given Saturday or Sunday in Seoul, the subways and buses are packed with families and friends decked out in brightly colored hiking gear. This eclectic bustle of rainbow-clothed people are on their way to hike the numerous mountains surrounding the city. These mountains are islands of calm surrounded by the ever-busy and bustling metropolis, […]
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Recently, I had the unfortunate experience to need some medical assistance, and I thought it would be helpful to put up some tips for other foreigners who may need to maneuver Korean hospitals. It can be pretty scary to have to find a doctor/hospital/clinic in another country. The emergency number here is 119, if you […]
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Clumsy Adventurer 