Kellogg's Apple Jacks

Counting My Blessings in AR

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:34:00 +0000

I spent a wonderful week in Arkansas for the Thanksgiving holiday and am still reeling from how quickly it went by. I arrived on Sunday afternoon and got to combine spending time with my family and eating some Mexican food. On Monday, I ran some errands and hung out with Poppie.

Tuesday afternoon, I caught up with Megan and Amanda H. (Terp) over lunch. Amanda and I continued to hang out until heading to Briana's baby shower that evening

I know I'm biased, but my sister is the cutest pregnant woman I have ever seen. Even though she's not here yet, Hadley has solidified her place as the princess in our family.

Wednesday began with Christmas gift wrapping and ended with picking up Ryan from the airport and later enjoying some pizza with everyone at Dad's.

As tradition demands, Thanksgiving involved stuffing ourselves with too much good food. Dad found a butternut squash stuffing recipe that seems destined to become a family classic.

Christmas came early on Friday at Briana and Jason's house, where we enjoyed an amazing Beef Wellington dinner and opened our Christmas gifts to each other.

It was all football on Saturday and an amazing Arkansas win that just might take them to their first BCS bowl. Afterwards we checked out the lights on the Fayetteville square and enjoyed burgers at Hugo’s. Later we had a little cake and gave Dad his birthday presents. There was a lot of celebrating, too much good food, but most of all, it was just great getting to spend time together.

A Beach Hideaway in Phuket, Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 21:38:00 +0000

No vacation is perfect, and this one was not an exception to the rule. That being said, it was a very restful stay with excellent food and the constant sound of ocean waves lapping against the rocks below us. Additionally, it was the perfect interlude between a busy summer and the start of another busy school year, or in the case of Ryan – a new job. Our room was large and gorgeous complete with a sitting area as well as the standard desk and bed. The best part, however, was the large balcony overlooking the ocean. There was more than enough room for a table and chairs as well as a very large couch area that was perfect for our afternoon naps. I think our enjoyment would have been greatly diminished if we didn’t have this area, because it rained almost the entire time we were there. Only during the last couple of days did we see any sunshine. The food was delicious, and according to the reviews we read, the best on the island. Because of the rain, the difficulty of arranging transportation, and the lack of more enticing food or attractions, we spent the entire week at our resort. The only real blemish on the place was its pools, which were not very attractive and too small to do any actual swimming. The nicest of the pools was the seawater pool, and I splashed around in it a little until I realized that the rock wall surrounding it was the home to dozens of soft shell crabs. No wonder they were so abundant on the menu!

Unfortunately, the thing I most hoped to do on the island was go snorkeling in it’s famous shallow coral reefs. However, we had inadvertently timed our visit with the monsoon season, and the water was to dangerous to go swimming in. Every morning I woke up a little disappointed to see the red flag warnings everywhere.

Our resort was not very big to begin with, and given the low-season, there never seemed to be more than a few couples about. Every night, we were the last to leave to restaurant at only 9 or 9:30 to my bemusement. But I don’t want to leave anyone with the wrong impression, we did enjoy this trip thoroughly, and it reminded me of how much I love Southeast Asia. I look forward to our next opportunity to travel to this region.

Final Week in Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:33:00 +0000

The last week in Korea was by far the most pleasant of our entire stay. Since my Korean finals ended unexpectedly the week before, I pretty much gave up on class. I went only to receive my grades. I would have liked to have done more sightseeing, but it rained almost the entire time. This August in Korea, it turned out, was the rainiest in 100 years. I even experienced my first level one hurricane, which was a little frightening in our 15 story apartment. We did manage a quick trip to Kyongbokkung, the main palace in Seoul. Set in the heart of such a modern city, it is always fascinating to see the contrast between the ancient and modern. We also found some fun trendy restaurants, which offered the most delicious meals of the stay in Korea. Finally, we were able to hang out with friends and squeeze in a little drunken karaoke as well. Fortunately, there are no pictures or videos of that!

The Best TV Shows You May Not Have Heard Of

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:41:00 +0000

Sometimes it seems like we now have hundreds of channels and there is nothing on, but the wide dissemination of cable channels has resulted in more and more TV shows of excellent quality. The trick is finding them. For example, I would have never heard of my new favorite, Justified, if it wasn’t for my knitting group where I have learned that Ileana and Deanna have excellent tastes that happen to be compatible with my own.

Justified, an FX show, is set in rural Kentucky, and bills itself as a modern Western. In fact, it’s loosely based off of the short story “Ring of Fire,” by Elmore Leonard. Not being a particular fan of Westerns this initial description didn’t exactly grab me, but I decided to give it a try anyway on the long plane ride to Seoul. From the first episode, I was struck, how familiar these characters and places seemed. Apparently Eastern Kentucky isn’t all the different from Arkansas. Soon I was hooked, however, on the careful exploration of complicated relationships – family, lovers, and even the meaning of friendship. The father-son dynamic that pervades the show in multiple characters became increasing heart wrenching as the season drew to a close. The writing and acting are superb, and suddenly I’m a huge Timothy Olyphant fan. I really couldn’t recommend this show more highly.

I’m often surprised how many people still haven’t heard of Mad Men, now in it’s fourth season on AMC. Once again, the premise didn’t initially grab me, which is focused on an Madison Avenue advertising firm in the 60s. But the characters are richly portrayed, the writing and acting on this show, too, are superb, and the fashion and cinematography blow me away. Well worth putting on your Netflix queue to catch up to the current season.

So what shows do you think upstage the current state of going to the movies these days?

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:12:00 +0000

The entire time I was reading this book, I kept wondering what all the hype was about. It is a decently layered mystery with interesting characters, but definitely not a page turner. I found the title to be confusing, because I expected the plot to be about Lisbeth - the girl with the dragon tattoo. Instead, the book serves more as an introduction to her character for the next two books in the trilogy. I admit it's a catchy title, but the original "Men Who Hate Women," fits the actual story much better. Despite my disappointment, I haven't completely ruled out reading the next books in the trilogy.

To find this and my other reviews on goodreads, click on the link: http://www.goodreads.com/arkellogg

Living History at Seoul’s Seodaemun Prison and Independence Park

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:25:00 +0000

It's hard for most Americans to understand, but history is truly alive in Korea and present in daily life. No where is this more obvious than at the Seodaemun Prison - a minor tourist attraction in the process of a great deal of reconstruction with the goal of becoming a world class museum. To be honest, they have a long way to go to achieve this goal, and at present its main purpose seems to be demonstrating to middle school children that the celebration of Korean independence must be combined with a graphic awareness of the horrors of Japanese occupation.

The Japanese formally occupied the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Soedaemun Prison was used by the Japanese to house the Korean resistance/independence fighters. All the visuals on display were devoted to emphasizing how bad the conditions in the prison were and the evils that had to be endured at the hands of the Japanese. The most striking were the numerous rooms that displayed mannequins of Japanese soldiers torturing Korean prisoners. The effect on me, though, wasn't so much profound as somewhat absurd.

Surrounding the prison is a park devoted to celebrating Korea’s independence from the Japanese occupation. What is not being mentioned, however, hovers loudly in the air. Immediately upon independence the Korean Peninsula was divided in half by the Russians and Americans. Neither country intended the division to be permanent, but the lack of a formal end to Korean War has seen this division remain for over sixty years. There is a strong sense in Korea that true independence can only come from reunification. And only then can they forgive their Japanese and foreign oppressors. Only then can East Asia achieve peace and stability.

Postcard from Seoul: To All My Friends and Family

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:51:00 +0000

Spending the summer abroad in Korea is not as glamorous as it might sound. Mostly it’s a lot of hard work. But still, I’m having lots of interesting experiences and hopefully my Korean language skills are improving. I think of you often and wish I could share these experiences more directly. I miss you tons and hope you know that you’re only a phone call or e-mail message away.

Love,

Anita

Tales from the 지하철 (Subway)

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:17:00 +0000

Life sometimes offers up these sweet unexpected moments. Last Sunday on my way back from church and lunch, I was seated on a bench waiting for a train to come. This dolled up, tiny Korean old woman sat next to me and furiously began to fan me. It was so sweet and the only thing I could say to her was thank you in Korean. Then she apologized for not being able to speak English and gave me some wrapped ginseng candy. When the train came we both went our separate ways, but I was so touched by her exuberant kindness.
When I related the story to Ryan he insisted she must have thought I was a little girl. Regardless, it was really sweet.

DMZ Water

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:41:00 +0000

The Korean DMZ is most heavily militarized border in the world, protected not only be vigilant soldiers but littered with dense mines to keep the Korean people from crossing from one side to another. It turns out what keeps people out protects nature and the area has recently been declared a nature reserve. If you are in South Korea you can even experience the pureness of its water for the bargain price of about $.50 a bottle.
But my question is: does DMZ water really reflect interest in its claims of purity or South Koreans increasing fascination with those on the other side of the border. On the other hand, since it's among the cheapest bottle water on the market, maybe they're not that interested in either.

Jap Chae (Stir Fried Glass Noodles with Vegetables) Recipe : : Food Network

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:43:00 +0000

For those of you interested in a Japchae recipe, this one from the Food Network seems pretty good. It's hard to find an exact recipe, because it's a pretty improvisational dish. One thing I would note is that in Korea each vegetable is cooked separately. You will also probably have to play around with the seasoning to get the right taste.

Jap Chae (Stir Fried Glass Noodles with Vegetables) Recipe : : Food Network:

"Ingredients:
1/2 pound Asian vermicelli noodles
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 onion, julienned
1 carrot, julienned
1 red bell pepper, julienned
3 scallions, cut into 1-inch lengths
1/2 cup dried wood ear mushrooms
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound spinach, stems discarded
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Directions:
In a bowl, soak the vermicelli in hot water for 15 minutes. Drain the noodles, drop into a pot of boiling water for 30 seconds, and then rinse in cold water. Cut the noodles with kitchen shears.

Heat a large pan. Add 2 tablespoons sesame oil. Add the onion, carrot, red bell pepper, scallions, mushrooms, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper. Let cook for a few minutes, stirring, until the vegetables are cooked but still a little crisp. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl. To the pan add 1 more tablespoon sesame oil. Add the noodles, spinach, salt and pepper. Let cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring. Add to the vegetables with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds and combine.

Transfer to a platter. Serve hot or at room temperature."

The Korean Missionary Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:07:00 +0000

I get invited to church in Korea ALOT. I seem to attract missionaries. Not just here, but everywhere. Maybe I just seem approachable. Given this, it was probably not too surprising that I found myself at an evangelical service (in Korea all Christians are evangelical, truly) on Sunday. However, the story of how I got there was a little stranger than you might expect.

When I met Missionary Lee in the lounge of the Korean Language Institute, I learned that he had recently returned from spending more than a decade in Russia earning a PhD in Russian literature. After that we talked about my interest in Korean politics. On our second meeting he gave me the name and number of a friend, who he casually mentioned as an elder at his church, working for the Department of Defense in military intelligence. What good luck for me, unexpectedly getting contacts for informal interviews related my research. However, calling a complete stranger terrified me so it took me two weeks to follow up. Upon finally doing so, Mr. C, suggested the best way to meet was to attend his church service and talk afterwards. How could I say no to that?

The entire time I spoke with Mr. C, we only discussed Korean politics. He additionally introduced me two other members of the congregation who would also be very useful to my research. After the service we had lunch with his family at TGIFridays, where the majority of the interview took place. They were very sweet and insisted on paying for my meal. Only on the way back to the subway did Mr. C's wife hesitantly ask if I was a Christian. When I replied that I was, she said good, with some relief it seemed to me, and the topic was quickly dropped.

Of course, I was invited back to the church many times with the promise of more interviews. Everyone was very friendly, and I couldn't help but like them. It was the ultimate soft sell, and I think evangelicals in American should take note. I can't tell you how many times I've been harrassed in the States. No matter how many times you explain you're a Christian, they seem determined to view you as someone who's soul needs saving. On the other hand, this effect was ruined a little by Missionary Lee's junior partner who asked me to bring my friends to him so he can preach the gospel through friendship. I'm definitely not comfortable with this instrumental view of friendship that so many evangelical Koreans seem to have towards international students.

Even though the type of service is not one I would choose back home, I'm pretty sure I will be back to this church, lured by the promise of more interviews, but also to enjoy the community of fellow Christians.

Class Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:08:00 +0000

I have a confession to make, despite the fact that my classmates and the teachers are rather sweet, I am beginning to loathe my Korean classes. It seems that there is one thing I have little tolerance for, and it is boredom – especially mind numbing boredom. I have previously described Korean classes as frustrating and horridly difficult, but I could have never imaged the possibly that they could actually be this boring. The vocabulary and grammar are too easy, and I struggle to stay awake through their explanations. There is ALOT of rote recitations, and I can’t even describe the torture of the last hour when our teacher has clearly run out of prepared exercises. It’s difficult to have faith that I am learning anything at all other than from the daily encounters that occur outside of the classroom. I have no choice but to endure them, though. Presumable I have to at least pass, or the government, whose money paid for this trip, might be looking to get its money back. I just hope I can do so with my sanity still intact.

We did have a nice break on Thursday as we were given a cooking lesson on how to make one of Korea’s traditional foods, japchae. Unfortunately, there were simply too many cooks in the kitchen, and all I really learned was how to slice onions very thinly. I think I did get the gist of the dish, however, and I would like to try it when we get back to the States. It was also a reminder that I do like cook, at least occasionally, and hopefully I’ll be able to make more time for it this year.

Finding Spirituality and a Clear Mind on Inwangsan (인완산)

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:03:00 +0000

On Monday morning I headed out to find Korea’s most important Shaman shrine, Guksadang (국사당), mostly because I wanted to discover how a Shaman shrine differed from the numerous Buddhist temples I've had the occasion to see in Korea. The Lonely Planet described getting to the temple as a short walk uphill, but failed to mention the location was actually on one of the four mountains that flank Seoul. I should have known better, though, these sorts of places are always found near the top of a mountain. The Shrine itself was small and unspectacular. The main difference from the Buddhist temple buildings surrounding on the mountainside was the inner area. Instead of figures of Buddha, the walls are lined with with paintings and on the altar are gifts of food and drink. I only got a quick look, because my presence did not seem very welcome.

It turns out that area seeing the most worship on this particular day was actually at the Seonbawi Rock (선바위) or “Zen Rock.. A kind woman along the trail explained to me that it was the first day of the Chinese lunar month, which is a time when wives and mothers would come here to light some candles and pray for the well being of their families. As she encouraged me to participate, she explained that this practice was not part of any organized religion -- all that mattered was coming with a prayerful heart.

Inwangsan is one of many places in Korea where religious boundaries are blurred. The Shaman shrine along with smaller shrines etched into the crevices of the mountain are surrounded by numerous Buddhist temples and places of worship. Like the Methodist minister paying homage to his ancestors by leading the Confucian rite on my first stay to Korea, I am continually impressed by the spirituality of the Korean people and the indistinct lines of their religious practices.

My trip to Inwangsan also allowed me to take in a nice view of the recently restored fortress wall.

Finally, by making it to the top of the mountain I was rewarded by some nice views of the city below:

The experience was more than visual, however. My walk was continuously accompanied by the sound of Buddhist chants. Here are a couple of quick videos that try to capture this accompaniment.

Serenity in the Bukchon Hanok Village

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:08:00 +0000

When the Lonely Planet guide listed Bukchon Hanok Village as its most recommended attraction for Seoul, I was a little surprised. I imagine that like most visitors to Seoul in 1999, I had never heard of the area, despite being tucked away in Seoul’s primary tourism district. In the intervening years, the project to restore and rebuild tradition Korean houses has attracted much attention from academics and tourists alike. So, of course, I had to check it out for myself. Rain on Sunday morning almost derailed my plans, but as it began to lighten up in the afternoon, I decided to brave the weekend crowds and head over there. Only there were no crowds. Unlike the majority of Seoul, most of the stores, restaurants, art galleries, and museums were closed for Sunday. I wandered around this scenic area in complete respite from the usual crush of people that characterizes Seoul.

In case you are wondering, according to VisitKorea the Bukchon Hanok Village

boasts 600 years of history in the region. The preserved village sits between two large palaces in the traditional hanok regions where the eggplant-shaped streets show the 600-year-old beauty of the city.
Now, the village operates as a place where visitors come to experience the ambiance of the Joseon Dynasty, offering a cultural center and hanok-style restaurants. Read more at http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=561382

It should be noted that by preserve, they really mean restore and in most cases completely rebuild in the traditional hanok style.

The area itself is quite fascinating as the hanok houses are scattered at random over the entire area. When you look at one of these houses, surrounded by cars and modern buildings, the effect is inherently anachronistic and more than a little jarring. At times it even it resembled Disneyworld. All of this made me wonder: Is this project a living museum to capture a particular vision of Korea’s past, a means to enrich the neighborhood with tourist dollars, or is it a serious attempt to inject some culture into what is often thought to be the homogenizing effect of modernity? Most likely, this village is an example of all three. There was massive amounts of construction on new hanok houses going on, so this is definitely an area that is sure to continue to develop over the next few years. For additional information regarding this project check out: http://bukchon.seoul.go.kr.

Related to this subject, there was an interesting article in the New York Times about the construction and design of a modern hanok in Seoul. Click on the link if you’re interested in reading more http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/greathomesanddestinations/01location.html

Korean Culture Shock: Where the Heck Are the Seatbelts?

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:48:00 +0000

When I was in Pusan last summer for the Northeast Asia Economic Forum, the Korean girls also attending the conference were amused when we shared a taxi and I would instinctively look for the non-existent seatbelts. The same situation is very much present in Seoul, and it was somewhat amusing to witness the shock on Ryan’s face when he discovered this for himself – it bordered on incomprehension. What gets me the most are the taxis where there are shoulder straps but nothing to buckle them into. Its seems as if they were removed intentionally, although this is an assertion I can’t prove. For this girl, who was raised to never get in a car without seatbelts, the taxi experience can be a little disconcerting. When I polled my Korean language classmates as to whether they had any knowledge of why this might be the case, they simply pointed out that wearing a seatbelt wasn’t a legal requirement in Korea. When I looked this up, it’s true that passengers in the front of the car are required to wear seatbelts, but those in the back are not. Additionally, I read that wearing a seatbelt insults the driver’s skills on the road. In my opinion, when the taxi driver is watching his mobile TV and driving me around, a seatbelt is probably more necessary than most Korean seems to think.

The Greening of Seoul

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:30:00 +0000

My favorite cities: Paris, London, Singapore, New York, and Chicago

all contain beautiful parks and green areas that allow one to escape the harness of concrete and steel. My number one complaint about Seoul when I first visited a decade ago was the lack of almost any green space at all. The tiny areas that did existed, such as along a polluted Han River, were as crowded as the rest of the city. Of course, I recognized the many positive things that Seoul had to offer, but after a while it felt like there was no place to breathe: just concrete, pollution, and masses of people. After I returned to the US, the current president, Lee Myung-bak, became mayor of Seoul and began to address this problem. He is most famous for Cheong Gye Cheon, an earlier and more developed version of the Bulgwang Stream, that runs through the center of Seoul.

Other projects that have occurred in the last decade are the five nature parks that surround the 2002 World Cup Stadium. I haven’t had a chance to explore this area, yet, but it’s high on my list. Additionally efforts have been made to clean up the water and to introduce more trees and flowers throughout the city.

It’s a welcome start, and I have no doubt that Seoul can transform itself into a truly world class city.

(I took these pictures of the Han River this morning after biking there)

A North Korean Invasion?

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 05:56:00 +0000

My classmate Douglas mentioned a new game that will have North Korean soldiers invading the US, and I had to check it out for myself. The new game is called Homefront, and if you've ever wondered what it would be like if the North Koreans invaded the US in 2027, then you should definitely check it out.

Back in the Saddle

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:33:00 +0000

When I was growing up, once a year, usually in some brutal summer month, my mom would think that it would be fun for the whole family to get out our bikes and ride to my grandparent’s house about 7 miles away. It was torturous. I was too hot, could barely keep up with my family, and we all miserably agreed we were a bit out of shape for this ordeal. And there was the fact that Springdale drivers were not particularly tolerant to bicyclists.

Despite this early negative association, bicycle riding has always been one of my favorite forms of exercise. And I have so few forms of exercise that I can even tolerate, much less enjoy. In high school I would try to ride from our house to the Springdale park beside the library (where there also happened to be a McDonalds to undo my calorie burning) until I got tired of be cursed at by driver trying to run me off the road. I thought I might use a bike instead of a car when I moved to Conway for college, but I realized quickly it was even more dangerous to ride around there.

So I expected the Netherlands to change everything, finally getting me to develop some real bicycling muscles. But we lived in the city center where there really wasn’t any need to ride to the store or see friends; this in combination with watching a horrific incident between a bicycle and a bus from my apartment window, as well as my own near brush with death from a bus, I mostly left my bicycle in our storage shed. Except on Sundays when there was little traffic, and then I would ride around the city usually to a park or something. I was just regaining my love for doing so, when I fell off a horse and was in too much pain to even contemplating getting on a bicycle.

A year later I tried to resume my Sunday bicycle rides only to discover that I would tire quickly and have to walk my bike home. It was embarrassing. Suddenly I could barely ride a mile. I didn’t understand how my back injury could be effecting my stamina, but the two seemed related. I tried several times, always with the same result. Since then I’ve been to humiliated to get on a bike.

Recently, I was surprised to read that biking just 5 minutes a day could significantly reduce weight gain. This made me think about about the really nice biking path near our apartment where there also happened to be a bike rental place. I decided that even if I got tired after 5 minutes or so, what would it matter? Maybe I could at least try to rebuild some strength. So this is what I did on Sunday and to my surprise I was able to ride a round for an hour, more or less continuously – I did stop to take pictures.. I’m not even sore, except for my toush – those bike seats are hard. I don’t know if I’ll be able to fit it into my daily schedule, but at least a new Sunday tradition might be born.

Off the Beaten Track: Bulgwang Stream

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:56:00 +0000

Your average tourist to Seoul will never see or notice the Bulgwang Stream running into the Han river. For good reason, there’s not much to see. But if you live along it, it does make daily life more pleasant. My readers will be treated to numerous photos, because it happens to be a nice area for me to spend a relaxing Sunday. These photos aren’t that great because they were taken as I was hopping off and on my bike, but I still wanted to share them.

At night the entire area is lit up and there is a nightly laser show. Here is a clip of the finale as well as pictures.

Cancer’s Shadow

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:43:00 +0000

I was saddened to hear the new recently about my cousin’s husband’s cancer returning, and heartsick about the hardships involved for their entire family as they fight this disease once again. I am also impressed by their positive spirit as they face this ordeal. Please keep them in your prayers for strength and another successful battle against the cancer – this time for good.

Although I do not know John well, his experience affects me quite personally. We are of similar ages and were diagnosed less than a year apart. I have to manage the fear that my next three month check-up could also discover cancer’s return while remaining hopeful that this will not be the case. Even mores stressful are the false positives. These feelings are heighted by John’s news.

Cancer’s most lasting effect on my life, I believe, is the internalization that old age is not a given. Even though this is true for everyone, I know before cancer I mostly lived with the idea that I would have a long life ahead of me. A lot of times, we endure the day, waiting for the weekend, our next vacation, retirement. What I am being forced to learn, however, is how to recognize happiness in the present. Of course, it can’t be there all the time. But if it is often absent, it is important to make changes to our circumstances or attitude to bring about its presence in our heart. As a bonus, such feelings usually spread to those around us as well.

Out and About in Edae: Can coffee cure demonic possession?

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 08:26:00 +0000

After getting my feet soaked (and a significant portion of the rest of me) during Friday’s rainstorms coupled with the realization that Korea’s rainy season was well underway, I decided on Saturday to go shopping for some rain boots. I didn’t stray far, instead I revisited one of my favorite areas for shopping: Edae, which is the area around the all woman’s college just across from Yonsei, where I’m now studying. Unfortunately, I realized that I’m too old for much of the just entered college targeted inexpensive clothes and shoes that crowd the streets, but it was still fun to wander around. Especially when you get to stumble across sights like this:

And I did find some rain boots as well. I might almost look forward to the next rainy day. Almost.

The US isn't the Only Country to be Plagued by Spies

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:27:00 +0000

N Koreans Jailed Over Plot To Kill Defector

Kim Myong Ho and Dong Myong Kwan were sent to prison for 10 years after being convicted at Seoul Central District Court of violating national security laws.

Both were arrested in Seoul in April over an alleged plot to kill Hwang Jang-Yop, who used to be one of the North's most powerful officials before he defected to South Korea in 1997.

Pyongyang has denied any involvement, accusing the South of staging it to intensify anti-North sentiment.

(The majors) have admitted to all of their crimes and even showed a human side, worrying about the safety of their families in North Korea.

Judge Cho Han-Chang

The majors posed as ordinary defectors and told investigators they were ordered to report back on Hwang's activities in Seoul and prepare to "slit the betrayer's throat", prosecutors said.

Corporate Welfare: Oil Companies Reap Billions From Subsidies - NYTimes.com

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:05:00 +0000

Corporate welfare once again rears its ugly head. Of course, oil companies will survive a tax just fine. Europe taxes them at a much higher rate and they haven't stopped exploration there. Then again, since my husband's salary might once again come from one of these companies, maybe I should be a little conflicted ; )

Oil Companies Reap Billions From Subsidies - NYTimes.com: "With federal officials now considering a new tax on petroleum production to pay for the cleanup, the industry is fighting the measure, warning that it will lead to job losses and higher gasoline prices, as well as an increased dependence on foreign oil.

But an examination of the American tax code indicates that oil production is among the most heavily subsidized businesses, with tax breaks available at virtually every stage of the exploration and extraction process."

Little Tokyo

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 09:50:00 +0000

When we were in Seoul as exchange students, the group we hung with spent most of its drinking evenings at a place called Little Tokyo, so, of course, we had to brave the rain and partially flooded streets on Friday night to find our old haunt. It was too rainy to take a picture of the front door, but here is Ryan with our favorite drink back then – fruit flavored soju.

It’s very surprising that it’s still around, but some things have definitely changed. It’s definitely not so friendly to international students anymore. I suspect it's under different ownership now. We had some trouble ordering, until I remembered I spoke actually some Korean.
Incidentally, it also happens to be where we went on our first date. We had gone to see a musical and all the restaurants had already closed when the show ended. So went to Little Tokyo for a large fried food platter, and, of course, lemon soju.

I Am a Technology Goddess

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:54:00 +0000

Not really. Okay, not at all. But still, I’m quite proud of my latest experiment. You can now call me at me (816) phone number #, which will ring Skype, which will then ring my phone in Korea. If I can’t pick it up, it will then return to the (816) and record the message which I can access through my email or online. It’s a domestic call from the US and a small Skype charge for me. The only downside I’ve discovered so far is forgetting to turn the ringer off at night, because when we’re sleeping here is the majority of the work day in the US. Still pretty cool. It’s amazing how far technology has come since my first stay in Korea a decade ago.