Finding Middle-Earth: Mount Doom, Rivendell, and the Weta Cave

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. Road-tripping through the North Island of New Zealand is a delight in endless spellbinding views. From ocean cliff-side (read: nail-biting) winding roads to barren and windy desert to lush forests, valleys, and mountains.  It’s no wonder New Zealand is […]

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Finding Middle-Earth: Edoras

“What business does an Elf, a Man, and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark?” Amidst snow-capped mountains on the South Island of New Zealand lies a striking slope overlooking the sweeping Rangitata Valley. This impressive hill was the location of Edoras, the capital city of Rohan, in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. And wow, […]

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Finding Middle-Earth: Hobbiton

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door…You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.” Nestled in the rolling green hills of Matamata, New Zealand (pronounced Mehtah-Mehtah, and oh yes I really butchered this pronunciation before I was corrected) […]

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How To Teach Abroad As A Couple

Getting started on your journey of living and working abroad is a daunting task on its own, and trying to coordinate as a couple can feel even more monumental. Before my significant other and I began, I immersed myself in scouring the internet for advice and stories of others who had gone before me. The […]

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Chuseok

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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Death by Rice Chest and the Suwon Cultural Festival

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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