In western countries, women take a shower immediately after childbirth. They have a regular diet, start walking around, and go out in the cold weather. On the other hand, Korean women are advised not to take a shower for a week or more. They are not allowed to put their hands in cold water. For…
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! To celebrate, I’m sharing six audiobooks by Korean American women writers. Included are some of my absolute favorite books. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, Narrated by Allison Hiroto If you’ve talked to me about my favorite books for…
“Seoul is ‘beyond’ – on the leading edge of technology, music, fashion, cosmetics, and food – it’s THE spot guaranteed to entertain even the most discriminating of adolescents.” If your family contains one or more opinionated teenagers, the South Korean capital of Seoul might be the perfect destination to appease the most discerning members of…
“What’s your sign?” is a question commonly asked in the Western world. But in East Asian nations like South Korea, you’re more likely to hear, “What’s your blood type?” That’s because for the past century, many Koreans have associated different blood types with specific personality characteristics that determine one’s likability, romantic compatibility, and even health…
[Read to the end 💔] Mother’s Day has this Korean American mom reminiscing about all of the wild and crazy things my mother used to tell me over the years. You can say it was a hodgepodge of old wives tales, superstitions or just plain old common sense embellished, Korean style. Here is a compilation…
![[MEMBERS-ONLY WEBCAST] Art in the Time of Coronavirus: A Conversation With Author Min Jin Lee](https://focused-lumiere.50-62-180-207.plesk.page/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/200502_minjinlee_eventimag4-720x492.jpeg)
As COVID-19 is forcing people to stay home, lack of social interaction is causing boredom and cognitive decline. In such times, engaging with literary arts may allow people to travel to fictional worlds created by the authors. And adding in the flavor of Asian creativity, the literary world becomes even more exotic and intriguing. Join…
Dong chim is a popular prank that involves using your index fingers to poke someone in the between the bum cheeks with as much force as you can muster BEWARE the poop needle.” That’s my travel advice to anyone heading to South Korea. Because nothing can prepare you for the shock of South Korea’s craziest…
On Black Day, single Koreans drown their sorrows in a bowl of jjajang myeon noodles. If one day of hearts and lovey-dovey, mushy-gushy isn’t enough , you might want to consider a move to Japan or Korea. Both countries have an interesting adaptation for Valentine’s Day: They celebrate it twice. Traditionally on February 14, the…
With so few buildings left standing during the Korean War, exasperated teachers asked my grandfather where they should hold class. He told them to teach outside. “Hold classes on riverbeds, on mountainsides — anywhere,” he said. Without books, he instructed teachers to “teach from life.” And so they did. In 1950, the Korean conflict escalated into an international war.…