caramel latte conversations.

Coffee almost always taste better when accompanied by a good book, a moleskin journal, and a best friend.

the weekend.

Chicken and beer in the moonlight. Marc Jacobs fashion show on repeat. Much needed haircut. Forever 21. Jazz club and friendship. Reliving high school days on the Hongdae playground. Apple cinnamon hookah. Learning about obedience. Noodles in Sinsa. Good conversation. Playing with friends in the park. New movie night. So much laughter. I am blessed.



Happiness. Only real when shared.

final thoughts.

It's a beautiful fall day in Korea and I've been wandering the streets of Seoul for the last few hours. Work is finished, I have moved out of my apartment, and the return to America is only days away. It's a strange feeling to walk around the city that has been home for the last 14 months and to know you are possibly looking at everything for the final time. Today I feel like the most blessed person on earth as I reflect on the wonderful memories made throughout this last year. One person doesn't deserve so much. I am so thankful to have worked at a school that was organized and efficient and genuinely cared for its teachers. I am thankful to have been given a nice apartment in a beautiful neighborhood that felt like home. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to travel to so many places in Korea and throughout Asia during the last year. And above all, I am thankful for the friendships that were developed here. When I moved to Seoul last August I never imagined I'd find such wonderful people to share the experience with. None of this would have been nearly as fun, or as memorable, if it weren't for my friends that now feel more like family. My mind is flooded with thoughts of nights spent dancing until 4 am in Hongdae, mornings spent talking over a cup of coffee in Olympic Park, bike riding through the neighborhood, playing charades on a love motel bed, shopping with the girls in our favorite areas of the city, learning to snowboard during the cold winter, taking weekend trips to the beach, teaching beautiful Korean children English, developing deep friendships with people from all parts of the world, etc. The incredible moments I've been lucky enough to experience are too numerous to list. I am immensely grateful for this last year of life.

I am trying hard to remain joyful as I reflect on my time in Korea, although a part of me feels sad to leave it all behind. I already anticipate the ache in the pit of my stomach when the plane departs Seoul on Sunday morning. I know this will be the hardest move yet, but I feel confident that life will work out exactly as it is supposed to. As I sit next to the window now in this quiet coffee shop over-looking the streets of Insadong I can see red and yellow and orange leaves float to the ground outside. The changing seasons remind me of God's consistent love. Every year spring fades to summer, and summer to fall, because He directs the movement of the entire world. In the same way, I know God is in control of my life and I have faith that He will never lead me towards something new without having a greater purpose. I constantly wonder if leaving the home I've created in Korea is the right desicion, but I can't deny the pull I feel towards China. Although sad about ending this season in my life, I am excited to return to the country where my love affair with Asia first began. There is so much in store for the future and I eagerly aniticpate the start of something new. Goodbye Korea...

"Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become." -unknown

happiness is...

Trips to beautiful beaches (Wando and Busan) with great friends.

Dongjip wars that never end.

Train rides to new cities.

American Apparel v-necks and Uniqlo hoodies.

Pot luck dinners and charades.

Spending time with a certain Korean-American.

City-wide scavenger hunts in the rain.

Watching indie films at the Busan International Film Festival.

Cheesy love motels with flowered wallpaper and Thomas Kincade window shades.

Inspring/encouraging emails from my best friend in the solar system.

Jogging along the Han River at night.

Hookah bars and mexican food in Gangnam.

Sitting at a coffee shop and drinking a latte while writing in my journal.

Reading a book about India and knowing that I'll be there soon.

Thinking about Christmas in America for the first time in 3 years.

Fall weather.

Enjoying every moment in Seoul before time runs out.

saunas, wine bars, and bike rides.

Life is never dull.

Friday: Awake at 6:30 am. 3 mile run. Work til' 7. Dinner in Sinsa. Coffee. Good food and good company. Sleep at 2 am.

Saturday: Awake at 9 am. Shopping in Myeongdong. Dinner w/ Eva at On the Border (mexican food!). Bought tickets to a movie. Found out the movie is in French. Returned tickets. Vintage shopping in Ewha Women's University area. Wine bar and photography books with friends in Hongdae. Thought-provoking subway ride home while listening to Imogen. Sleep at 2 am.

Sunday: Awake at 10 am. Latte and journal writing at the Coffee Bean. Church in Seobinggo. Jimjilbang and sauna w/ girl friends. Great conversation. Subway home. Sleep at 1 am.

Monday: Buddha's birthday=no work! Phones calls to friends and family. Clean apartment. Bike ride along the Han River (wonderful!). Nap on a park bench. Shower. Thai coconut curry. Movie (The Great Debaters). Bedtime.

A few photos from the weekend:


jess and i at the jimjilbang. sarah joined us not long after this photo was taken. amazing friends!


myeong-dong. easily my favorite area in the city. i could sit on the second floor of the coffee shop here and stare out of the window for hours...i often do.


my new bike and the han river. i took an hour-long nap here this afternoon while death cab sang to me. i think its going to become a regular activity.

life lately...

Teaching little Koreans to speak English 7 hours a day.

Walking to work in the snow.

Running. Running. Running. Training for the Seoul 1/2 marathon in March.

Drinking lots of coffee and trying to study Korean.

Meeting people all the time and loving these new friendships.

Reading books with James on the weekend. First Vonnegut and now Nabokov.

Dancing in Itaewon and Hongdae until the sun comes up. I love T-Pain.

Eating western food at On the Border and Bennigans. I do eat my Kimchi, too.

Driving to the outskirts of Seoul and eating lunch with a wonderful Korean family.

Shopping in Myeong-dong and going to movies.

Hanging out constantly with tons of great friends!

Looking forward to my mom's visit to Seoul in 2 weeks.

Loving the big city...the lights, the people, the subway, the shopping, the neighborhoods, etc.


Life is so fun.