Expat Life in South Korea: Living as an Outsider

Today a white woman got on the bus, and I was struck by her confidence. As is typical on a bus in South Korea, she was the only fully white person on board, but she just calmly smacked her gum and found a seat. My first thought was, “This is the allure of a woman in […]

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The Feeling of Springtime and Home

Yesterday was the first day of Spring, and today I really felt it. What perfect weather! I recently dropped a bunch of money on a bike––a decent one, according to my friends who know about these things––and I figured I should take it out for its first spin today. I should get over my paranoia about breaking […]

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Back in the Land of Kimchi

It struck me upon this particular return to Korea that I’ve grown surprisingly comfortable here. I’ve gotten used to the decreased eye contact and increased physical contact. To the abrupt but convenient public transportation and the way everyone buries their faces in their smart phones. To getting a free pass on explaining myself in certain situations because […]

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