Dear Myka (and obligatory Instagram husband James), You represent the worst of both influencer marketing and adoption. I know, because I’ve been deeply engrained in each world. On the surface, the industries seem to have nothing in common. But—in the wrong hands—they are two sides of the same exploitative coin. Publicizing the…
Behind the Scenes: “It Was All A Dream”
“Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie It’s been more than a year since I quit…
Jeju Island: The “Hawaii of Korea”
My sister once showed me photos of Jeju Island and said, “someday together going.” I remembered hearing about this popular vacation destination from Korean friends in college. They described it as the Hawaii of Korea. The thought of visiting Jeju with my sister seemed like a beautiful, fantastical dream. A hope to…
What I Packed vs. What I Wore: Korea
I think it’s safe to say now that I overpacked for Korea. We never check luggage (especially when traveling standby), but because some of the gifts I was bringing were liquids, we didn’t have a choice. I should have packed my clothes and shoes as if we were only traveling with a…
Andong Hahoe Folk Village
I’ve visited various traditional folk villages during my trips to Korea, but Hahoe (하회) is the most meaningful to me. It is located in the place where I was born: Andong. This 600 year old village carries the honor of being a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can visit Andong by taking…
On the Steps of the Palace
My mom gave me a book called The Korean Cinderella when I was younger. I was fascinated by the heroine, Pear Blossom, and her hanbok dresses. When I first visited my birth family in Korea, they bought custom-designed hanboks for me and Holden as a wedding gift. I wanted to get professional…