Why I Left South Korea

I discuss why I left South Korea and summarize some insights to the logistics of working in Korea.

Early Career Growing Pains

As I navigate the professional world as a novice, I constantly question myself: Am I doing enough? How can I improve? What will make me stand out as a professional writer? Is my authorial voice sufficient? Which function of the company am I good at?

English Hagwons: Infamy, Perception, & Social Analysis

An Initial Acknowledgment Used in "S.Korea's cram schools bustling amid coronavirus", Yahoo News, 2020 My acknowledgement: yes, there are Hagwons in Korea with well-intentioned owners and caring managers. Fortunately, I worked in such an environment. The more I live, the more I understand the nuances of individual existence and how we each react to our...

Korean Women Resisting Gender Bias in STEM & Other Genderfied Careers

KOREAN WOMEN'S ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION In 1972, former President Park Chung-Hee launched an aggressive economic growth plan to skyrocket the nation to a level of modernity on par with other industrialized nations. The former president's authoritarian measures achieved impressive economic progress. Korean women began participating in the workforce—but at the expense of worse working conditions for...

Follow Your Gut: SOW Plated

Main Restaurant Points Healthy Organic Sustainable Gluten-Free Vegan Vegetarian Behind the Business Whether it's traveling, moving to a new area, or just looking to try a new restaurant, I love researching places that have a rhetoric of nutrition and health in their purpose. I grew up with a mother with a background in food chemistry,...

The Next Chapter: Moving to Columbus, OH!

One Month Summary April second marks one month since I returned to the US! I cannot BELIEVE how much has happened since I landed and ever since I hit the ground running despite the jet lag. Before officially returning, I wrote out an itemized checklist of what to do before leaving and after I arrived,...

Follow Your Gut: Cherbourg Bakery

I review a local, gluten-free bakery in Columbus, OH, Cherbourg Bakery!

Follow Your Gut: Allavo (알라보)

Main Restaurant Points Salads Paninis Sandwiches Smoothies & Drinks GF Vegan Options Behind the Business Allavo is a dine-in or takeaway health chain restaurant that mainly sells salad bowls with fresh and stir-fried veggies, avocado (of course!), and protein. They don't have a lot of sandwich options, but their salad bowls are various. They have...

A Short Guide to Grocery Shopping in Korea

A Popular Expat Question From Unsplash (@noellejlee) I'm a member of many "Expat" community forums on Facebook, where people constantly post valid questions and receive helpful responses. I'm also a member of a fitness and health group, and this is a consistent topic that I find among foreigners in Korea attempting to eat healthy and...

The Devastating 10.29 Itaewon Incident

This morning, I was shaken awake when I lazily lifted my phone from its position on the floor to check the time. Uncharacteristically, my notification wall was full of different friends reaching out to check on me. Are you alright? Were you in Itaewon last night? Did you hear about Itaewon? And one missed call...