tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61949039152260352592011-12-14T10:51:46.356+09:00Explore. Dream. Discover.Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.comBlogger1841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-65732400834583379672011-11-16T12:07:00.005+09:002011-11-16T12:17:41.530+09:00

Worked for several hours today getting the house cleaned up and the rest of the art put on the walls. Most importantly, the guest room is finished so that my parents will have a comfortable place to stay next week. There's also a good chance that my friend Sarah will come for a visit in April. I was able to put up some of my art from Thailand and Korea (which has been sitting in a box or a

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-539979368695432132011-11-15T13:43:00.001+09:002011-11-15T14:28:58.511+09:00

Addiction is a funny thing.  Everyone seems to have one (or a few).  Be it booze, cigarettes, food, shopping, exercise - I don't think I've met a person who doesn't have one form of an addiction or another.  Addiction is just the way that we try to feel good about ourselves, about our lives.  Me, well I've got a few.  First, I enjoy drinking.  It's a great mood booster or boredom killer, the

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-70863071799663705192011-11-12T08:18:00.002+09:002011-11-15T14:29:01.918+09:00

So I'm super serious about my weight loss now. I've been eating super healthy (with the occasional treat) and exercising the last two weeks. I'm already down 5 pounds. I am absolutely determined to get to within a healthy BMI. I'm tired of being in the "Overweight" part of the chart. It seems like a lot right now, but I think 30-40 pounds of weight loss would put me at a very healthy weight

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-87410504679788535812011-03-03T09:58:00.003+09:002011-03-03T10:12:14.022+09:00

Now that I have a job, two aspects of my life are now in tighter control: my finances and my health. On my third say of training at Tripps, I signed up again for Weight Watchers. I had a lot of success with it last summer and slowly stopped doing it and gained all the weight back in the fall. My finances also got a little out of control. I put myself into a little debt in my last year of

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-84481317294347418292011-02-28T13:03:00.003+09:002011-02-28T13:18:38.874+09:00

Being from the west coast, the racism in the South seemed like a very odd and foreign idea -- I judged it, looked down on it and couldn't grasp the 'why' of it. But now that I'm in North Carolina and see more of the social interaction between different groups, I think I understand more clearly by blacks and whites don't like each other very much and it's very simple, to me at least: the worst

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-79397488553724600382011-02-15T11:55:00.004+09:002011-02-15T12:05:56.027+09:00

I met an awesome couple at work today! They were in their 60's and were world travelers like me. The man was actually Peruvian but with the tan and the white hair I really couldn't tell and spoke fluent Spanish. They'd been all around the US and Europe and were planning to go to South America. When I talked about my time in Argentina and busted out a few lines in Argentinean Spanish, they

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-20091831266459590252011-02-14T06:26:00.003+09:002011-02-14T06:29:40.265+09:00

Finally started a job in Southern Pines and starting to meet new people and make friends. I've also begun to put my physical health back on the front burner where it should be. I've been feeling like a loser for too long and now that I have a job and know where I'll be living for a while, it's time to get back in the driver's seat of my life. Baby steps can lead to great places and I'm going

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-21094598083190081542010-11-29T15:36:00.004+09:002010-11-29T15:47:42.598+09:00

My life has been in this weird suspended phase since I got back to Washington. I've been feeling depressed a lot. No job, no money, too much spare time, living with my mom, my dad's health issues, wondering how I'll fare in North Carolina, missing my life in Seoul and not exercising as much as I should - these factors were unnecessarily keeping me from seeing all the blessings I have. I

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-37333635620999120412010-10-08T12:20:00.004+09:002010-10-08T13:06:40.642+09:00

If I want to experience greatness, I need look no farther than my local urban park, Pt. Defiance Park. It's a temperate rain forest that encases several botanical gardens, a historic logging camp, walking trails, a beach and a zoo/aquarium for the whole family! It's set on a peninsula that gently creeps out into the Puget Sound and provides views of the Narrows bridges, Vashon island, Fox Island,

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-77477625892140167992010-09-09T14:53:00.006+09:002010-09-09T15:27:58.736+09:00

29-year-old Noomi Rapace from Sweden did a fantastic job of playing Lisbeth Salander! I hope Hollywood doesn't embarass itself by trying to make it's own remake version. The Swedish film adapation was very good and I don't think America has the ability or the cultural context to recreate it. **Spoiler Alert** (I don't delve into the plot, per se. But I give a lot away about the main female

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-18188839137082219322010-08-09T17:27:00.004+09:002010-08-09T17:31:39.205+09:00

I've been a bad blogger for the past year. I'm not sure why but I just feel like I have less to say. Well, that's not true. I have no problem expressing myself but I suppose I was starting to find the task of posting a new blog just a bit daunting. Pithy ideas and clever phrases come to me less easily than before, but in an attempt to reinvent my blog, I've given it a new template. I realize

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-62303970006951922492010-07-20T12:39:00.006+09:002010-07-20T12:49:25.471+09:00

Two things..1)Passive-aggressive people. People who find ineffective and infuriating ways to express their discontent, thereby making others confused and infuriated. People need to address their own issues before making others suffer. Either express yourself directly and matter-of-factly or shut your mouth. The world doesn't need more problems in the form of your backdoor guilt tactics and

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-27167475334390857342010-06-08T12:31:00.008+09:002010-06-08T21:33:16.810+09:00

My friend count on Facebook is at a record low since the Bush administration and I couldn't be happier. In the past 2 months, I've weeded through my friend list several times and gone a bit crazy with deleting people.It's nothing personal, but I don't think the details of my daily life or my incredibly profound and pithy one-liners ought to be accessible to people who don't make even a little bit

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-31064074682364510442010-05-31T21:09:00.004+09:002010-06-01T12:56:49.868+09:00

I'm so excited!! Evan bought me jewelry from http://www.sweetromanceonline.com/. They have a great selection of neo-antique/Victorian jewelry. Some of the jewelry on the site I would never wear but I at least find interesting. The pieces he bought me were so perfect for my style! I like classic looking stuff with a bit of a modern edge, stuff that's understated but pretty. It's the first jewelry

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-2770879296177236152010-05-31T17:27:00.006+09:002010-05-31T21:07:05.534+09:00

One thing I won't miss about Korea is the scarcity of and inflated cost of English magazines. My Koreans students have commented on the diversity of magazines that are available to people in the States. In contrast, 99% of the magazines here are about finance, economics, politics, electronics and fashion -- pretty mind-numbing stuff.Given that I don't have the attention span that I used to for

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-63096151853394168622010-05-26T14:51:00.004+09:002010-05-26T15:15:06.613+09:00

Koreans are often perceived as cold or rude. On the exterior, that certainly appears to be the case. But infact, underneathe that exterior there is a warm gooey center of compassion, warmth, and curiosity. I call it "The Marshmallow Effect". To demonstrate this phenomenon one day to Evan, we took a cab and sure enough the driver had the typical Korean stone cold expression. We had just bought

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-8626119420966843222010-05-21T11:57:00.004+09:002010-05-21T12:03:29.370+09:00

I purchased my one-way ticket back to Seattle yesterday. Now that it's "official", I want to start posting short blogs on the things I'll miss (or not miss) about Korea. Because having a plane ticket makes it that much more real, I am sure that I will be even more aware of all the things around me. I don't want to remember a blur, I want to remember as much as possible. This will have been my

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-61082588399571580042010-05-04T13:36:00.013+09:002010-05-04T22:14:04.518+09:00

Dear Nami, ...14 March 20107:00 PMRaligh, North Carolina"I believe that now we both know what we want - and know how happy we are when we're together - it just seems more apparent that the other is somewhere else. I think it may be nothing more than a symptom of the fact that our souls have started the process of becoming one. So in a sense, even though I've been missing you, I'm also so

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-84109708689666706822010-04-26T22:25:00.006+09:002010-04-26T22:52:56.437+09:00

This year's New Year's Resolutions haven't been nearly as successful as 2009's. So instead of beating myself up, I'm going to go through each one and assess how I've done with it. After which, I will either a) Keep it, b) Modify it or c) Bag it.I. Get 10 hours of exercise per month. Clearly, I've failed this one. I get into bouts of exercise then fall off the commitment wagon. But some

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-50946931314852369302010-04-05T16:02:00.004+09:002010-04-05T16:20:40.099+09:00

Wow, I haven't posted a blog in over 3 months. It's not that my life hasn't been interesting, perhaps quite the opposite. I'll do a brief update of my life between my last post and now. I. Work. I am 100% self-emlpoyed now. No schools, no contracts, no children. Work comes and goes and my days are long. A typical day will have me teaching from 8-9 AM, then 12-1 PM or 2-3 PM, and finally

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-47112170658742717062009-12-29T18:48:00.003+09:002009-12-29T19:00:50.335+09:00

2009 was pretty good. 7/10 Resolutions were kept! I'm like to strive for 8/10 or better for 2010. These have been carefully thought-out for a realistic, yet rewarding 2010. I. Get 10 hours of exercse per month.II. Read 20 books.III. Run 8K.IV. Engage in a cultural activity at least once a month.V. Be a non-smoker for 260 days out of the year.VI. Red meat twice a month or less. Carbonated

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-3642659918686896042009-12-29T17:56:00.003+09:002009-12-29T18:46:42.433+09:00

Not in any particular order..Radiohead- Amnesiac & In Rainbows. I'm pretty sure In Rainbows was one of the best albums of 2008, but I don't care. It's some of their best work. Feeling nostalgic, I got all of their albums in the beginning of '09 and really clicked with Amnesiac. Great instrumentals, good lyrics that still make me stop and think. One of the best bands ever! Kept me awake for

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-75903056887963445752009-12-24T18:08:00.004+09:002009-12-24T19:36:35.507+09:00

December 24, 2009Santa ClausThe North PoleDear Santa Claus,How is everything going? I'm sure you, Mrs. Claus, the reindeers and the elves are busy getting everything ready for this year's festivities. If you're ever short on labor or need to cut costs, you know that you can outsource to India or Bangalore.. Just a thought. Also, if my private teaching doesn't work out in Seoul, I might also

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-70827245156281459452009-12-24T17:47:00.005+09:002009-12-24T18:04:22.611+09:00

I had a great 9 day reunion with Evan in Seoul. We had a nice mix of social time, alone time, fun time and serious time. We saw Miso, a traditional Korean musical with all sorts of musical and dance elements that he had never seen. Two days later, we saw an all-female drum team called Drum Cat, that combines a lot of modern musical elements with a touch of traditional resonance.We had a lot of

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-60795928655003570032009-11-25T20:03:00.015+09:002009-11-25T23:19:50.086+09:00

I. On TransitionsMy whole life has been one change after another, each year bringing me to a new place with new people, where I form a different sense of Self. This kind of life is Ideal because I like to learn and move on, never becoming too settled. This makes all good-byes bittersweet ones. Part of it is that I have never found something or someone powerful enough, exciting enough to tame my

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-69820026783614804482009-11-19T12:20:00.012+09:002009-11-19T23:59:08.606+09:00

The Cove is a documentary film potraying the annual killing of 2,500 dolphins in a cove in Taiji, Japan. Upon release, the Japanese people were shocked and horrifed that these practices were going on. Citizens demanded a stop to the killings and the illegal distribution of dolphin meat, which contains a near-lethal amount of mercury, to unknowing consumers. The film was made possible by people

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-50279290799124651672009-11-17T18:46:00.009+09:002009-11-18T23:25:38.647+09:00

Revised Bucket List 1. Backpack through New Zealand 2. Volunteer in Kenya for 3 months; see the Serengeti in Tanzania3. See Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos while trying to avoid the Banana Pancake tourists4. Go to Turkey for a month5. Go to Australia and drink with my crazy friends from Eurotrip 20086. Go to Egypt and NOT take a picture of my finger on top of the Pyramid at Giza7. Visit Luis in

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-54628504738856373402009-11-11T23:24:00.007+09:002009-11-11T23:46:16.809+09:00

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. - EpictetusI visualized my Ideal Self and began taking appropriate action about 3 weeks ago. I also quit smoking (again) on October 26th. Let's see how long I can keep it up.The Ideal Self1. Working with privates around Seoul2. Cultivating valuable relationships with students3. Drinking in moderation (4 drinks/week and no

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-58747282736803694492009-11-05T22:58:00.007+09:002009-11-06T00:31:41.399+09:00

An accurate, brief and concise explanation of where my life is and my thoughts on a number of issues related to it..I. Work in Korea. It's been great but sometime in mid-2010, I know I will be ready to leave. The school and academy systems here are such a complete joke and I'd bet my left shoe that 98% of children aren't learning a damned thing. Related to that are my serious issues with Korean

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-73491591869345545672009-10-12T18:52:00.010+09:002009-10-13T14:34:54.605+09:00

Present Perfect - in English, the part of speech indicating an action previously completed but of some relevance to the present. Formed by using the present form of have (have or has) with a past participle.I have loved.I have surfed in the Indian Ocean.I have skydived in the Tyrol mountain of Austria.I have laughed until I thought my stomach would burst.I have seen the Eiffel Tower light up at

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-70449489865608176712009-10-11T16:34:00.014+09:002009-10-13T01:52:50.995+09:00

On Beijingers An amazing city in most regards. Creepy at times with the nationalist songs blaring on the megaphones, all the undercover policemen hanging around, and the censorship of sites like youtube and facebook, but full of hard-working, dynamic citizens. Abrasive in business but friendly otherwise, the Chinese are some of the most interesting people I've met.. Beijing is like any other

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-7366233349897285212009-09-22T22:48:00.010+09:002009-09-23T19:06:24.311+09:00

This time last year, I wrote with hopeful anticipation for my future as well as a big sense of accomplishment for the time that had passed. This year is no different. Turning 25 is still freaking me out a bit, but I also realize that I've been truly blessed in my life and there is still so much to look forward to.With each year, life gets better and better. Sure, it also gets more complicated in

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-66509980749383042112009-09-20T21:53:00.015+09:002009-09-21T18:50:26.335+09:00

I saw Bert Stern's "Marilyn Monroe: The Last Sitting" photo exhibit at the Chosun Ilbo Gallery in Seoul yesterday. Taken just 6 weeks before her "suicide"/overdose in 1962 for Vogue magazine, the photographs offer a stark, honest contrast to the Marilyn that most of the world knew. Though she is still vibrant, beautiful and flirtatious in most of the pictures, some of the photos cannot hide the

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-77513073525186981222009-09-16T16:04:00.003+09:002009-09-16T16:09:46.412+09:00

After 3 months of NOT running, I finally ran that elusive 5K last night and just in time before my birthday!!! I've done it many times before but usually with a 1 -3 minute fast walk in between. This time, I went straight through. Now I want to work on my speed. I think that adding more distance could potentially get boring, so instead I'll work on stamina. At a later time, I'll train for

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-91872845726768842762009-09-14T18:34:00.004+09:002009-09-14T18:43:31.621+09:00

I received free tickets to the Fernando Botero exhibit about a month and a half ago from a student's mother. I took Ji Sun with me and it was quite interesting. Botero is Columbian and uses a unique style whereby he exaggerates the volume of all the subjects. His paintings were diverse, ranging from food still lifes to lively bull fights, circus scenes and portraits. But every subject had that

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-86571641242656934372009-09-10T12:39:00.004+09:002009-09-10T12:49:09.096+09:00

Eros, Greek god of love and sexual desire Love is grabbing hold of the Great Lion's maneAnd wrestling and rolling deepinto ExistenceWhile the Beloved gets roughAnd begins to maul you alive.True Love, my dear,Is putting an ironclad grip uponThe sore, swollen balls of aDivine Rogue ElephantAnd Not having the good fortuneto Die!--HafizWe're one, but we're not the same,You see, we hurt each other,

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-24583342719053020222009-09-09T23:55:00.014+09:002009-09-10T17:45:34.405+09:00

Taken from U2's MagnifientMagnificentMagnificentI was bornI was born to be with youIn this space and timeAfter that and ever after I haven't had a clueOnly to break rhymeThis foolishness can leave a heart black and blueOnly love, only love can leave such a markBut only love, only love can heal such a scarI was bornI was born to sing for youI didn't have a choice but to lift you upAnd sing

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-16324209744764634022009-09-08T17:39:00.003+09:002009-09-08T17:45:25.199+09:00

Chivalry is dead, and women killed it - Dave Chapelle

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-75251867466808972032009-08-31T18:34:00.004+09:002009-08-31T18:55:03.935+09:00

Awesome book! Part how-to, but more accurately, the story of one AFC's (Strauss') transformation into one of the world's greatest PUAs (Style). Every dude should read this book to better understand HB's and why they go for AMOGs and why AFC's finish last. The techniques can be used in other life contexts so even if you're not interesting in picking up the opposite sex, it's a good introduction to

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-58981212900806034612009-08-19T19:04:00.008+09:002009-08-19T20:06:59.850+09:00

So life post-Bali has been surprisingly easy to reacclimate to and I've had a ton of fun too...just a few of the things I've been doing..I. Lady Gaga Concert at Olympic Hall (8/9/09). She is an amazingly talented young woman. Piano, comedy, a great voice and the ability to tell a great story. What an incredible concert! I hope she makes more music and continues to make sick tunes and break

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-1832508934943181692009-08-02T23:16:00.007+09:002009-08-03T00:49:31.220+09:00

Bali was great. It afforded me some much-needed relaxation and reflection time away from the day-to-day of my life in Seoul. I came to some surprisingly realizations about myself. Through my travelling, I've always had this inner dialogue about what I see and think. I've become comfortable with my solitude, but the world is such an incredibly beautiful, diverse place and what a shame to

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-3516329792530000202009-07-29T18:32:00.004+09:002009-07-29T18:39:33.864+09:00

Is it possible for a place to be too beautiful? Yes. Lush, green vegetation and tropical flowers completing in overabundance, in constant competition to lure the disgusting, but still surprisingly beautiful insects. The stars are bright and twinkly and the crickets sing in a midnight chorus. There was a dead cicadae in the pool this morning and even it was beautiful. This place will quickly

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-80634078802384256482009-07-20T02:13:00.004+09:002009-07-20T02:18:31.439+09:00

A week after Bali, I am going to see Lady GaGa in concert. I recently saw her on The Ellen Show and I thought she was a total weirdo, but it was the first time I heard "Poker Face" -- what a catchy song, I thought. Then Cassie asked if I'd be interested in seeing her concert. I agreed to it. I bought her album last week and I am HOOKED to her music. Though poppy, it is quite enjoyable. She

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-71188319039909482032009-07-16T01:37:00.003+09:002009-07-16T01:40:39.497+09:00

Loving my new glasses! I actually only wear them a couple days a week. I am more in love with my dailies, they're super easy to use and I love being able to SEE!

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-78921265147214909062009-07-15T00:44:00.000+09:002009-07-15T14:10:43.559+09:00

I read Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. The author travels to Italy in pursuit of pleasure (food), India to find devotion and Indonesia to find balance between the two. It's a prerequisite to have two x chromosomes in order to read this book -- it's pretty much a chick book. Even after that, parts of it read like the memoir of an overly sensitive and quite pathetic woman. But most of it is

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-91300485844607460602009-07-14T12:46:00.005+09:002009-07-14T21:50:53.849+09:00

Decided to start another blog with a slightly different feel to it. "Underpants Yoga" will be a yoga & health-based blog. I'll still be keeping Martini Backpacker, of course... If you want to check out the new site, the URL is..http://www.underpantsyoga.blogspot.com/I only have one entry up for now, but I hope to be posting regularly very soon. Cheers!

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-39433377708974976052009-07-07T00:03:00.010+09:002009-07-07T02:20:40.329+09:00

The Art of Travel is a composite of eclectic, witty and incredibly enjoyable essays by Alain de Botton. This was the book that I had chosen to read in Bali, but I decided to pick it up a little early and I'm glad I did. Part philosophy, part travelogue and dare I say, part self-help, The Art of Travel is a must-read for travellers and anyone with an incurable wanderlust, present company included.

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-77890170428009545742009-07-01T16:06:00.007+09:002009-07-02T02:41:44.785+09:00

It's an interesting question that's been asked for some time. I've asked myself this question and am always interested to hear others' thoughts. The responses vary and I've heard a number of compelling answers for both sides. I've come up with my own answer with very specific reasons.Before I get to that, I'd like to point something out that hadn't occured to me until a few days ago, when my very

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-76325860321785324092009-07-01T11:22:00.006+09:002009-07-01T11:44:25.093+09:00

Just finished an incredible book, City of Thieves by David Benioff. It's about two adolescent boys in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), Russia during the Nazi siege of World War II. Instead of bring executed for petty crimes, the two young men are sent on a near-impossible mission to procure a dozen eggs for a powerful colonel's daughter's wedding cake. Combining the honest brutalities of war

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-23888343399202086752009-06-27T13:09:00.006+09:002009-06-27T13:55:07.838+09:00

I went to a FREE Korean Cultural Dance & Music Festival at Seoul Plaza last Thursday and saw some amazing performers! They are doing free outdoor performances for the month of June, so I'm really excited about that. Korea is really trying to come into the international spotlight as a mecca for creative and expressive talent. The dancers in the pictures performed at the Beijing Olympics last year,

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-18858129460578316912009-06-24T23:25:00.008+09:002009-06-27T13:40:29.161+09:00

My Aunt Mimi just sent a little yellow package with a beautiful, handwritten 5-page letter and a cute, whimsical wall collage. Her words of classic, timeless wisdom were just what I needed today...it's funny how God looks out for you when you need it most and reminds you of the people that make life truly amazing... a small gift was given to me today and now I want to show you, my reader, whoever

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-10458198827135462162009-06-17T15:53:00.004+09:002009-06-27T13:41:13.359+09:00

I'll be going to Beijing September 30th - October 5th to celebrate my birthday. Mark and Cassie are going at the same time, so I imagine we'll meet up for dinner or a little sightseeing, but this is going to be a solo trip to help me reflect on what I want in life.Beijing sounds amazing and I've always wanted to go to China. I've talked with Lucas and he recommended a good youth hostel (I'll be

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-35846343990108916362009-06-15T13:36:00.007+09:002009-06-27T13:42:08.847+09:00

Though it saddens me whenever a chapter ends, especially one that was wonderful, full of happiness and personal growth, the prospect of a new start, a fresh page is exhilerating.I know that I have the strength of mind, body and soul to reexamine my life goals, my dreams and the responsibilities that accompany them. Careful planning, logical assessment and reassessment and putting my needs first

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-16126447831312003182009-06-08T13:46:00.005+09:002009-06-27T13:43:04.567+09:00

I had a great weekend. Relaxing, fun and rather productive on some level. Jimjilbang with Cass (Bo and Dude couldn't make it), sunbathing and swimming, hookah at Brixx, dinner at Loco Loca, pool at Scrooge's, antiquing, mini-golf, arcade games and a movie...whew... Anyway, incessant nagging from my wife, Yasmine and validation from Dude convinced me that I should streamline my electronics

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-85720395729836715532009-06-03T15:50:00.007+09:002009-06-27T13:44:39.393+09:00

I.Work. Same old, same old. Except now I am not bothering to care about work politics or drama. I'm focusing on the children, because they're the innocent ones and if I can make them happy, I'll be happy. I will not be resigning with my current school. Not that it isn't good, I just believe now that I'll want to leave Korea come November 30th.II. Hair. I need a haircut. My split-ends are

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-63551148756653608822009-05-13T00:52:00.003+09:002009-06-27T13:45:27.162+09:00

Wow! It's been almost a month since I wrote. I would say that my life hasn't been all that interesting and therefore not worth writing about, but that would be the farthest thing from the truth.I. Work. Let's just get this one out of the way since it's the one I care the least about. Work is fine. At the end of this month, I'll be halfway done with my contract. Don't think I'll be teaching

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-46820337374717665612009-04-20T14:24:00.003+09:002009-06-27T13:45:47.749+09:00

Today marks 4 months that I've quit smoking. Sure, I still get cravings, but they are so far and few between. Plus, with this much time under my belt, a momentary indulgence wouldn't be worth the guilt I would feel nor the obvious physical side effects. One day at a time, I suppose.

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-32101555706122087492009-04-09T12:07:00.005+09:002009-06-27T13:46:35.275+09:00

..sure does. Woke up with a bit of a hangover from 3 (or was it 4?) Black Russians and some sangria sampling last night at Noxa. Couldn't keep down water this morning. So, I had some Coke. Sipped that dark caramel goodness and took a 10 minutes power nap at work and now I am ready to go! I don't what they put in this stuff, but whatever it is, it works!. Hangover, headache, stomache, depression,

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-7045117007378854632009-04-05T01:40:00.005+09:002009-06-29T15:43:25.360+09:00

UpdatesI. Bookworm's Book ClubI had my first book club meeting last Sunday. It meets once a month and our first book was The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Amazing! Everyone in the club had something insightful to say and we chose our books for April as well. Lord of the Flies by William Golding and Animal Farm by George Orwell. It should be interesting to go back and actually READ those books.

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-36301242767695024292009-03-24T02:18:00.004+09:002009-04-07T00:05:42.399+09:00

I have some stuff to catch up on:First, I dyed my hair back to it's natural colour, or pretty close to it. I look much better as a brunette. It was fun being a semi-blonde while it lasted, but I'm ready to get back to my roots (pun intended). My hair has undergone a good deal of damage. Bleach will do that. I invested in some Bed Head Self-Absorbed Shampoo and Conditioner and The Body's Shop's

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-27479200413483233052009-03-14T12:24:00.002+09:002009-03-14T13:01:15.970+09:00

Last night, after a 12-hour day at work, I headed over to the Dragon Spa with Cassie. It's not the kind of spa most Westerners would think of, although there were places to get massages, facials and mud treatments, no, this particular brand of "spa" is very popular in Korea and is more in line with the traditional Turkish spas, as in communal bathing. Here's a little break-down of how my visit

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-29793529631705296762009-03-03T15:09:00.003+09:002009-03-03T15:16:13.524+09:00

My amazing Mom and Dad just sent me 10 boxes of Trader Joe's tea! That's 200 tea bags! None of that Lipton crap either, we're talking pearl jasmine, chamomile, pomegranate white tea antioxidant, and jasmine green tea. Since I'm trying to cut back on coffee (twice a week or less), I've been drinking a lot of tea. It has enough caffeine to keep me going but it tends to relax and sooth me

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-28720096874098969612009-02-26T12:07:00.009+09:002009-02-26T12:41:10.969+09:00

I've been running now for 10 weeks! I can't believe I've been consistent with it for this long! By the third week of March, I'll be doing 5 K (3.2 miles) without stopping. For my runs (which take place on Tuesday, Thursday and then my choice of either Saturday or Sunday), I increase either the distance or the amount of time, from the previous week's running. I am following the Couch to 5K Running

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-25917576091421883642009-02-24T20:22:00.004+09:002009-02-26T12:05:02.582+09:00

I've read two books on North Korea in the past 2 weeks. The first one took me the entire two weeks and the second one, I read in two sittings.The first one, Kang Chol-Hwan's The Aquariums of Pyongyang, is an amazing survival story of a young Korean boy in a North Korean 'gulag', or prisoner labor camp. You will be shocked to know what is going on in North Korea. I had to pace my way through this

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-91927232542319602482009-02-17T01:01:00.003+09:002009-02-17T01:10:21.212+09:00

I joined a book club a couple weeks ago and the first book I read for it was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Wow! A quick summary that won't give anything away: Jacob Jankowski stands up in the middle of his final veterinary exam at Cornell, runs away and joins a circus. The events that unfold in the next 3 months change his life forever. The people he befriends, the woman he falls in love

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-81133085217978151642009-02-06T14:20:00.003+09:002009-02-06T14:31:34.546+09:00

Just finished Starbucked: A Double Tall Tale of Caffeine, Commerce, and Culture by Taylor Clark. It took a while to read, because I've been too busy with work and working out that I sort of put my reading on hold. But hopefully, as I skim on sleep in favor of more productive activities, I'll be reading with my usual tenacity in a couple weeks time. This is a pretty good book that explores the

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-64265996265283294162009-02-01T22:56:00.006+09:002009-02-01T23:22:21.482+09:00

I just had the most amazing weekend ever! There were moments of tension and awkward uncertainty, there were moments of pure bliss, laughter, deep emotional connection, outright goofiness and everything in between. Without giving away too many details, I got to catch up on some necessary shopping, but really, isn't all shopping necessary? I met some amazing new people. I also ran into some

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-28163391723996345772009-01-31T02:29:00.003+09:002009-01-31T02:51:35.648+09:00

I'm on week 7 of my running program. I actually..KIND OF like it now. I'm learning to find the "zone" and it usually helps me get over the pain and the boredom. My left hip flexor has been bothering me a bit, but I think it's due to my kicks, which I've been wearing for like 3 years. Need to buy new ones with more absorption.Also, I test for my yellow belt in Taekwondo tomorrow. I had the studio

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-43124893303775267482009-01-27T13:15:00.005+09:002009-01-28T23:36:40.671+09:00

Since work has started up again, reading has been a little slower. That is due in some part to my own psuedo-laziness but also because the novels of late haven't really sparked me like ones in the past.I started What is the What by Dave Eggers a few weeks ago. It's been slow. Not to say that this man's story isn't compelling, I just think the author's style can be slow at times. I finished Book I

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-23185936770706015482009-01-18T22:21:00.004+09:002009-01-18T22:36:57.791+09:00

Due to that unpleasant experience with the owner of the cell phone shop, I decided to finally get myself a cell phone plan with SK telecom. The owner of the cell phone shop was a piece of shit businessman. When I told the story to another friend, she told me that she had a similar experience with the chap as well. He overcharges and sells shoddy equipment to foreigners who don't know any other

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-28392800415099667362009-01-15T21:24:00.004+09:002009-01-15T21:38:17.095+09:00

I'm on week 5 on my running program!! I can't believe I've made it this far! I actually really hate running when I think about it, but when I just do it, it's not that terrible. Well actually, it is quite terrible. But when I'm done, I feel like I can do anything in the world! It's great for my mental focus and my will power. I hope I can keep up the momentum with it. Also, I test for my

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-40168196251416850532009-01-08T22:17:00.006+09:002009-01-08T22:32:27.655+09:00

I had a disagreement with a Korean shop owner whose store I have been giving business to for over a year. My phone charger, after a year and a half broke last month, so I bought a replacement. Well THAT charger broke within 3 weeks. When I returned it he encouraged me to buy a new phone because he said my current phone was probably getting too old. So anyway, long story short: Bought the phone,

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-70377801899217045172009-01-08T22:00:00.004+09:002009-01-08T22:17:06.904+09:00

I read Microtrends by Mark Penn and After Dark by Maruki Hurakami this week. Not the best 7 days of reading, but not that bad either. Microtrends is written by a pollster -- the man who helped identify and even coin the term "soccer mom" as an important element in the Clinton election, writes a book that briefly decribes 75 "microtrends". Microtrends are small segments of the population that go

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-5951632294883708822009-01-03T20:07:00.002+09:002009-01-03T20:16:26.985+09:00

Lama Surya Das and Steven Halpern - Chants to Awaken the Buddhist Heart (Great during yoga or just to feel more connected to your own awareness to and to those around you)Iggy Pop - A Million in Prizes (Iggy Pop Anthology) - The father of punk rock at his best. Great for pre-funking, funking, or post-funking..not so great for hangovers though)Coldplay - Viva la Vida (The album that got me into

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-64399979808781494062009-01-03T19:28:00.006+09:002009-01-03T19:56:42.647+09:00

I'm not a big believer in setting New Years Resolutions. Why wait until January 1st to vow to change and improve your life? I tend to make easy resolutions that I know I should be able to keep. But in keeping with the spirit of American and now South Korean tradition, I'll go ahead and make some resolutions. Mind you, I've been doing these things since I got back to Korea, so I think these

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-80013347481883529302009-01-03T00:14:00.005+09:002009-01-03T00:54:26.252+09:00

During my winter break I've kept myself pretty busy with reading. I find that the more I do it, the more I enjoy it. I've really come to prefer the company of a good book over the mediocre company of most people. So I've finished three books this past week and a half. They were all really good.The first was Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Algernon is a white lab mouse who has undergone an

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-69540208266984805882008-12-27T01:11:00.004+09:002008-12-27T01:30:08.064+09:00

I read my first non-fiction book probably since college and I wasn't disappointed. Of any topic out there, I find economics (and sports) to be so incredibly boring. But Charles Wheelan, the Midwest correspondent for The Economist makes economics interesting, understandable and even funny.He uses examples that are easy to follow by giving a basic overview of economic concepts and how they relate

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-14442293719835868272008-12-23T00:02:00.013+09:002008-12-23T00:35:41.146+09:00

Just finished reading Chuck Palahniuk's Snuff. It's a very quick read indeed. It's not Palahniuk's best work, but still funny and insightful. The names of the films and the short synopses are enough to get you through the novel. If you have any fascination with the porn industry or social attitudes towards sex, it's a must-read.. Or if you're in a dark-humour kind of mood, go for it! There are

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-69199347716780259192008-12-22T04:04:00.006+09:002008-12-22T04:27:47.626+09:00

This Saturday I saw Yes Man with my friend Ui-jin at Cinecity Theatre in Apgujeong. Before the movie, we had dinner at the Homestead and afterwards we spent about an hour at a bookstore, where I bought 4 more books!Anyway, back to Yes Man; other than the formulaic cutesy romantic moments, it was such a funny and eye-opening movie. Sure, Jim's character gets into some trouble later in the movie,

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-25630371047926608152008-12-16T00:47:00.006+09:002008-12-20T15:47:39.477+09:00

I just finished Wicked by Gregory Maguire. It's the story of Oz told from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West. The book was recommended to me by a random that I met in the streets of Seoul and later accompanied to Kyobo bookstore. Elphaba, the Witch, is born green and is the source of her family's shame and guilt. The book chronicles her early life in a religious, albeit unorthodox

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-81100035332982190752008-12-12T01:53:00.006+09:002008-12-12T22:14:07.634+09:00

Just moved into my place at Sogang Univ. It's a bit on the small side, but all the furniture was provided and utilities, including internet, are paid for. All in all, I am quite happy with it. Since I am living at Sogang Univ. I am located right in the Sinchon neighborhood of Seoul. It's a place full of bars, clubs, shopping, music venues and much much more that attracts young students, both

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-66367462714811643452008-12-09T22:16:00.010+09:002008-12-09T22:27:52.393+09:00

It seems I've moved about three times in the past 2 years. I've become quite efficient in time/space management. Still though. Doesn't make it any less of a pain.Spent the day getting my things moved from Hee Youn's apt. to my "dorm" style apt. at Sogang University. Just one more big trip with the big black Swiss Army suitcase and I'll be all settled in. Bought bed sheets and towels today at

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-33463180594391012712008-12-02T01:02:00.005+09:002008-12-02T01:30:59.526+09:00

Just a quick update blog, gonna throw in a few topics at once..First of all, last weekend I caught a Jens Lekman concert by chance. I didn't think it would be my kinda music. The venue was way too crowded and the audience was too loud for me to appreciate it, but later, when I checked him out online, I was impressed. His lyrics are one of a kind, for sure and the instrumentals are kind of

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-35982668518742341882008-11-27T14:35:00.003+09:002008-11-27T15:04:14.683+09:00

I am so incredibly grateful for everything that I have. Family, friends, good health, basic human comforts and so much more. I live a VERY VERY good life compared to so many in this world. If you're reading this, you probably do to. Regardless of how crappy life can be sometimes, it truly is a miracle to be alive. Life is amazing and when you open your heart, the world has so much to give back.

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-47699341569334232552008-11-22T18:34:00.006+09:002008-11-22T19:15:36.695+09:00

I finally shed some electrons and I'm feeling a lot better than I was earlier this week. My interview with the Sogang Univerisy Language Program went well. The director at the school has a very Western approach when it comes to management. I got a very very positive vibe from him. He seems honest, humble and willing to compromise -- something that I feel is completely lacking in most Korean

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-88363225777409023792008-11-20T10:42:00.004+09:002008-11-20T10:49:05.236+09:00

I have an interview next week with a premiere English language school for adults. The only reason I am considering signing another contract is that this school is located in many countries throughout the world and I could use this experience to find work in Europe eventually.Anyway, why the title? Turns out the recruiter for said company is a former classmate of mine from UW. We took Korean

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-16351862562662682932008-11-15T00:58:00.005+09:002008-11-15T01:08:57.372+09:00

I finally managed to get some quiet time and finish this book on my private beach in Pag Island, Croatia. All in all, a very good read with a decent level of historical accuracy. I really enjoy Gregorys writing style, sensual without being cheesy, detailed without being boring and thrilling without being overly dramatic.This book offered me a different point of view on Queen Katherine of Aragon.

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-57417863993589197482008-11-13T00:19:00.003+09:002008-11-13T00:55:00.106+09:00

The past week has been a little depressing. After returning from Europe, I started to miss the cities, the food and the people that I'd been travelling with for the last month. I miss those crazy Aussies! :( In addition to my Euro-withdrawl, I am also coming to terms with the fact that I have to leave everyone again. My mom and dad, my friends, my ex that I still have unshakable feelings for--

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-60830718795334671022008-11-12T15:29:00.004+09:002008-11-12T15:34:59.956+09:00

I tried African food today for the first time. Fried plantains (similar to bananas) and black eyed peas with chicken and rice. Three words. De-li-cious. I highly recommend trying it. The restaurant I went to was called Nelshil's Cafe in Tacoma on 56th and Orchard. Great owners, menu and prices. It was nice to try something new in my sometimes mundane little hometown. I guess excitement

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-29633880395112881472008-11-06T20:37:00.002+09:002008-11-06T20:45:43.628+09:00

Europe was amazing! After 4 weeks of castles, cathedrals, museums, foreign food, drink, gorgeous men, living out of a backpack and switching hostels every 1-2 nights, I am glad to finally be home. Whew! I won’t write extensively about each day I was in Europe, but rather, I will give a short overview of what I did and my personal impression of the places I saw. Paris, France. The most

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-782618278636470122008-10-26T06:04:00.003+09:002008-10-27T18:31:14.592+09:00

Just a few things to pass onto fellow travellers and friends who may be travelling in the near future.Before you go..1. Tickets and Visas. Book airline tickets as far in advance as possible. If you are super flexible, you may want to try standby tickets - you´re not 100% guarenteed and it can save you some change. Also, get appropriate visas for the countries you´re travelling to. if

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-27355395488247516872008-10-20T04:33:00.005+09:002008-10-21T21:43:44.874+09:00

Today I walked the eternal city of Rome and was both mesmerized and humbled by everything that I saw. I tried to imagine what it might have looked like back then. The ruins of Rome reminded me of my own mortality. The great temples, palaces and shrines built over 20 centuries ago lay only as vestigial reminders of a grand, yet equally mysterious, past. Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit the

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-23246698048042887462008-10-15T19:43:00.004+09:002008-10-20T04:48:21.018+09:00

i am in nice, france at the moment waiting for my laundry to finish. the weather here is amazing. tomorrow i make my way to florence, italy. europe has been amazing. tonight i will go to the monte carlo casino in monaco where the rich and the famous spend upwards of 100,000 euros on a single bet.ive met amazing people on my tour. i will write more about them later when i am on my own laptop. i am

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-17205129360200061352008-10-05T04:30:00.004+09:002008-10-05T05:16:49.108+09:00

I submitted my absentee ballot yesterday and it was interesting to fill it out. What really did it for me what the "Secrecy Envelope" -- this creepy yellow envelope that you put your ballot slip into. You then proceed to put that into the real envelope. After the debates, I realized that I am less afraid of an Obama/Biden ticket than a McCain/Palin ticket and since Ron Paul wasn't on the ballot,

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-82172141587595257492008-09-30T03:50:00.003+09:002008-09-30T04:06:49.610+09:00

Coming home was a mix of emotions and experiences. The first week was rough actually. I felt so different being back home, away from the life I had made and abruptly left in Korea. My second week was a challenge all in itself, as I had reunited with someone whom I care deeply for but cannot be with at this time. Also, my folks drove me up the wall, but we're doing alright now. I was also

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-17724764580493643452008-09-08T20:52:00.006+09:002008-09-30T04:11:09.208+09:00

Samuel Clemens once said that "History does not repeat, but it does rhyme". I tend to agree with Mr. Clemens on this particular question.As I packed for Korea over a year ago and as I put my things in my suitcase to return home, I listen to the Garden State Soundtrack. Today it brings back those same bittersweet feelings, but has a new message at this stage in my life. That message being that we

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-24510833453227628302008-09-04T02:17:00.004+09:002008-09-04T02:33:11.030+09:00

It's occurs to me that when asked about personal music preference, people seem to spout the damn thing: "Oh, I like EVERYTHING...except country". I think that the (liberal) media has given country music and the South a horrible rep. Country music isn't just about hicks, losing your woman or man, losing your dog, drinking your sorrows away or picking yourself back up from your (cowboy) boot

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-9934095096187454232008-09-02T04:12:00.004+09:002008-09-02T04:30:08.153+09:00

"Eleven Minutes" by Paulo Coelho is the best book I've read in a long time. Basically, it's about a young girl with big dreams of fame and fortune who ends up becoming a prostitute, albeit a unique and very likeable one, in Geneva, Switzerland. Not for the faint of heart, this book is a rich narrative that will take you along for an amazingly decadent and powerful ride through sex, love,

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-33344422935195540752008-09-01T00:39:00.008+09:002008-09-01T01:26:43.802+09:00

I've compiled a short list of things I've missed and am looking forward to upon my return to the States..At the Korean convenience stores, they have plenty of great juices, teas, coffees and other assorted beverages, but there's still something missing..These drinks are awesome! Different flavours depending on my mood and physical state. I'm probably going to drink about a 50 of these little guys

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194903915226035259.post-74973653232587597452008-08-26T21:10:00.008+09:002008-08-26T23:24:13.054+09:00

"Anything worth having doesn't come easy"It's been a rough week. An emotional rollercoaster actually. My last week at work, I think I was in denial about how much CDI has meant to me -- the teaching aspect as well as my students. The last few days it sort of caught up to me in the form of letters and gifts from some students.I think all the emotions (excitement, depression, nervousness) led to

Namihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02145281976851886132noreply@blogger.com2