Tis the season to make strawberry jam! Strawberries are finally in season in Korea. In mid to late December, supermarkets are stocked with deliciously sweet strawberries. They’re juicy and so flavorful you could cry while eating one. And though they aren’t cheap by any means, they are worth every won. When I heard that homemade jam is commonly made in Korea, I thought why not give it a try. Did I mention it only requires two ingredients…
When I look at this dress, it’s composition stands out for me. Though the dress is mostly black and seemingly shapeless, the bottom has gorgeous cream layers. These layers elegantly flow as the wearer of the dress walks. In this the first blog post of the four-part Fashion x Devotional series, I invite you to look past the garment. Just like this dress, the uncultivated wilderness possesses captivating beauty. Keep reading to learn how I gained spiritual advice from my local forest and a Korean mermaid dress…
It’s official: I’ve been blogging for one year!! On this day, December 1st, 2019 I launched this blog with five posts to begin sharing my experiences as an English teacher living in Korea. Cheers to blog number 44. Wanna know what I am most grateful for? My global readers! They represent over 40 countries. You’ve been with me during this entire journey. Your comments, likes, shares, encouraging words and curiosity motivated and inspired me to share more meaningful content. Thank you so much…
Pink muhly have come to Pyeongchang-gun! This county, located in the Gangwon-do province, is best known for hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics. The fluffy, airy grass create a dreamy picturesque experience. This autumn visitors eagerly travel to lose themselves in the feathery, cloud-like flowering plants. Pink muhly grass have been showing off their striking pink or purple color since late September until November. Just before their color fades and they start drying up for winter, grab your friends, camera, and visit…
Let me be the first to warn you: you may be tempted to scrape off every bit of this classic Korean dish from your plate after eating it. Yes, it is that good. Dak Bokkeum Tang 닭볶음탕, Spicy Korean Chicken Stew is a timeless flavorful, hearty dish anyone can enjoy…
My very first winter camp was a hit. You can’t go wrong with a Disney Frozen theme for an elementary school English camp. Deciding on a topic or theme for a camp can be nerve-racking. Luckily Frozen 2 came out in November 2019, so students were still on the Frozen high. A Frozen themed winter camp in January of 2020 was perfect timing. As next year’s winter camp approaches, I want to reflect on my first time…
Nothing beats the journey of understanding yourself and the world around you. This fall, Cherry and I celebrate one year in Korea. Though she came to Korea from the Philippines as a missionary, who also teaches English and I came from New York as an English teacher, we share something in common: a beautiful journey of self, people, and cultural discovery…
This year has been a rollercoaster, to say the least. The coronavirus pandemic shifted the way teaching is done worldwide. In Korea, from late March to mid September, teachers in Korea juggled teaching online, partially-online, in-person with social distancing, and alternating between which grades will come to school. And due to various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic, many EPIK teachers have either transferred out of Korea’s smaller rural towns, into bigger cities, left the EPIK program, or left Korea altogether. The remaining teachers take on new and for some, even heavier workloads. Despite the new circumstances, there was always a bright side. And there still is…
I can’t believe I can see clearly without my glasses! I just couldn’t let 2020 end without striving to have 20/20 vision too. I’ve been wearing high prescription glasses since the first grade and contacts throughout college. I wouldn’t have ever imagined I’d become a teacher in a country where LASEK/LASIK is safe, affordable and common. If you’re considering laser vision correction surgery, you may want to consider coming to South Korea. It may be one of the best decisions you ever make…
As I reflect on my first year in Korea, I am reminded first and foremost that God gives us the strength we never knew we had. I learned so much about myself and life through all the highs and lows. This experience has been the biggest life adjustment I’ve ever made. In the process of adjusting, working as a teacher, and trying to make a normal life for myself in Korea, I learned these six important lessons…
I am so excited to share my favorite Korean side dish recipe: steamed eggplant, gaji-namul 가지나물! It’s super delicious and easy to make. It’s an everyday side dish that you can eat along with other side dishes, meats and rice. It has the perfect balance of flavor, soft texture and purple color. If I was hooked from the first day I tried it, you just might be too…
I couldn’t wait to finally talk about what it’s like to work in travel schools. Prior to coming to Korea, and teaching for EPIK, I hadn’t read any information online about teachers teaching at more than one school or the term, “travel school.” It wasn’t until I arrived in my rural town and started teaching that I learned some schools are really small and therefore only have one English class with an EPIK English teacher every week…
Within a few hours of landing in South Korea, you’ll notice many things that differ from your home country. There will be noticeable differences in daily life, dining culture, workplace and social habits and customs. What you won’t realize immediately is, the longer you live there, the sooner the “new” habits and customs will almost become second nature…
Moving from New York to South Korea to become an English teacher has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. As the one year mark approaches, I marvel at my milestones, accomplishments, and the lessons I’ve learned. Despite all this, it has also been the most challenging year too. It’s normal to face challenges when adjusting to a new culture and lifestyle…
If there’s one Korean dish that I love the most it’s definitely Ori Jumulleok. It’s rich flavor never ceases to send my taste buds on a euphoric rollercoaster. The word jumulleok 주물럭 means hand-rub. Essentially the maker uses their hands to rub the marination into the meat…
It’s okay to cry and it’s certainly okay to cry out to God. In Psalm 142, David, a powerful leader, a king, a father, a fighter and psalmist, a man described as one after God’s own heart, cries out to God: unashamed, sincere, and pure…
You can want something your whole life, but it’s not the right time, it just won’t happen. You could force it, but that’s another story. Notice that the greatest blessings and ideas come into fruition at the right time? Somehow it never comes earlier or later than it needs to; it’s always right on time…
Making kimbap (gimbap) 김밥 or seaweed rice rolls is truly an art. This popular Korean snack is one of my all time favorites…
I had my first outdoor self-taken photo shoot a few months ago. I thought I had it all figured out: take a few pictures of myself wearing different masks, stand here, pose there. When it was time to create the blog post, the main subject – the “fashion mask” – faded in the background amidst the iconic red bridge, mountainous landscape, rushing stream, and my town’s skyline. Two words came to mind: structures and landscapes…
Living in a foreign country, adjusting to a new lifestyle and culture has its ups and downs, not to mention being away from family and close friends. And now we’re living in the midst of two global pandemics: covid19 and racism. While one – covid19 – in recent months has globally disrupted everyday life and claimed the lives of people all over the world (may their soul’s rest in peace), the other – racism – though it has been a deep rooted issue for centuries, in recent months countries like the United States and the UK have experienced heinous acts targeting people of color (may their souls also rest in peace and may justice prevail). And that, my friends, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Experiencing any of these situations can start to take a toll on a person’s mental health…
A sedentary lifestyle, sitting for long periods of time without physical activity, is a sure way to put on weight and increase health problems. Add an unhealthy diet to the mix and the effects double…
Everyone around the world is being ask to protect themselves: social distance, quarantine, work from home, stand six feet apart, wear masks, gloves, eat and drink nutritiously. Though all these measures have and will help us to combat the coronavirus, in Psalms 91 King David points out something human effort cannot provide: a refuge and fortress…
This simple Korean side dish recipe is one of my favorites. The best part is there’s no cooking involved. This salad can be prepared in three steps: chop, season and mix…
When I think of Korean food, bibimbap 비빔밥 always comes to mind. This popular dish, a mixture of rice, vegetables, meat and red pepper paste, makes it the perfect, healthy, balanced meal everyone can enjoy…
Happy New – nope. Nine days into the exciting start of the new year I received my first message in a group chat about the coronavirus…
During times of uncertainty many people can become fearful. As the coronavirus creates global panic around the world, let us remind ourselves of the words and promises of God…
When we owe someone an apology and we rationalize it, we are justifying our questionable behavior and avoiding the truth…
I love Korean snacks! I might be addicted! Opening the individually wrapped, single serving snack is such a joy…
The fall and winter season is an exciting time until one morning you wake to water droplets on your windows…
I’ve been getting asked tons of questions from people about the EPIK program. I’ll answer the top five questions in this blog post…
When we use the word then, it’s usually sandwiched in between two phrases or sentences. Ex. _ then _. Typically whatever comes before then has to be “completed” first and then the following phrase or sentence proceeds. Does that mean God will only answer us after we’ve done something first…
Your next statement piece might be somewhere you least expect it to be. Mine happened to be at my schools’ bazaar…
If you’re like me, a bug of any size freaks you out. Then how are you living in Gangwon-do, South Korea you might ask? In this blog post I’ll share a few ways I’ve tried, and still try to get rid of bugs in my apartment…
It’s been four months since I flew all the way from New York to South Korea. Though there are so many things I’ve grown accustomed to do – speaking a few words in Korean to staff and students, choosing an activity that engages a particular class’s learning ability, it took time to get there. I am not perfect but I’ve definitely made lots of progress…
Who loves to eat? I know I do. Who doesn’t? Who loves to cook? I must admit I don’t always like cooking but when I do, I like for my food to look and taste good…
Am I the only one who travels to a country and looks for the “Made in ‘said country’,” tag on the clothing? That was important when I first moved to the rural town where I teach in Korea…
No one day is ever the same. Yet the sun always rises and sets everyday. We have a constant week day: Monday through Friday. Tuesday always follows Monday, and Friday, Thursday. In the same way, I’ve develop a pattern since living here in Korea. What is a typical week day like for me…