How I Got Beat -- Korean Style

Greetings and Salutations to you all!

I don't know how I forgot to mention this lil interesting adventure that I had along the way in the Namdaemun market. As you know, I was pretty excited to be in the market, and as per usual was clicking away with the digital cam. There are soooo many things to see here that are so different from home. Although I can be pretty descriptive, descriptions alone will not do some of these things justice. Therefore, I continue to click away!

As previously mentioned, I was quite interested in seeing the silk worms. I found them of course after a while. But that wasn't all I found. There were lots of mobile carts throughout the market, where mainly little old Korean women were selling edible goods. One such cart, I noticed was quite different from the rest. This particular woman was selling several different types of homemade treats (at least that is what I think they were). Additionally, she was selling tea. As you know, tea seems to be the beverage of choice here in Korea & many other Asian countries. But one thing that caught my attention, was on the end of her little cart, she actually had a lil teapot serving the customers tea. It was so cute and authentic looking!!!

See the little tea pot? How authentic

Therefore, I had to do what a normal tourist would do...right? Yes, I took out my camera and begin to snap shots immediately. Click-Click-Click! After I got my shot, I continued to stand in the same spot with my friend, Ajenai, to determine our next steps. While talking, our attention was immediately drawn to the "cute lil cart" where the vendor was all of a sudden quite visibly angry & screaming. Since I am less then a novice in the Korean language, I had no clue what or who she was speaking to.....until, she walked over to us and continued to yell at the top of her lungs. Was she really yelling at me? For what? What happened in the last 60 seconds that caused such an outburst? I was befuddled, I had ABSOLUTELY no clue what was going on...well, I'll put it to you like this, even though you may not understand everything a person says in another language, BODY language is universal.....THAT LADY WAS CURSING ME OUT!!!!

I just could not believe it! Ajenai & I just looked at each other, I don't know who was more perplexed by this spectacle. So what was I to do? Should I walk away now? I hadn't done anything wrong, ..right? But that is when it happened...this little old Korean lady haled off & HIT ME!! WHAT!!! Now she was really trippin! At that point, I just was overcome with emotion...what was I supposed to do...beat down the little old lady like she had stolen something from me?

I could see it in the paper now,

My mother would surely die of embarrassment and worry!
But the facts were certain...., she had crossed the line & hit me!

So, what did I do? I did what any good christian and tourist would do who did not want to start an international incident....I laughed at the woman, YES, I mean I got really tickled! This vendor lady did not at all seem to happy with my response. It actually seemed to infuriate her even more, so I stopped laughing long enough to give her one of those looks...you know that look that your mother could give you as a child from a mile away that would cause you to straighten up. I gave her "the look" that told her "don't even think about trying that again!"

It has been a little while since that episode transpired, but I still don't understand it any more today then I did on the day that it occurred. On that day, I figured that I had performed some forbidden tourist act out of ignorance and somehow deserved to be scolded (...not hit but scolded). In an effort to get some clarity regarding the situation, I discussed it with my Korean colleagues. To my surprise, they were even more perplexed then I! At the end of the discussion, we collectively agreed that the lady was just crazy! Oh well, as it is said "It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round!"

That day taught me something about myself, and the power in a look. If someone would have provided me with a similar situation in the US, my first reaction would have been to tell this lady a few things about her improper behavior or even threaten to hit her back (I say threaten cause she was a little old lady, I do have morals). In this situation, I did not have the power of words to communicate my feelings, rather a still small look that said MORE than any words I could have mustered at the time. This "look" let the vendor lady know that I was highly displeased by her reaction. Even though I did not receive an apology from this lady, I know that she will think twice before hitting another black girl from Detroit!

Obviously, crazy is not something that is reserved for the US, there are crazies everywhere!

Until Next Time,

Take Care

K!

NAMDAEMUN --The South Gate of the City

History of Namdaemun A few weekends ago, I decided to take a little venture around the greater Seoul area. My travels led me to the Namdaemun Gate, also meaning the "GREAT SOUTH Gate" of Seoul. In Seoul, there are several gates that have historical significance as they were the main gateways into the city during the Joseon Dynasty, when the whole city was enclosed. The Namdaemun gate, officially called, Sungnyemun (숭례문 / 남대문), translates to "Gate of Exalted Ceremonies," originally controlled access to the capital city & kept out Korean Tigers (wow folks!). Referred to as the #1 National Treasure of Korea, this gate represents the oldest wooden structure in Seoul. Construction began in 1395 during the reign of King Taejo of the Joseon, and was complete a short 3 years following [1398].

Photo of Namdaemun (South Gate)

This gate is a true site to behold, very beautiful and majestic in nature. An authentic display of the traditional Korean culture.

Namdaemun illuminated at night

The GREAT FIRE While I have been in Seoul since January, there have been many important places that I have traveled. I want to make sure that I get the WHOLE Korean experience. As a result, I have learned a great deal about Korean culture and their source of pride. Unfortunately, in my schedule, I failed to visit the Namdaemun Gate early enough. Much to the whole nations dismay, on February 10th, a gentleman who the media reports only by his surname Chae, attempted to destroy the historic landmark by putting it on fire!!!!! I later found out that the reason the man claimed to start the fire is because his land got taken away from him in some type of unfair court case. This fire was his own personal protest...and to make matters worse, this man was 69 years old!

As you can imagine, the whole country was in dismay. I can remember the afternoon that it happened very clearly. That evening I returned to my apartment after a busy day at the office and decided to turn on the TV. It didn't take long for me to realize that on almost every "Korean" channel, I could see live coverage of this structure burned. . .

After watching coverage like that one above, I really had no clue what was happening. I tried CNN, but they hadn't picked up the story yet. But watching the building burn was quite surreal. I knew something MAJOR was happening,...I just didn't know what. So, after quite a while trying to figure out what was going on, I just changed the channel...

The next morning during breakfast, I was quite shock by the stories reported in the Korea Herald (English language Korean paper). Wow! I missed it! I had the perfect opportunity to see the #1 Treasure of Korea, and it had slipped from my fingers in one evening!

Namdaemun Gate after Fire

Some of you reading may not be big history buffs and find this type of discussion kind of boring. But these type of historic landmarks are really cool places to visit because there is generally, a lot of activity surrounding them! Let me tell you about a few:

The Doksugung Palace

This was a cool place just like most of the palaces around Korea. But the reality is, if you've seen one palace, you pretty much have seen them all. This may be a strange comment coming from me, cause I can truly enjoy the artistic display & differences from one palace to the next. However, it does not make for an interesting addition to my blog (at least not this one, I will show you another palace in greater detail another time).

A few steps from the Great South Gate is Doksugung Palace. Of course it once housed royalty of the Korean nation until the Japanese came to Korea and overtook it :( It is quite beautiful though, and has guards that stand watch of this historic monument. I was lucky enough to walk up just as the changing of the Guard Ceremony was taking place, please see below:

Other photos at the Doksugung Palace....

This is the entryway into the Palace

The Guards dressed in ceremonial robes for the Change of the Guard

A traditonal Korean Drum

The Namdaemun Marketplace Located in the Jung-gu area of the city, this 24 hour market can be a shoppers dream! Complete with booths, malls & arcades full of goods to meet almost all tastes and styles. Actually, it can be quite overwhelming to take in at once. During my first visit to this area, it was quite cold, so the marketplace full of people to block the spine-chilling wind was definitely a welcomed site. There are so many different places to shop in this marketplace right across from the Namdaemun Gate.

This market is considered a traditional type of Korean market and offers all types of clothing, kitchen ware, spices & traditional Korean items. Oh Really.... I had one of the most unique experiences that I have had in a long time at the Namdaemun Market. I was really excited to be there, carefully taking in all the sights, products & sales around me. Before coming to Korea, I had heard so much about the different marketplaces & how they have things that you never even dreamed (or had a nightmare) about. ANYWHO! I was on my trek...having a good ole time...laughing at some of the knock-offs (really, how many L's are in Louis Vuitton?), trying to figure out the clothing sizes (that is much more difficult than one can imagine), and much more.

Before coming to Korea, there was one conversation that I had that really kind of bugged me (no pun intended), it was a small matter of the silk worm. At first thought, when someone mentions a silk worm, I think of a nice flowing silk chemise, ...right? WRONG! In Korea, they are also considered a snack, YES I said a SNACK FOOD...that you eat! Fear factor watch out! Being the epicurean that I am (yeah right!), I was anxious to see this Korean delicacy along with other options that I had not witnessed before. Well, I finally found them in the highly esteemed Namdaedum market...

These silkworms are placed in a heating device & served warm. They have a very unique scent that I can not liken to ANYTHING I have ever smelled before.

(for your viewing pleasure) Other interesting Korean delicacies witnessed along the way...

It is said to be like a spicy pasta in sauce, of course the pasta is derived from rice and is pretty solid. I have heard that it is quite good...I just haven't mustered up the strength yet 2 taste it. I will keep you posted though. In Korean, they refer to this treat as "Sora," to us, they are small spiny turbine shells. People eat the organism on the inside like a clam.

These tasty little treats can be found in many areas of Seoul, supplied by street vendors. Different vendors make various shapes depending on their cooking device that is reminiscent of a waffle iron. Batter is poured into the hot iron, sweet red bean paste in placed in the center. Served hot out of the iron, these are good!

Hope you enjoyed today's posting...as you can tell, Korea has a LOT to offer...

K

Another One Bites the Dust....

As time goes by during my voyage, I have determined that there is one distinct difference between Seoul & home. Here, there is a revolving door of people who enter and exit your life. While at home, the people that you meet are pretty much stable, pretty much settled, setting up and maintaining their lives. The native English speakers that I have come to know, are really a bunch of nomads, wandering from place to place...trying to find their rightful place in the world. No one is here to stay, indefinitely. Their lives,.. so very different from the lifestyle that I have come to know as my own.

As it is very intriguing, I never seem to tire of the colorful stories told by my new found friends over drinks or dinner of escapades near & far. But one thing, I can't help but wonder is when this cycle stops for most. Is it perfectly acceptable to go from place to place reaching & searching for that place of Nirvana on earth? Or is it nonsensical to think of settling down with a 9-5 job in your corner of the globe, without regard that there is a whole wide world out there that is moving & changing. Should we all be so focused on concrete plans for the future (i.e. buying a house, paying off bills, etc.) that we forget to stop & smell the roses? Is one lifestyle approach better than the other? Can both approaches to life lead you to the path of knowing and fulfilling your life's purpose? Who decides? These are the questions that I find myself asking....

Speaking of which...

On last evening, I had a great time hanging out with my new compadres here in Seoul. This weekend we were bidding farewell to another sister on the brink, Annice. Annice is a AA young woman who has been living in Seoul for the last year. She has come to the end of the Korean road & is now headed home to the US....for a month. After which time she is relocating to Cairo, Egypt! I don't know about anyone reading this, but not only have I never been to Cairo, but I don't know anyone who LIVES there...well, I guess in a few weeks or so that won't be true cause Annice will be there. WOW! For some of you this may not seem to be a likely choice for your life...mine either, but this type of situation helps me to get a glimpse of the vast possibilities that exist in this world. I admire Annice's strength & drive to go after a different path. I think for far too often, I have limited myself to the options that exist in my small world...but slowly, my vantage point is changing.

Seoul Family hanging out on the town. Annice (center)

This type of discussion reminds me of my mindset during undergrad, or maybe as early as high school, when I truly felt that the world was my oyster. There was nothing that I could not achieve and/or do if I put my mind to it. Since that time, reality [or as some would say, cynicism] and time have kind of destroyed a mental link to my grandiose possibilities. I still believe that I can & will achieve great things in my life, but I am a little more realistic these days.

Sometimes while writing this blog, I feel like I am writing about some nonsensical topics. But honestly, I can see myself changing....seeing life quite differently. Now don't expect me to make some kind of announcement next week that I have decided to stay here in Korea indefinitely or that I have decided to become a missionary trying to convert communist China. However, I trust that many of my life's decisions will be impacted by the way I now see life, less limited with so many more possibilities.

Good Luck to Annice on your new voyage! We wish you the best! K

Making New Friends....

One of my new friends here in the K, part of the Seoul Family (a group of American's that hang out together in Seoul), named Sis Sha [pronounced Shaw] sent me an email telling me that Slum Village was going to be in concert here in Seoul. WHAT? Slum Village from Detroit? Somehow when you are away from home, no matter how good the place is that you are in..., you always gain a greater of appreciation of home & the things of home. So as I was saying, it was definite, I was going to that concert!

Just for some of you that might not know Slum Village, let me tell you a little about the group. Slum Village is a hip-hop group from Detroit, Michigan that came out strong on the music scene in the late 90's. Although the group would be considered to those unfamiliar with the hip-hop moment as mere rappers, they have a unique styling that has differientated them from the negatively charged hard-core rap music as portrayed in the media. Slum Village has a style that is frequently associated with the Neo-Soul movement. They have quite a HUGE underground following & have gained plenty of commercial success in the US and abroad.

Detroit's Own SLUM VILLAGE

ANYWHO! The fellas were coming to town to perform in Hongdae, Seoul. So we were quite stoaked to hear geniune hip-hop here in Asia, (they have it here but you know that music is never really as good as at it's place of origin.) Plus, I was really excited to see how the concert would be here in Korea, 'cause at that point I had not been to any of the hip-hop or urban clubs here in Seoul. I have seen how crowds react in the US to hip-hop, but what was Seoul gonna feel? After all, what did Seoul know about the fellas that grew up off 7 mile road in my home town? We would soon find out!

THE SHOW

When arriving at the venue, I was quite surprised by the eclectic mix of people present. We must be realistic here though, mostly Korean's were present for the performance. But, a few foreigner's were also present from different ethnic backgrounds i.e. African, European, Indian, etc., you know the mix I'm talking about. While the warm up act was performing true Korean rap at it's finest, the girls & I got settled (Lou, Ashley, Sha & I). Now let me admit something here:

Before I went to this concert, I was familiar with who Slum Village the group was, but a member of the group could have walked up to me at E-mart(Korea's version of K-mart or Walmart) and I would have never known who he was.

The concert began, and I have to be truthful, those fellas put on a GREAT SHOW!! The audience was absolutely loving them & it would have been difficult not to get caught up in the pure adrenaline coming from the stage & permeating in the place. The excitement was so thick it could have been cut with a knife. Guys & girls were jumping & dancing, yelling out Slum Village lyrics with enthusiasm. I was just geeked and caught up in the excitement of how the crowd was receiving the guys from my home town. It's kind of funny how despite the fact that you don't know someone (like Slum Village), if you share some type of commonality (like being from Detroit), there can be a sincere moment of pride that one feels just knowing that a person achieved something good.

Please excuse me as I digress for a moment:

For example, being an African American woman, I am soooooo excited about Obama Barack's potential to be the Democratic National parties choice for Presidential Candidate. (Don't get me wrong, I have researched all the candidates & their positions and have made my decision for a candidate based on policy & platform facts.) Despite that, there is just an overwelming amount of pride that I feel regarding his campaign. Think about it, ... in 2009, there is a REAL possibility that we could have an African American as President of the United States of America!!!!! The potential alone is truly a victory for African American's everywhere....to realize that we can achieve great things too, despite this countries long history of racial injustice. Good luck Obama, Keena's rooting for you here in Korea!

..... ok sorry for the distraction, I'll get off my podium now!

AFTER THE SHOW

While the guys were signing autographs & taking pictures, I felt that it just wouldn't be right if I left and did not show them any hometown love. Therefore, being the Ever-gregarious Keena, I walked up to one of the guys & shook his hand and told him how much I enjoyed the show. I also had to drop in there that I was from Detroit...immediately, that changed the WHOLE game! I was no longer a fan, I was a home girl! So we continued to chat, & I was then promptly introduced to the rest of the group. They turned out to be really nice guys who my friends & I ended up hanging out with the early hours of the morning. Even though T3 of the group wouldn't eat anything but rice at the Korean restaurant, we had a good time hanging out. For a brief moment I forgot I was away from home, until the next day when I got a chance to play tour guide (kinda).

The funny thing is, in my own world in Detroit, I never would have come across these guys. We exist in two totally different circles. I was surprised to find out that one of the group member lives less than a mile from my house. But never had our paths crossed, until one cold night in Seoul, Korea. I had to travel over 7000 miles from home, to meet some people who live around the corner from my house. Imagine that!

We had a fun time together those two days...I look forward to hooking up with those guys again when I make back to Detroit.

K!

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Just in case some you may not have heard any of this groups hits, I have taken the liberty of adding a couple of their music videos below; ENJOY! Slum Village "Selfish" Video

Slum Village "Tainted" Video

Korean Basketball!!!!!

Seoul, Korea is not a town for the introverted. There are so many things to do! One can find just about anything in the entertainment realm that you are interested, from sports to theatre, history or diverse cuisine. Seoul comes alive at night with it's thriving nightclubs, casino's & Nori-bangs (these are Karaoke style bars) that stay open all night. Karaoke is taken very seriously here. In the mall attached to my apartment building there is a Nori-bang, where people go to practice for a night out on the town. It has approximately 8 private booths where you can go & practice your songs. Even though, I havent been to a Nori-bang yet,....I look forward to going & having a great time. 'Cause most of you know, in America...Karaoke is one of my favorite things to do (despite the fact that I can't sing).

Korean Basketball League (KBL)

The KBL as it is referred to, is the professional Basketball league of South Korea. It consists of 10 teams from across the region. Most of the players are Korean, but there tends to be this funny trend on each team, where there are two (2) American players [usually AA's] that obviously are in complete control of the team. Since arriving in (If you don't believe me check out the team rosters). Seoul, this tends to be one of my favorite past times & I have even started some of my American friends going to the games. Although KBL games are quite different than the FABULOUS NBA, it is quite amusing at times.

In this league, there is a height maximum, yep.... no one over 6 feet 8 inches allowed. Some of you reading might think that this height restriction is due to the small statured Koreans, but I have not recognized that to be accurate. Despite the shortage of fat Koreans, they tend to come in many different shapes and heights. Actually, I have seen some really tall Korean guys & girls now that I think about it....so enough with the stereotypes...Koreans are not short people as a whole.

Back to the basketball....

The Game The rules of the game tend to be the same, after all, basketball is basketball. But, I have noticed, that NO ONE, I mean NO ONE dunks the ball? I am not sure if they have rules against such individualized behavior, so I'll have to do some research.

Initially, watching the game took a little bit of adjustment for me. There are commentators yelling, the crowd is yelling something else back & it's all in Korean...therefore, I am none the wiser. Even in regards to the score, I was confused for a bit cause it is in Korean, which I find really strange since the print on the players uniforms is in English. How am I supposed to translate??? The Fans The fans are really into the game!!! In Korea, it appears to be a little more family orientated than in the US. This may be due to the sheer expense of tickets for NBA tickets. Here in Korea, you can get a ticket for only 8,000Won (approximately $8.30 US). For floor seats, you only need to spend 30,000Won compared to the nearly $2000 you spend for NBA tickets. That difference alone, allows for this sport to be more family friendly. Additionally, at these games, you are free to bring your own snacks & vendors are lined up around the stadium selling beverages, chestnuts, & their homemade treats at very economical prices. I'm not sure if I would care to munch on octupus or dried fish while watching the game, but IF I WANTED I certainly have that option.

The games are complete with scantily clad cheerleaders & their own hype man. Team chants, yelling & the wave are common place at KBL basketball games. They have even incorporated video screens around the stadium, where they show commercials & team promos during time outs.

At one particular game, I was quite excited that they were playing Salt & Pepa's "Push IT" during which time, the cheerleaders were performing. I was really feeling that song, so I got up & began dancing along...since I was one of about 5 Americans in the audience (the other four were in my party), I was an immediate magnet to the camera. As the song continued, I continued to do my dance, all while the camera showed me on the big screen & the Korean people cheered me on (my mother would be so embarassed of me...sorry, Mom!). But I was there to have a good time,..right?

The Players Below you will find video footage, where the Seoul SK Knights are being introduced:

I have been greatly entertained while watching KBL basketball on many occasions. It should go without saying that the players are not as good as they are in the NBA. Due to that fact, they seem to work harder, and I must appreciate their effort, but at the same time...I know why this is the KBL and not the NBA. In this league I have noticed many talented athletes, whose game is limited to prowess in one particular area. For example, there are many great Korean shooters. I mean some of those guys can really get the ball in the basket, 3 pointers for days...no effort...SWISH! Meanwhile, the American players can't seem to shoot really well, but they can make things happen in the post, but you have to pray that the ball makes it into the basket?!? It makes the game really unique and kind of predictable in a sense. Well, you never really know who is gonna win, cause the talent is definitely well distributed across the league.

In one particular game, the Seoul SK Knights were playing the Busan Orion. The SK Knights were being anilluated. They were down 28 points at the end of the 3rd quarter. To say that the 4th quarter was exciting, is an understatement. I liken it to the Bad New Bears coming back and winning the victory. It was unreal how the SK Knights came back and won the game....You just gotta love this game, NBA or not!

K

This upcoming weekend is the KBL All-Star game, I certainly plan to attend! I'll let you guys know how it compares!

Wedding Belles

Okay guys & girls, I have a lil announcement to make:

"MY COUSIN's getting Married" I know this lil announcement really doesn't have anything to do with my voyage to Korea. But since this blog is about my life...while I'm in Korea, this is what is going on in my world. Therefore, I must take the time to congratulate my cousin & her beau on their recent engagement!!! CONGRATULATIONS NATALIE & OMAR I recently had an opportunity to speak to the blushing bride and will retell her account of "How He Popped the Question"

"I actually had no idea he was going to propose," said Natalie Beaman, recently engaged this past weekend to her longtime boyfriend, Omar Hall. The two decided to take a little get-a-way for the weekend to the Windy City, the place where they first met over 5 years ago. It was his idea, but he left all the planning to Natalie. So the weekend started with massages and dinner on Friday evening. While returning to their hotel that evening they noticed the horse drawn carriages & the two decided that a little romantic ride would help complete their "perfect weekend" together. Therefore, after a nice dinner on Saturday night, the concierge arranged a carriage ride from the restaurant back to the hotel.

While riding down Lake Shore Drive, (off Lake Michigan) they talked about the wonderful time that they were having this particular weekend. Everything aligned to make this a very romantic moment, the beautiful Chicago city sklyine, the ambience at the restaurant, the stars, sounds & lights of the city. Omar remarked again how this had been just the "perfect weekend." As they gazed into the sky, Omar asked Natalie,

"You know what would make this weekend perfect?" She remarked, but was somehow distracted while trying to respond due to the sudden movement in the carriage. As she tried to figure out what was going on, she turned to see Omar on one knee,

"You know what would make this weekend perfect?" he asked again, "Well this would make it perfect...." as he pulled out the ring, "Would you marry me?" Natalie screamed, and as they say....the rest is history! Congratulations to the happy couple!

In True Jet Magazine fashion:

The groom-to-be is an engineer & graduate of the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!!!). The bride-to-be, is a Clark Atlanta University alum who is currently a sales mgr for Phillip Morris Industries.

Kickin it with Old Friends....

It's kind of funny how when you are at home, it can be so difficult to make the simplest things happen. Once you get in a rut, it is really hard to get out of it. Like getting together with old friends or taking the time to get to meet new friends. Many of my friends out there reading this very blog, I have been planning to 'do lunch' for many months, but somehow have been unable to make it happen. So someone tell me, WHY oh WHY have I been able to achieve some of the very things I just mentioned here in Korea?

Many of you know that for the past three years I have owned and operated a plus sized womans clothing boutique, DANNI ROCHE (until recently actually) in Detroit. In my entreprenuerial endeavors, I have had the pleasure of meeting lots of talented and up & coming people in the fashion world. One such young lady is Dahnyelle Curtis (y'all better remember her name). She has done some stuff for Danni Roche in the past & is very talented!

But let me tell you the story of how we ended up hangin out in Seoul... I was sending out a mass email to my address book telling all my friends and family to stay tuned in to my blog. I hadn't talked to Dahnyelle in about 6 months (maybe longer actually). She got my email & quickly responded letting me know that she would be in Korea for a few days on business. Currently Dahnyelle works as the head designer for Al Wissam Designs, an urban apparel brand. I quickly called her back & gave her my contact information so that we could at least do dinner when she arrived. Somehow or another, her trip got delayed & her Skype phone couldn't work cause of the broken internet connection in her hotel room. So, oh well, sometimes you can't link up with folks, right?...wrong!

As I was walking through Itaewon on one Sunday after church, quite distracted by a text message I was trying to send one of my friends back home [Dante], I thought I heard someone call my name. Now that was strange, cause no one knew me in Korea, not yet anyway! I looked up & it was Dahnyelle walking up the street. Can you imagine that? Due to our busy schedules in Detroit we had been unable to link up recently, but here in Seoul, S Korea we run into each other walking down the street....talk about coincidences!

Now this was a very welcomed visit for me 'cause I had only been here a week myself. Dahnyelle coming here gave me someone to venture out in the city with. We promptly caught up, laughed & talked, ate & shopped, and just had a good ole time! Before we knew it, it was time for her to leave Korea and head for China and India respectively.

Thanks Dahnyelle for helping to make my transistion here THAT much easier. It was a blast kicking it here Korea!

Stay tuned to here about my new friends.....