Jeju is known for its rich cultural heritage, and Jeju Stone Park is no exception. The traditional homes and relics transported me to a simpler time — and I loved every moment.
Field Notes: The Inspiration For Gukje Market
A few weeks ago, I was able to spend some time wandering around Seoul while being introduced to several artists in the area. Though most of them were classmates of my dear artist friend, Yang Yun Jeong, others were artists who exhibit their work together at several local galleries. On this specific day, the group was having a meal to …
Field Notes: Coastal Living in Jeju Island
I am an island girl at heart. In fact, if you were to ask me what I miss most about living in Puerto Rico, I would tell you, hands down, I miss la playa (the beach) with its beautiful blue and turquoise waters. Driving around the coast and taking in the salty air while savoring the local delicacies is life …
Field Notes: Blessing in Disguise | Homigot
Though I would consider myself to be a world traveler and explorer at heart, I have not always been so adventurous or fearless. But then, I traveled to Korea once, twice, and now I am on my fifth trip, solo, with little planning, little funds, a small command of the language, with two large suitcases and a false sense of …
When the Ukraine Crisis Hits Home
One evening, my youngest son, Julian, came to my room to talk with me about something serious. He was nervous and a bit embarrassed, but proceeded to tell me that he had fallen in love with a Belarusian girl he had met while attending the European Theological Seminary in Kniebis, Germany. I had met this young lady while on mission …
Field Notes: Seoul, South Korea
After seven days of quarantine on the outskirts of Seoul, I rode a taxi for about an hour and a half to the popular neighborhood of Itaewon in the city of Seoul, South Korea. Here’s how Trip Advisor describes the area: Neighboring the immense Yongsan American Garrison, Itaewon was once shunned by locals as a seedy, red light district. But …
Labyrinth
“You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you’ll escape one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future to escape the present.” ― John Green, Looking for Alaska My youngest sister, Yamila, is into puzzles. She has seasonal puzzles, strategic puzzles, and …
Connect to the Source: Book Excerpt (Chapter 4, Lesson 1, P. 103-106)
When my firstborn son, Matthew, was a baby, we took him to get his immunizations. When the nurse came in with the injections, she saw us holding a happy baby who smiled constantly as if he didn’t have a care in this world. Then she gave him the shot, and the look of love and happiness quickly turned into horror and pain. He …
For Better or Worse
“We have lost those we hold dearest. But we will endure the pain, for we have each other. Don’t we?” – King Jeongjo, The Red Sleeve After healing from a few weeks of sickness, I received a message that my oldest sister had been taken to the hospital with a concussion after suffering a fall when she fainted at her …
Quiet Conversations
After a long and successful open heart surgery, we were about to call my sons on Skype. It was time to see each other and hear one another’s voices. I was beyond excited, but right before I heard the ringing on the other line, my brain went completely blank and I couldn’t remember my sons’ names. It took me a …