On my 25th birthday my (awesome) friends hung posters around my house saying the 25 things they loved about me. Along with phrases like, “She’s the only one I’d go to an Indian buffet and then try on spandex with” (because it really happened), one poster read, “You can meet the strangest people on the… Continue reading Weird Korea: Forced to Fake Vote in a Bamboo Theme Park
Author: kaleenamq
The Awesome & Inspiring Person I Met From CouchSurfing
At 2am the doorbell rang. I peered out the window with some trepidation, wondering if this person might be a serial killer, but opened the door for the stranger anyway. In front of me stood a British man with a chipped tooth and a rucksack; we’d never met, but I smiled and invited him in.… Continue reading The Awesome & Inspiring Person I Met From CouchSurfing
A Korean Road Trip To Goeje and Namhae Islands
The 5am alarm obliterated my peaceful slumber, and the butterflies immediately fluttered in my stomach. Today was the day! My first Korean road trip. And I was somewhat terrified. One of my best friends from home was visiting me in Korea for two weeks and I’d promised to give her a tour to some… Continue reading A Korean Road Trip To Goeje and Namhae Islands
Owning and Driving a Car in Korea: Am I Crazy, Brave, or Stupid?
“I thought it was an April Fool’s joke at first,” my friend confided in me. “I didn’t really think you’d do it!” another exclaimed. To be honest, if someone had told me six months ago that I would own and drive a car in Korea, I would have laughed in their face. Noooooooo way, I… Continue reading Owning and Driving a Car in Korea: Am I Crazy, Brave, or Stupid?
Cats and Dresses: Korea’s Weird and Fun Cafes
I feel like I abandoned my baby in the woods and left it to be swallowed up by the vines of hungry vegetation. The baby being my blog, of course, and the forest being the metaphorical great internet abyss. My life has been so insanely busy lately that I sometimes wake up in the morning… Continue reading Cats and Dresses: Korea’s Weird and Fun Cafes
Hitting the Slopes (and why I will probably never ski again)
Everyone raved about the ski trips in Korea. Having lived in California my whole life I don’t even know how to walk in snow, much less strap large boards to my feet and propel myself forward in snow. But I let my friends persuade me to give it a try and I figured after teaching… Continue reading Hitting the Slopes (and why I will probably never ski again)
What I Wish I’d Known When I Was a Student, Now That I’m a Teacher
It’s Friday afternoon. The first week of spring has brought with it sunshine and warm weather, and a gentle breeze ruffles the classroom window shades. Children’s laughter and shouts drift up to me, but I’m more focused on the hushed voice murmuring in the corner. He stands in the library section of my classroom, clutching… Continue reading What I Wish I’d Known When I Was a Student, Now That I’m a Teacher
My 30 Book Challenge (So I’m Allowed To Read): Round 1
Reading is a serious addiction for me. It’s kind of like eating cookies… once I start, I have a really, really hard time stopping. Because of that, I sometimes have to tell myself I’m not allowed to read at all, or else I won’t get anything done. This buzzfeed post basically sums me up (number… Continue reading My 30 Book Challenge (So I’m Allowed To Read): Round 1
Green Beer and Colored Paint: A Festive Weekend in Busan
“Let me get this straight,” my friend said skeptically into the phone. “You live in Korea, but this weekend you’re celebrating an Irish holiday and going to an Indian festival?” Well, when she put it like that I realized it did sound a little funny… The homogeneity of Korea doesn’t usually lend itself to… Continue reading Green Beer and Colored Paint: A Festive Weekend in Busan
This Adventure Was Not My Cup of Tea
Despite the sweltering summer heat, my friend, Allie, and I spent a casual Sunday in June wandering to various sites around Daegu in a half-hearted bid to do something “cultural”. We meandered through the oriental medicine district near downtown and I suddenly had the bright idea that this would be a good area to find… Continue reading This Adventure Was Not My Cup of Tea
Why I Stayed at the School That Makes Me Cry, But I’m Glad
I may have bit off a little more than I can chew. Last week the kids in Korea started their new school year and it was a hectic week, indeed. Along with a new term I also started a side job, had meetings and events for the two nonprofit organizations I’m a part of in… Continue reading Why I Stayed at the School That Makes Me Cry, But I’m Glad
Falling in Love… Or Fish Tanks
When I began telling people back home that I was moving to Korea, there seemed to be an inevitable and predictable thought process for the listener: confusion (“wait, where?”); shock (“but, umm, why?!”); fear (“but isn’t North Korea trying to bomb them or something?”); and excitement (“oh it sounds like such an adventure!”). Then came… Continue reading Falling in Love… Or Fish Tanks