SeoulNicole 서울니콜

Perhaps the most famous street in Korea, Sejong-ro with Gyeongbokgyung Palace in the background.  Wow - the only photo of my time in Korea where I'm not throwing up the V sign. Some habits I've internalized after living in Korea: I like to sit on the floor (nothing beats sitting on the floor with a blanket and 온돌/ondol floor heating in the winter in Korea ooooooh it's so good I've even fallen asleep). The chopstick habit. Soup? Noodles? Meat? Birthday cake? Chopsticks. I cover my face when I laugh. I bow to everyone (hostesses, cashiers, extended family, ATMs...nothing is safe). Conversing via Kakao emojis (who needs words?). How long before these habits erode away in a different cultural environment? It makes me sad to think the day will come where I don't bow to the ATM.* >.< My observations about American life feel refreshed since I've been living outside this culture for so long. Here are a few things I've noticed since being back

Pro Tip: Facemask-o'clock and Beer-o'clock should always coincide. The "I'm Sorry for my Skin" brand can be found at Love Health + Beauty (LOHB). Maybe it's a sign that I'm getting old but Facemask Happy Hour + Kdrama is becoming a favorite routine. Alcohol dehydrating you, facemask reviving you, alcohol making idiotic plots in Kdramas more bearable - it's really a great combination. I just finished  Another Oh Hae Young  which I actually enjoyed overall, but the female protagonist would whine and throw tantrums even beyond the acceptable Kdrama quota (which is already really high).  OKAY ANYWAY! Some of the skincare I stockpiled and mailed to America before I left Korea. Not pictured: my empty wallet  Living in Korea exposed me to amazing skincare and cosmetic products as well as the advantages of having a skin care routine. My favorite store is OliveYoung  which I described in a previous post as " sort-of what you would get if you

Okay everyone: 2 days until the first Olympic events begin in PyeongChang and 3 days until the opening ceremonies (at 6 am Friday morning EST: information to stream the opening ceremonies ). Personally I am SO EXCITED, but I may be in the minority here. Rumblings about  the lack of enthusiasm around the Olympics  have surrounded the event in recent years. In my case, it's fair to say that if the Olympics were being hosted elsewhere, my interest would decline. ( Check out my previous post to read about my trip to PyeongChang). Well, I can't write anything about Korea without referencing Kpop it seems. Nike and Kpop have combined in the video below to get us all hyped for the Olympics, because Kpop + corporate sponsorship + singers + athletes + timely release before the Olympics is a successful formula. Nike is capitalizing on the Olympic buzz with "Run It" by Jay Park featuring Woo Won Jae, Jessi and Korean athletes in this new song/campaign. (Personal

A story of picturesque views, gondola rides and spider bites Fantastic views in the Fall from the top of the mountain at Phoenix Snow Park, PyeongChang, 2013. Olympic prep and advertising was ongoing, even in 2013.  Woot woot! The Olympics will soon begin in PyeongChang, South Korea bringing the global media spotlight to Korea for a month. I made a trip to PyeongChang in September 2013, when preparations for the Olympics were already underway. My impression of PyeongChang from my brief trip there is likely a typical refrain as a foreigner venturing outside the big cities in Korea: Delicious food, friendly and helpful people in the town, beautiful clean air, gorgeous natural scenery, traditional buildings and.... MASSIVE SPIDERS. MASSIVE. SPIDERS. Korean Spiders: Demons of the countryside The hype for the Olympics has brought memories from PyeongChang to the front of my mind, including an unfortunate encounter with a Korean spider. I'm from New Jersey so I