Korea

For my friends back home in the US, who seem to read about North Korea a lot these days, the DMZ (비무장지대) is the DeMilitarized Zone which forms a buffer …

It’s now been exactly three months since my laser eye surgery in Korea, and I am officially out of the danger zone. *November 2021 update: four years after the initial operation, …

You’re always growing into different levels of respect in Korea, even if you’re not really growing as a person. The Basics of Korean Social Hierarchy In the US, you have to earn …

Seoul is bursting at the seams with people and palaces (we’ve got 5) and places to eat. We must have at least one citizen from every country— sometimes we even send …

On a Saturday night in Hongdae, the main university neighborhood of Seoul, these two young Korean girls approached me on the street, asking if I knew where to find an …

A month ago I had an 11pm curfew. Yes, as an adult. Attending EPIK Orientation My ridiculous curfew was at my orientation for teaching English through the EPIK Program here in Korea. …

Have you ever wanted to wander through a lavender field in full bloom, and then lamented not being in Europe in the summertime? Enter: Hani Lavender Farm. Welcome to the …

Have you seen a foreigner today? Since moving to rural Korea over a year ago, I’ve seen one every morning when I look in the mirror. I’ve become the foreigner …

Last week my travel school students, whom I had not seen in three weeks, took me hiking, even though I showed up to their school in my usual work skirt …

Halloween in Seoul is only a weekday affair if you’re a kid, and especially if you have American English teachers, who are notorious for week-long celebrations of the holiday (we …