So, I got accepted into the Peace Corps and I’m… moving to Colombia!
For some reason, life has been hectic these past couple months–maybe because I’ve traveled through Taiwan for two weeks, ended my teaching job, moved to the countryside (with really heavy bags on multiple buses), started studying Korean full-time, mingled with my new classmates, participated in a three-day Templestay, wrote posts for this blog (sometimes), tried...
My ever-growing attraction to Asian men, and how the US prevented it from happening earlier
How can you NOT find these washboard abs irresistible? “Sarah you’re definitely going to have a Korean boyfriend when you move to Seoul,” my Korea-American friend would tease me back in 2009, as I was preparing for my semester abroad. “No way,” I would respond, laughing. “I’m not attracted to Asian guys.” How wrong was...
Travel Illusions: How important are famous landmarks on our travels?
You’re in New York. After waiting in a security line for a half an hour at Battery Park, you’re finally sitting on the ferry sans explosives. You had to fight for a hard metal seat on the top deck, beating a middle-aged woman wearing a floral visor, casting a shadow over her rosy cheeks.You just...
Dueji and ‘Diet’ stamps: the importance of weight in Korea vs. the United States
“What did you do last weekend?” I asked my class of 24 twelve year-old students. “I played with these two pigs!” shouted one of the skinny boys, referring to two of his friends. His friend turned around and slapped him playfully on the head. Later in the day, I was playing a Powerpoint game with...
Remembering life as an art student in Brooklyn, NY
“Okay everyone, repeat: When did you go to New York?” “When did you go to New York?” my class of 30 Korean students chimed, looking at the title of chapter 13. I then clicked on an animation where a blond character named Jenny skypes with her friend Jimin, and tells her about visiting the Statue...
Where to see art in Portland, ME
Photo: Swoon, a well-known contemporary street artist, adhered wheatpaste prints to the exterior of Space Gallery located on Congress St. My newest service article titled, Where to see art in Portland, ME, was published on Matador Trips today. The Portland art scene is rather small, but there’s some innovative, inspiring work to be seen in...
Documenting desolation in Lubec, Maine
West Quoddy Head in Lubec, Maine marks the most eastern point in the United States. (West Quoddy Head Lighthouse is shown above.) The warm summer months and famous Maine landmarks draw visitors to Lubec each year. In the fall of 2010, before I moved to Korea, my mom, grandmother and I took a trip Downeast....
A day trip Downeast
While visiting my family in Maine two weeks ago, my mom, two sisters and I managed to find a day to drive Downeast. Downeast Maine is one of the most scenic areas to travel in the state, scattered with small towns along the gorgeous coast. There are several art galleries selling contemporary Maine-inspired paintings, along with famous...
Ideas evoked by an unpublished memoir from WWII
When I was a middle school and high school student, I used to visit my great grandmother once a week. She was almost blind, suffering from macular degeneration, but her mind was intact. I would help her address Christmas cards and read her mail, as well as her favorite poems and stories, stashed in worn...
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