It may not come as a surprise that so-called “hangover cures” are big business in Korea. My friends and I have often marvelled at the businessmen who go out and drink into the early hours of the morning as part of their job (it’s the only way to get to know colleagues and potential business [...]
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I’ve written before about shabu shabu, the Japanese hotpot that’s very popular here in Korea. Of course, the Korean version has its own twists. Traditionally, Japanese shabu shabu is cooked by swishing thin slices of beef in a pot of boiling water, but that would be a little too bland for people used to the [...]
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Approximately once every two years, I start seeing photos of myself that make me want to sob uncontrollably. It’s not that, in between times, I’m perfectly happy with all the photos I see of myself. It’s more a case of blocking out the awful truth because I’m far too lazy to get off my arse [...]
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No, no, no. No more. I am not sure why or how it is, exactly, that I am in Korea for yet another summer, but as the weather becomes increasingly painful for me, I am firmly resolving that this shall not happen again. During my time in Korea, I have come to detest, loathe, fear and resent the [...]
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Two little things happened today that reminded me yet again why I love teaching young children. I was herding my unruly first graders down the stairs to get their bus, trying to zip up backpacks and remind them about homework and wondering why I even bother shouting “don’t run!”, when Allie, the school secretary, came [...]
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Aside from the horrifying amount of yellow dust floating around these parts (we are all gasping and coughing like a deadly plague has descended upon us), it’s quite pleasant to be outside at the moment. Sunny, breezy, bright and cheerful. I’ve spent a glorious afternoon in the park with friends, and several lovely evenings sitting [...]
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My fifth grade class, the ones I’ve taught since my first day (when they were about 8 years old) are getting bored. It’s that horrible time when they’re about to morph into teenagers and go all Kevin on me, and I have no idea how to deal with it, having only taught young, smiley, happy [...]
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See this post for an explanation. And here are some things I love beginning with E… 1. Eeyore. “Good morning, Pooh Bear,” said Eeyore gloomily. “If it is a good morning,” he said. “Which I doubt,” said he. “Why, what’s the matter?” “Nothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We can’t all, and some of us don’t. That’s all there [...]
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For the past three years, I’ve taken a trip to the city of Gyeongju as soon as Spring arrives. And yet for some reason, I don’t seem to have written much about it… I wrote about the traditional accommodation and the ancient burial mounds, but that’s about it. So, third time being a charm and all, [...]
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See this post for an explanation. And here are some things I love beginning with ‘R’… 1. Reading As an adult, I don’t read nearly enough – especially when you consider that, as a child, I was the biggest bookworm you can imagine. I always had my nose in a book. Usually an Enid Blyton one. Her [...]
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You Say Goodbye, I Say… Historical Snapshots It Just Makes Me Happy
