Today is our last day in Andong, and so far it’s been lovely. Situated in east-central South Korea, the city of Andong is in the province of North Gyeongsang (Gyeongsangbuk-do/경상북도), at the geographic and cultural heart of the country. Andong Overview Andong downtown https://youtube.com/shorts/s08qXXfmnXk?feature=share VIDEO: Our train chugs along through Gyeongsangbuk-do's farmland, on the way… Continue reading Andong and Hahoe Folk Village
Category: Expat in Korea
An expat view of South Korea.
Korean oysters; what makes me nostalgic? (Bloganuary)
It's now peak season for oysters in South Korea. I just had a passel of live ones delivered to me at the crack of dawn today. They were on ice outside my door, and I kept them there until I was ready to start shucking (it's below-zero weather these days, so outdoors is like a… Continue reading Korean oysters; what makes me nostalgic? (Bloganuary)
How tipping differs between South Korea and the U.S. (Bloganuary)
I'm going to veer a little off-course with the prompts I answer in my Bloganuary posts. One reason is the WP suggested prompts tend to elicit responses that read like diary entries, which I think can be boring. I don't always want to write about myself; I'd rather write about observations, so I'm going to say… Continue reading How tipping differs between South Korea and the U.S. (Bloganuary)
My first challenge: Bloganuary
Daily writing promptWhat are your biggest challenges?View all responses Happy New Year, my friends! The first challenge of 2024 is waking up to a writing prompt that's a bit sober for January 1st. Challenge accepted, though - because it's bad form to back away from a challenge on the cusp of a New Year. A… Continue reading My first challenge: Bloganuary
DIY perfume making + Hangeul Day
Today is Hangeul Day, a national holiday in Korea, which has given me a joyous three-day weekend to catch up on work, play, and cooking. Hangeul Day (한글날) is observed on October 9th each year, and commemorates the invention of the Korean alphabet in 1446. King Sejong the Great, who was the fourth monarch of the Joseon… Continue reading DIY perfume making + Hangeul Day
Thoughts on masks + Japan travel
The Covid era is slowly drawing to a close in the Far East (but its not over, yet). Almost two weeks ago, South Korea lifted its indoor mask mandate in most public places. That includes shops, restaurants, and gyms, but masks on public transportation are still required. Korea has been one of the last holdouts… Continue reading Thoughts on masks + Japan travel
Daegu café and yarn shop + weekly prompt: “Is there anything you feel too old to do anymore?”
I am deep into my winter break in South Korea, and between trips - just coming from one in Hanoi, and preparing for another in Tokyo next week. Last month I participated in the WP Bloganuary challenge, and had fun writing a blog post every other day or so. I probably won't be able to… Continue reading Daegu café and yarn shop + weekly prompt: “Is there anything you feel too old to do anymore?”
Bloganuary: “How are you brave?”
Today's Bloganuary prompt is "How are you brave?" I like how the year is starting off with positive questions. I had to think about this one a bit. To the casual observer, my currently unconventional life (single, 50-something, childless, self-supporting woman in a foreign country) might seem "brave," risky, odd, exotic, or a number of… Continue reading Bloganuary: “How are you brave?”
New mohair shawl + Seoul trip
I have a lovely new shawl creation to share that is a bit different from ones I've made previously. This cloud-like confection is based on a Japanese pattern that is sadly not available online anymore - the website where I found it ceased to update last year. However, I did save the chart for this… Continue reading New mohair shawl + Seoul trip
Tweedy poncho is finished! + Seollal, Year of the tiger
Welcome to a new Lunar New Year, a new month, and to my finally-finished Tweedy Poncho! I so enjoyed this poncho project and look forward to wearing it, especially since it uses one of my favorite yarns - Rowan Felted Tweed. The poncho is from a pattern in Issue 141 of Inside Crochet magazine. PHOTOS:… Continue reading Tweedy poncho is finished! + Seollal, Year of the tiger
The Frill Seeker 