Sneaking in on Sarah in the Shower
“SARAH, I LOVE YOUR CURVES,” Dahae said as I stepped into our cramped dorm room from the bathroom. A couple minutes earlier, I’d been showering in our curtain-less shower, while Dahae was brushing her teeth. She’d knocked on the door, asking to come in; she was running late. “Um, thanks,” I stammered, biting my pinky...
Reflection on completing the MatadorU travel writing course
Writing has always been one of my passions, ever since I wrote my own version of a Sweet Valley Twins story when I was nine years old. I published my first travel narrative on Glimpse, back in 2007 when I returned from my first experience living and traveling solo in Cusco, Peru. However, when I...
Capture the Colour
TravelSupermarket is currently hosting a photography contest called, Capture the Colour, where participants are encouraged to explore visual storytelling through color. Jessica from Curiosity Travels nominated me. (Thanks, Jessica!) You must upload five photos that capture each color, white, red, yellow, green and blue, and tell a bit about each photo. There’s a chance to...
the strangest pick-up lines I’ve gotten around the globe
1. The Dorkiest: (setting: Hiking in Peru.) Me: OMG a kitten! I run to pet it. Peruvian tour guide: Do you like cats? Me: Yeah. Peruvian tour guide: I am a cat! 2. The Creepiest: (setting: Summer, daytime, sitting on a bench in Hongdae park in Seoul, South Korea.) Me: Reading my book, minding my own business, waiting...
Utilizing Social Media as a Travel Writer
For a MatadorU assignment, I was asked to examine my own social media presence. I’ve been devoting more time and effort to social media, but as much time as I spend on the internet, I’m by no means a social media ninja. Here are places on the web where I promote my own work and...
Couchsurfing with a Chinese Family
Last August I was in Beijing, trudging along a sidewalk lined with high-rise apartment buildings. Sweat dampened my t-shirt beneath my oversized backpack, filled with essentials to confront China’s diverse terrain and weather. I clutched a wrinkled piece of paper with directions to the family’s home and squinted at the rows of buildings. I was...
This is what happens when you let your students play with your hair.
Everyday, there’s one class where a couple girls love playing with my hair. “Ooh, Ms. Shaw has baby hair!” they say. (Yes, I know. My hair is ridiculously thin and I’ll probably be bald when I get old.) During the ten minute break before class starts, I let them braid my hair or put it...
Making Sukddok
It’s really special when I get invited to a Korean person’s home, because, as a foreigner, this doesn’t happen too often. I’ve found that many Koreans are hesitant to invite a foreigner into their intimate living space until they develop a close relationship. Back in May, I was invited to my ajumma friend’s house to make sukddok...
How to travel on a budget in Tokyo
My budget travel guide, How to travel on a budget in Tokyo, was published today on Matador Trips! If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo soon and you don’t want to break the bank, check out these tips. Also, feel free to share or leave a comment if you enjoy the article. ^^ -Text...
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