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May 21

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A Day at the Races

I’ve found the secret to making easy money for traveling.

Gambling. On horse racing, to be exact.

Okay, maybe I actually found a quick way to become a degenerate gambler (especially for someone with an addictive personality and insatiable desire to win things, like myself), but I did manage to win 120,000 won (about $100) this weekend during my first visit to Seoul Racecourse. All of which was quickly dumped into my travel savings tin when I got home and got me thinking about my next trip to the track. And why I hadn’t gone sooner. Read more

May 16

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A Weekend on Muuido

I’ve been attempting to get to Muuido, an island off Korea’s western coast near the city of Incheon, for what seems like ages. Rain foiled my plans on numerous occasions last summer, and this year I was not letting weather get in the way. So, last weekend, during the small pocket of time in Korea when the weather is warm but not rainy, my friends and I set out for a night on the beach. Read more

May 14

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How to Learn English (Or Any Other Langauge)

Learning a new language is quite possibly one of the hardest things a person can set out to do. As an English teacher, foreign language learner, and serial expat I know firsthand how difficult and frustrating the process can be, so when Kaplan reached out and asked me to share my tips for learning English as part of their blogger competition, I immediately said yes.

While there’s no surefire way to learn another language (if there was I’d be able to say a complete sentence in Korean by now), there are some things you can do to make the process a little bit easier. Read more

May 11

CC Image courtesty of andrewc75 on Flickr
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Flashback Friday: The Scariest Flight of My Life

I have the absolute worst luck ever when it comes to flying. Diversions, cancellations, delays…you name it and it’s happened to me. More than twice. It’s so bad that it’s become a joke between family and friends. Among all of the frustrations, though, there is one story that stands out among the rest as being the absolute worst travel experience of my life. One that when reflected upon, is also the scariest. Read more

May 10

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How to Get a (Good) Au Pair Job

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my time as an au pair in Rome.  Although my experience with my first family wasn’t great, I would still recommend working as an au pair to anyone looking to go abroad. If you are a native English speaker, getting a job as an au pair is fairly easy. Here are a five tips to help you land a great au pair job. Read more

May 8

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Gyeongbokgung: The Grandest Palace in Seoul

Yesterday I found myself with a day off, perfect weather, and nothing really to do. So, I decided it was an ideal time to check something off my Seoul bucket list by paying a visit to Gyeongbokgung, the biggest of Seoul’s five grand palaces. Gyeongbokgung, which literally means “Palace of Shining Happiness”, was the main palace during Korea’s Joseon Dynasty and was at the height of its glory during the reign of King Sejong during the fifteenth century. Though the majority of the palace had been destroyed by Japanese invasions over history, much has since been restored. Read more

May 3

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Buddha’s Birthday in Seoul

Celebrating holidays foreign to your native country is one of the most fascinating experiences of being abroad. Every spring Korea celebrates the birthday of Prince Siddartha Gautama, better known as Buddha. Last year, my first in a Buddhist country, I made sure to check out some of the celebrations around Seoul. Because the exact date of the holiday is determined by the lunar calendar, it is different every year. In 2012 Buddha’s Birthday will be celebrated on May 28 in South Korea. The beautiful lotus lanterns are already going up around the country and it’s not too early to start thinking about what to do for the entire weekend leading up to the holiday. Read more

May 1

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Seodaemun Prison History Museum

I visited Seodaemun Prison History Museum last fall on a dreary day, a fitting backdrop for this somber attraction. The prison, originally called Gyeongsong Gamok, was constructed in the early 1900s during Japanese colonial rule and was used to house political prisoners and those thought to be against the Japanese occupation of Korea. The most serious offenders were tortured and executed at Seodaemun as well. After Japanese colonial rule ended following their defeat in World War II, the Korean government continued to use the facility until 1987 when it was moved out of the city. Five years later, in 1992, the site became a museum dedicated to those who were imprisoned or lost their life in the name of freedom and peace. Read more

Apr 27

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Flashback Friday: The Time I Was an Au Pair in Europe

Alternatively titled, the time I was Cinderella in Europe. Without a fairy godmother or Prince Charming.

First off, a lot of people might be asking, what the heck is an au pair? When I told people in the United States of my plans to work abroad as an au pair I was usually met with a confused look. An au pair is kind of a babysitter, language tutor, and cultural ambassador hybrid. Au pairs are hired most often as a way for families to expose their children to mother tongue English speakers. Thus, most of the au pair’s time is spent with children speaking English. You may be required to help with chores around the house or prepare more in depth lessons, but usually you are only expected to do about 5 hours of work a day. In return, the au pair is given room and board and a weekly allowance of what is considered pocket money (in Italy this is less than 100 euro a week). So while you won’t be raking in the cash, you will be immersed in a new culture and make enough for a few glasses of wine (or pints of beer) on the weekend. Read more

Apr 25

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My 7 Super Shots

A few months ago HostelBookers put a call out for travel bloggers to post their favorite photos based on 7 different categories. After oohing and ahing over many other bloggers’ photos I decided that it was high time I take part in HostelBooker’s 7 Super Shots.

These photos might not be the best that I’ve taken from a technical standpoint, but they are all special to me, and a lot of the time that means more than framing or exposure ever could. Read more

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