As a traveler, one of the most common dilemmas is an unplanned extended layover. It’s happened to me more than once, and what was supposed to be just a quick, hour-long stay turned into a 7-hour distressful wait. This is not what I want for you on your Seoul layover. If you find yourself experiencing … Read more
Every time I plan my next Vietnam itinerary, it’s around the same thing: FOOD. And because my best friend is from Saigon, on my trips I also inevitably get to sample foods and ingredients I might have have otherwise thought of, like street porridge or avocado ice cream. On my last trip to Vietnam in … Read more
Controversial opinion alert: Koreans don’t speak English well, for all of the time they spend on it. Learning a new language is a mind game, but that means it comes down to acquisition ability and motivation, each complicated in their own right. But I’ve had this post half-written for years, since shortly after I moved … Read more
Many Koreans both young and old enjoy lingering for an hour or two over a café latte, especially on weekend afternoons. In the evenings, bigger cafes in Seoul usually sell bottles of beer and cake by the slice. Even during the holidays and in the middle of summer, Korean cafes are as crowded as ever. Nobody wants to … Read more
This is the guide to Asia massages that I’d always looked for online before visiting a new country, but never found. It might sound random, but whilst traveling I’ve always wanted to know if I could even find massages in my next destination, as I’m hunched over a computer for most of every day. But … Read more
After 3+ years living in rural South Korea, I’ve picked up lots of tips for learning Korean quickly, mostly from needing to understand my coworkers. Having moved abroad without even being literate in Korean, I cannot understate how intimidating it can be to try and navigate a new life in Korea without knowing Korean. Unless … Read more
Spending 7 days in Taiwan is perfect for seeing the country’s varied landscapes, sampling local dishes, and getting a handle on the island’s complex history. While most people start & end their visit in Taipei, I’d actually recommend getting off the beaten path and skipping Taipei entirely. If I hadn’t planned my first Taiwan itinerary … Read more
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 and pantyhose. It may be more accurate to say that I was guilted into hiking by the other teachers, though, since low English level ten-year-olds … Read more