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...

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...