Vulnerability is one of those keys to life we never quite graduate from learning. Who can say that they are always comfortable with vulnerability? (Show me that person, and I’ll call them a liar. Though maybe not to their face..) Isn’t it strange how when we need help the most, it’s the hardest to ask […]
I love love, and I hate hate. Love is beautiful, and hate is ugly. It’s so simple, right? But love––real love––actually requires a lot of strength and maturity and fortitude. Loving someone doesn’t always mean doing what your heart naturally wants to do. It means listening, seeking to understand, holding back, and even (gasp) sacrificing. […]
I’ve always been a people-pleaser. Growing up, when someone asked me a question, I never took it at face value. I never thought about what I wanted, but only about what they wanted to hear. There were moments when I was so afraid of disappointing or offending someone that I became completely paralyzed, unable to […]
I am a strong introvert, but I hate living by myself. After living alone my first 10 months in Korea, I couldn’t wait to move in with a roommate. But living with someone else is hard, too. Because: 1. We all have intimacy issues and 2. We are all inherently selfish and like doing things our […]
Sometimes when I’m describing my friendships with girls, I feel like I’m talking about a dating relationship. “She said we have a special connection, but I’m not sure.” “I really enjoy spending time with her, but she seems too busy to really commit to our relationship.” “Things are moving way too fast, but I don’t […]
One of the challenging parts about learning Korean is learning the levels of formality. I’m not used to thinking of people in hierarchy. Yesterday my Korean friend asked me, “Why do you keep using 존댓말 (formal speech) with me?” I was like, “I can’t help it! I always forget! Why? Did I use it just now?” […]