New beginnings are always exciting, if not a bit scary. For those of you that follow Seoul Searching on Facebook, you know that I have been traveling for the past month and a half in Spain and Morocco. It was a phenomenal trip marked by friendly people, beautiful scenery, interesting culture, and lots and lots …
There’s no question that Seoul is a city for art lovers. From internationally renowned museums to obscure independent galleries, there’s a space dedicated to just about every genre and medium of visual art. But it’s not only in galleries that masterpieces can be found in the Korean capital. Urban art, also known as street art, is …
As an expat living abroad, I am often exposed to many unique cultural experiences. While most of them are positive and happy (weddings, holiday celebrations, and special birthdays) others can be crushing and tragic. Although I never imagined I would attend a Korean funeral, expat life is still “real life” and as such, a dear …
There’s something about cupcakes that elicits memories of childhood and better days. It’s impossible to be anything but happy when eating them, as they are treats for both the taste buds and the eyes. Unfortunately, in Korea, cupcakes, and most baked goods for that matter, haven’t always lived up to this reputation, as key ingredients …
As the weather gets warmer and the school year comes to an end, English teachers and expats in Korea are packing their bags and planning trips to exotic locations. Whether spending a few months backpacking through Southeast Asia, jaunting off to Europe, or heading home for a few weeks, travelers must stay conscious of their …
Earlier this month, I was struck with a stomach ailment that I originally thought was appendicitis. After dropping about $500 in the emergency room at Seoul National University Hospital, I was told that all of my tests had returned normal. After spending even more in their clinic on a return visit and some further tests …
In the latest segment of “Not-So-Normal Norms”, I talk about letterman jackets, MTs, condiments, the excessive wearing of high heels, and the lack of gray hair in Korea. As usual, I must note that this post has been written to point out Korean cultural norms that are different from those in my home country, …
It’s hard to believe that 2012 has come and gone. By the looks of things on Facebook and other social media sites, it seems that most are glad that the year is over, hoping for a better 2013. For me, I’m a bit sad to see it go. It passed by far too quickly and …
There’s no doubt that cartoons are loved all around the world. Comic books and animated television shows conjure up images of childhood, Saturday mornings, and spent allowances. Yet, there are few places where cartoon culture is as prevalent as Eastern Asia. In Korea, comics are taken to a whole new extreme. Manhwa literally means “comics” …
January 2015 Update: Action Drawing Hero is no longer playing. However, the new show, which is quite similar to the one reviewed below, will be running instead. Visit the show’s website for more information. Seoul has its fair share of non-verbal performances, and I’ve been to quite a few of them. As the genre name …