Thailand: The Land of Smiles

When I think of Thailand, I reflect of the beautiful beaches, tasty foods, and kind smiling people. My trip to Thailand was a unique experience for me. I travel alone, meet local people, and attempt to experience the culture from all angles. Thailand is a country of many colors. For this reason, I will always have Thailand very close to my heart.

Grand Palace, Bangkok

As I said, I usually travel alone. I feel traveling alone can make a trip more adventurous as well as less-complicated. I do like having a companion along, but I feeling traveling solo can make provide greater opportunity to do what my heart desires which can be a simple as sleeping in, eating some bizarre local food, or exploring an exotic location.

Tuk Tuk Ride

My trip to Thailand included four major places. These included Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Krabi. I have a story to tell each place I visited and each one have memories I will never forget. I did a lot of flying during this trip. Most backpackers prefer trains or buses. I find it easier and sometimes with equivalent expenses to take an airplane. Some flights were as cheap at 40 USD!

I learned a lot in Thailand. I would see many poor people begging for money and I would usually give some to them. Being able to travel at such a young age has made me realize how blessed I am to have the time and money to travel. Giving a small amount of money might be a huge help to someone in need even though it’s pennies to me.

Bangkok

One night in Bangkok makes the tough guy tremble, right? Actually, Bangkok has become very modern and even safe with an array of things to do and see. It’s such a vibrant city filled with shopping malls, temples, and yes, traffic. I have never seen traffic like Bangkok but at the same time, it can be easy and cheap to get from place to place. A common form of transportation is the “tuk tuk” which is motorbike connected to a two-wheeled, open-aired carrier. It’s cheap, chaotic, and sometimes frightening to take one. You simply approached a driver, negotiate a price, and hold on for your life. Another thing I noticed about Bangkok upon arrival was the billboards. The billboards seemed to the size of football fields and advertised many large companies. They were enormous!

Busy Bangkok

Another thing about Bangkok is the heat. Like many cities, walking is necessary which means walking outside. After leaving the freezing cold temperatures of Korea, the heat in Bangkok was a blessing although my face never dried.

Bangkok is a city of many faces. It has its poorer areas but in the same vicinity, I would find nice, innovative buildings. The city has many skyscrapers and has also become a shopper’s paradise. I walked into malls full of luxury brands and I also explored areas of cheap, knockoff goods. I bought a pair of $5 sunglasses that are already in need or repair.

Wat Arun

Food, food, food! It’s everywhere in Bangkok! I was able to enjoy so many local flavors at a very cheap price. Thai food is some of the best in Asia and seems to be so fresh and flavorful! I already miss the tastes of lime and cilantro.

Karon Tribe

In Bangkok, I made a friend named Mikey. He has studied and lived in different English speaking countries and he became a great friend and travel guide for my stay in Bangkok. He showed me the numerous shopping districts, historical places, and art galleries. One of our favorite memories was taking a long-tail boat on the river in Bangkok. It was a great experience seeing the city from this angle as we saw the famous Wat Arun and Grand Palace. It’s quite touristy but also really enjoyable. Mikey and I also did other simple things such as drink coffee, sing karaoke, and see a movie. By the way, seeing a movie in a cinema with snacks is super inexpensive! If I lived there, it would be week experience. Mikey also took me to the well-known Chinatown. Here, we ate beef noodles, drank dragon fruit juice, and I tried durian fruit. Durian fruit is known for its smell. To me, it had a smell of onions and tasted awful. This is only my opinion as many locals love it.

Delicious Eats!

Meeting Mikey and experiencing Bangkok was an unforgettable experience! I am so thankful for my short trip there. Hopefully, in the future, I can have many more “One night in Bangkok” experiences.

Chiang Mai

Located in northern Thailand is the second largest city of Chiang Mai. It has become a favorite among tourists. I loved it for its simplicity. I stayed in a hotel inside the city with a perfect location to do many things. My first day in Chiang Mai was a lazy day for me, but I was still able to taste local food, Thai style.

In all Thai cities in towns, there are restaurants serving lower budget meals. Even though these places are economical in price, the quality and flavor is incredible. I ordered sufficient dishes to feed an army and would only spend a few dollars. In Chiang Mai, I was able to experience this time and time again. My mouth waters just at the thought of Thai food.

Elephant Ride

On my first full day, my friend from Hong Kong, Raphael, joined me. He flew in to spend time with me and to explore this city. We quickly started a routine of massages and eating. It was great. Massages in Thailand are the best because they are so cheap. We would get massages for a couple of hours and spend around 12 dollars. If we had a free hour, we were getting a massage. Our first night, we had two massages before and after we explored the night bazaar.

The next day, we got a taxi driver and paid around $30 (7 hours) for him to drive us in the region. This driver was a very pleasant guy who spoke English. He told us he has never left Chiang Mai and all he knows is his city. I guess a guide like that is best to have when getting to know a place. He took us to see a monkey show where I played with monkeys, I tiger home, where I played with tigers, a temple atop a mountain, a waterfall, and a traditional Thai show and dinner. It was a perfect day!

Tiger and I

My final full day in Chiang Mai was spent at an Elephant camp where we rode elephants, visited the longneck Karon tribe, rode bamboo rafts, ox carts, and saw an elephant show. Riding elephants was something I always wanted to do in Thailand. It was a little nerve-wracking at first riding that immense creature, but after time, we became friends and all was good.

That night, after eating our favorite restaurant “Lemon Tree”, we had another two hour massage and rested for the night. Chiang Mai was such a great experience and it is beyond hesitation one of my favorite places in Asia! It’s not as recognized as other cities, but it is worth a visit.

Phuket Island

A favorite of European tourists is the island of Phuket. It’s a large Island completed with natural beauty, beaches, resorts, and people. There is actually a lot to do and see in Phuket in addition to the beach. I stayed on Karon Beach on the southwest side of the island. It was not as busy as the Patong beach which was full of motorbikes, scooters, and pedestrians. Yes, it is an overcrowded holiday location. After coming from the tranquility of Chiang Mai, the bustling beaches of Phuket became a shock to me.

Phi Phi Islands

My time in Phuket was supposed to be a time of relaxation and more massages. It was to a point, but also I do not like sitting very long. Within my time in Phuket, I saw “James Bond Island” which is now famous from the movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”. This tour included rafting in the ocean, visiting a floating Muslim village, and visiting a caved lying Buddha statue (of course some monkeys were included). It was all beautiful but at the same time, very touristy. I also met a woman named Bella who became my travel buddy. She is an actress living in New Orleans.

Also in Phuket, I did another elephant experience in the area of Kao Sok. It was a long drive north but we made stops along the way. We visited Kao Lak beach which is famous for getting battered by the Tsunami. Visiting there was a reminder of what happened and the lives lost in that tragedy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this elephant ride because it was so calm and I did the driving as I rode on the elephants head. Also, the rafting on the river was very calming and relaxing. I just lifted my feet and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. I could not complain about anything.

What I love about Phuket? I love the diversity of the food, the cheap massages, the lively atmosphere, and the beaches.

What I don’t love about Phuket? I disliked the traffic, the overcrowded places, the tourists, and the distance to the airport from the major beaches.

Overall, Phuket was an exciting and an amazing place. I might have other places in mind when visiting Thailand’s beaches, but I still love Phuket.

Muslim Fishing Village

Krabi

The shortest part of my trip in Thailand was spent near the coastal town of Krabi. Taking a three hour bus ride, I stayed on the beach town of Ao Nang. It was a lot quieter than Phuket and also a bit cheaper. Still, many tourists roamed the streets. The beach at Ao Nang was incredible and super beautiful. I am happy I got to see it for myself. I also noticed here the vast amount of Indian tailors on the street, “Hello, my friend. Suit for you? Good price!” They were very persistent. I eventually gave in and bought a nice fitted shirt even when I repeated said no and that I didn’t need one.

Kao Lak

During my stay in Krabi, I speed boated myself to the Phi Phi Islands. These islands are known as being some of the most beautiful islands in the world. Some of the most beautiful places I have ever been were at these islands. Yes, a bit overcrowded, but also very spectacular. Another movie was filmed in this location called “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio. They day was filled with island hopping, beach relaxing, and working on my tan (my tan meaning my white skin that I tried to tan which never happened). The beauty around me was enough for marvelous images in my head.

I really do recommend Krabi as a destination to visit the attractions near Phuket without actually staying in Phuket. Even though it was short visit, it will definitely be a great memory to have. After Krabi, I needed make my way to Malaysia. That will be the start of my next story.

People Truly Matter

Being away from home during the holidays can be tough.  Watching Christmas movies, listening to Christmas carols, and smelling fresh-baked cookies can make one reminisce of the wonderful moments at home during Christmas. However, I’m in Korea. I almost wanted to say, “stuck” in Korea, but it’s totally my choice to be here.

This winter in Korea has been one worst in terms of weather. It seems to snow every other day and the temperatures stay below freezing. It’s been really rough for most people living in Korea. With the weather, being away from family, and sometimes non-comfortable living conditions, you may think it has been really difficult for me personally. In reality, it’s been an amazing time.

Christmas Eve Dinner

I truly miss my family and friends back at home. I would have done anything to be with them during the holidays. However, I have gained a wonderful family here in Korea. They are made of people from all over the world with different backgrounds, lifestyles, goals, and beliefs. It’s been a great feeling to be so loved by these people. They aren’t blood related, but they are completely special.

Christmas turned out to be a great time and the beautiful Christmas morning snow was icing on the cake.  On Christmas Eve, my friends and I had Korean BBQ and tons of meat! MERRY CHRISTMAS! After, we exchanged gifts at a nearby Starbucks. I received a backpack for my upcoming travels. It will be a great trekking across Southeast Asia.  The next day was full of food as we went to VIPS, a Western style steak and buffet place. Yes, I ate my heart out and enjoyed every bit of it. That night we watched “Christmas Vacation” and ate more junk food. Overall, it was such a great time.

Gift Exchange at Starbucks

Christmas is really different from in the States. People are more interested in spending time with friends or boy/girlfriends. The shops are crowded, the streets are overwhelmingly packed, movie theaters are full, and there is no room in the coffee shops.  It’s more like another Valentine’s Day and less like a family holiday. When I ask my students about Christmas, they would say, “Teacher, I’m sad. I am lonely. I don’t have a girlfriend for Christmas.” I did not have one either at that age, but that didn’t prevent Santa from entering my chimney.

Even though Christmas wasn’t spent with my family and doing traditional Christmas things, it was still a lovely Christmas. I may not have all of the necessary things for a proper Christmas, but I still have amazing friends. It’s all about people and who is surrounding you. I had a great Christmas not because I ate great food or saw snowfall, but it was great because the people were great. People really do matter, and I am thankful for all the great people in my life.

Merry Christmas

Traveling “Asia’s World City”- Hong Kong

A major holiday in Korea is the holiday of Chuseok. During this time, people spend time with family, have large meals, and remember their ancestors. For me, it was vacation time.

With my friend, Emma, a trip to the city of Hong Kong was a must. Hong Kong, a city of 7,000,000 people lies in the southeast portion of mainland China. It is such a special city with a unique mixture of Western and Chinese cultures. Traveling through the city, you make feel you are in London, New York, and then back in China. The skyline, towers, large crowds, and urban feeling would make one feel as in New York. The double-decker buses, high quality shops, and British influences would make one feel as in London while the colorful electric lights, busy streets, open Asian markets, stores filled with herbal medicines, and flavorful foods would remind one they are still in Asia.

Hong Kong from Victoria Peak

Busy streets of Hong Kong

I was filled with many surprises in Hong Kong. A word to describe Hong Kong would be “International”. It truly is an international city made of people from all over the world as well as shops and food for any taste bud. I became thrilled to buy IBC Root Beer as well as eating simple foods from home. Another surprise was these foods were actually cheaper than what I could buy them at in the USA. WIN WIN WIN!

Hong Kong has a relatively small land area but huge population making it one of the most densely populated cities in the world. That’s why Hong Kong builds up having the most skyscrapers in the world! There is so much to do and see in this small but big city. Most of the territory of Hong Kong isn’t actually city at all but made up of islands, mountains, and parks. Emma and I got to experience and see the city outside the metropolis.

Emma and I going to see the Buddha

Located on the island of Lantau, Emma and I got to see the area from a different angle. Traveling by cable car, we rode up different points over sea and land to arrive at the base of what would be an amazing site. Here is the largest bronze seated Buddha in the world known as Tian Tan Buddha. Sitting on the top on the mountain it would be a highlight of this marvelous area. Here, the Buddhist culture is exemplified with a large temple, statues, and other areas of ritualistic purposes.

Sitting Buddha Statue

Going back to the city, the greatest view can be seen by a short trip up Victoria Peak. For about $1.30 US, you can take a tram up the mountain to the peak. The slope on this tram can be very steep. Unfortunately, Emma and I didn’t get a seat due to the large crowds on the tram. This caused for a fun adventure. The ride is only 10 minutes long and once at the top, an amazing up close view can be seen. It’s so iconic and very Hong Kong!

With “International” being the main word to describe the city, the phrase I would call Hong Kong is the “Shopping Paradise”. Being a major free economic zone with low or zero taxes, Hong Kong benefits from the large port making it a shopper’s haven. Malls and stores are everywhere! You can truly purchase anything you could want for a reasonable price. People from all over Asia come to Hong Kong for one purpose, and that being to shop. What did I buy? Some cologne and food from America. I was excited to bring home tortillas, chips, chocolate, and spices.

Temple street market

Another great surprise was the variety of old Chinese antiques available. For an easy purchase, I could have easily purchased a Chinese antique a thousand years old for a portion on what someone would buy in the United States. This is because it is illegal to transport items out of China that are a certain age. This law does not apply to Hong Kong.

Light Show

Hong Kong is also a city that looks amazing at night, too. Looking over Hong Kong Island, one may see a laser light show every night accompanied with music. This happens at 8:00 pm nightly and is such a beautiful site to see! Watching the show, I realized how wonderful this city truly is! Also at night is time for the Temple Street Market. This area is filled with fake and some useless goods. If you need a fake Rolex or fake Coach, this is the place to go! My time was spent going to a Thai fortune teller. I have never done anything like this before but it was a fun experience being told I will have good luck this year.

Hong Kong has many surprises! With the variety of food, the diversity of its people, and the beautiful of the city, no wonder this place is gem of Asia. I do hope I am able to explore this city more in the future!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Friends at home

My Beloved Tulsa

Business Class

I have officially lived in South Korea for one year. It’s been one crazy, thrilling, and successful journey up to this point. Thankfully, at the end of July, I was able to visit my family and friends back in Oklahoma. I gorged myself with food, met some amazing old friends while making new ones, and frequently relaxed. It was such an incredible month home and a time I could truly find comfort. I was even surprised with a party filled with Mexican food, piñatas, water balloons, and tons of chocolate. 

I can say coming back to Korea was something I wasn’t too thrilled about. I do have a good job in Korea and wonderful friends, but the thought of another year being away from my beloved family and Oklahoma was a killer. However, I toughed it out and found little blessings along my route back to Korea. 

Through Facebook, I discovered my friend from elementary school, Tyler, was going to be on the same flights as me to Tokyo. I was thinking he would make a good layover buddy as we would most likely sit separately. However, through canceled flights from Tulsa, we were able to sit next to each from Dallas to Tokyo, in business class. I never would have thought I would be able to experience a long distance flight in business class. It was the most comfortable and luxurious way I could have gotten to Tokyo. 

Arriving late in Seoul, Korea, I was greeted by my Korean friend who was pleased to drive me back to my home in Korea. It was over a 2 hour drive for which I can’t remember much of that night. After arriving at my home, the sleep deprivation took over and the rest is history.

Jet lag is real, it’s awful, and it’s almost unavoidable. It causes the senses to change and makes a happy person lose their mind. Jet lag has made me ask the question, “Why am I back in Korea?”. It’s a question I have asked myself a few times while being back and I’m slowly figuring it out.

One thing I do know is I do have a purpose here. I have been teaching for a small English camp with only a few students attending. Being able to connect personally with these students has opened my eyes more to why I am here. It truly is a blessing to have an impact in students’ lives. 

Sometimes, in life, we can’t see the positive when all around us seems negative. My canceled flight from Tulsa to Dallas turned into a free upgrade to business class to Tokyo and same day arrival to Korea. Even now, when I might ask the question, “Why am I here?” the answer isn’t always simple to discover and may take time find out. I will try to remain positive and patient to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I believe things happen for a reason and I’m willing to find out.

The Case of the Missing Wallet

“Do you know who this belongs to?” I said to the other passengers of line number 2.

It was a normal ride on the subway after a weekend in Seoul. However, this time, I saw something that would bring confusion to me but carelessness from others. As I was taking my seat on the subway, I saw a lady’s wallet on the floor. I quickly picked it up and asked others near it if it was theirs. To my surprise, I didn’t receive a “yes” or a “no”, only stares and glares.

It seemed no one cared a lady just left a wallet on the subway. It could have contained her life savings! I walked the whole subway car asking but I always received the same response, nothing.

What was I supposed to do with the missing wallet? I looked through the wallet to find nothing but a picture of a girl, a movie ticket, and 24,000 Korean Won (22 USD). No identification, numbers, or any type of information was to be found.

I sat down in a seat and wondered my next actions. Do I just keep the wallet or do I try to find the owner? It was a moral dilemma for me. As I was sitting there, a man next to me with dark shaded glasses, with a straight face said, “The lady who dropped the wallet got off at Hongik University”.

Really, he saw the lady get off the subway but did nothing to help the situation! It was a like a movie where a mother is finding a lost daughter and no one seems to help or care. For my story, it was a wallet where my only help came from a man with a straight face wearing shaded glasses.

In the end, I did keep the wallet. It seemed like too much work for $22. What would have you done in this situation in another country?

Food Delivery, Korean Style

Korea is the king of food delivery. In the United States, the most typical delivery is pizza and Asian cuisines. However, in Korea, food delivery is an art that must be appreciated.

Pizza delivery is normal, but in Korea, you can have your McDonald’s Big Mac delivered to your front door. Want to stay at home and have a home cooked meal without cooking? Make a call, wait, pay, and eat!

Recently, I had a full Chinese meal delivered to my home with black noodles, a large plate of sweet fried pork, soup, side dished, and sauces. When delivered, it’s brought in real bowls and plates in a fashion of a king. What do you do when you are finished? Simply leave everything including uneaten food outside your door. The delivery guy will pick it up in an hour. That’s what I call service!

If you can eat it, it can be delivered. This part of Korea has become one of my favorites. As a person who likes to eat, food delivery is a dream come true. Yes, I know the restaurant will take 5 minutes to walk, but it’s so much more fun when you don’t have to!

Talk to me in Korean

안녕하세요! One of the most difficult parts about living in another country is overcoming language barriers. I can intensively learn Korean for a year and still have these obstacles. Have you even spent two hours at a bank to give them a small piece of information? Has it taken you days to book tickets online for a simple sporting event? Have you been yelled at for something you had no idea what it was about? Have you randomly chosen an item off a menu just because you couldn’t read it?

I have done all the following plus a million more. It’s been a great challenge for me to overcome these barriers. I have had to use my resources such as people and my iPhone (a man’s best friend).

When I first moved to Korea, I couldn’t read anything written in Korea. It was all lines and blocks to me. As time has past, I can simply, but slowly, read Korean even when I don’t understand what I am reading. Encouraged by my friend Namki, a few months ago I started using an online website called talktomeinkorean.com to improve my Korean. This resource has been very helpful for me as I learn Korean. I don’t expect to become fluent but I just want to be more comfortable using the language and understanding my situations more. It’s free and I encourage anyone to check it out.

Language barriers can be a problem, but with a little motivation and resources, it can be overcome. Hopefully after two years of living in Korea, I can have short conversations with my new friends in Korea. 감사합니다 (thank you)   Talktomeinkorean.com

 

Dr. Ji

I frequently visit the doctor . When I say frequently, I mean at least once a week. However, in Korea, going to the doctor is a piece of cake. You show up, walk in the doctor’s office, talk for a few minutes, pay the nurse (I pay about $2) and then leave with your prescription. Sounds easy right?

For me, going to the doctor is like visiting a friend. As with many doctors in Korea, their English level is higher than the average Korean. My doctor, Dr. Ji, is very fond of me. With my first visit, he gave me his business card and told me if I ever got bored that I could see a movie with him and his family. Sometimes I go to his office and he explains the problems of the day or week to me. It’s like I instantly became his psychologist when I sit and listen to his problems about taxes, money, work and family. He listens to my problems, too. Sometimes, I am in his office for over thirty minutes while at the same time, he has a line of other patients needing to see him.

Dr. Ji has also become more than a doctor to me. Recently, he became my travel agent as he booked a hotel and taxi driver for me while I visited Jeju Island. He made all the plans and arranged everything for me to have a good time. While in Jeju, he would call to see if I had any difficulties and also to check if I was having a good time.

Dr. Ji has done a lot for me for which I am thankful. Soon, I am going to meet his family and enjoy it over a meal. As random as it is becoming friends with a Korean doctor, I am thankful for these friendships which make life a little bit easier.

On the Border- A DMZ Tour

First the first time, I will not refer to “On the Border” as a Tex-Mex restaurant I frequently visit in Seoul but as the actual border located in Korea. The only border in South Korea is the one between North and South Korea making it a highly monitored and tense area.

Joint Securty Area facing North Korea

With a tour with the United Service Organization, we took a 90 minute bus ride to United Nations Camp Bonifas which is 400 meters from the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The DMZ is 160 miles long and 2.5 miles long is serves as the buffer between the two countries. It is the most militarized border in the world.

 At camp, we were given a briefing of the area which we located and more about the DMZ. Within minutes after, we got on military buses and crossed the southern border of the DMZ and arrived at the Joint Security Area. This area is where North and South Korea truly meet and stand face to face. With strict instructions we were able to enter into the building where meetings between the North and South take place. I was able to actually walk into North Korea in this room. One side was North Korea, the other South Korea. It was an intense experience walking across the border of the world’s most secret country. In this area, I was also able to see a North Korean serviceman looking at us through his binoculars. We were told to never make eye contact or make hand gestures at them. This room was the most intense but exciting part of the trip.

Converence room where the North and South meet (with South Korean soldier)

 I also saw the best of the best of the Korean Army. Standing in a Taekwondo stance wearing dark shaded sunglasses (even though it was raining), with solid facial expressions, clenched fists and standing at complete attention their goal was to intimidate the North Koreans. Even though the job probably doesn’t require much intense labor, it would be a very intense on the mind.

 We later went to another area to view the propaganda village of Kijŏng-dong. With a population of 0, it was built by the North Koreans as a way to encourage South Korean defection. It contains empty buildings and homes and the third largest flag pole. I was surprised how close the village was in the distance. With the large flag waving the in distance, the town seemed as if a movie set.

North Korean proproganda village

We later went to the “Bridge of No Return” and a set of tunnels located near the border. North Korea has attempted to build large underground tunnels to invade the South. Unfortunately, the South has only discovered four of these tunnels but there is believed to be more. One of these tunnels is now a tourist hotspot. Walking a gradual slope, of the 3^rdInfiltration Tunnel, we were able to see the work of North Koreans and their attempts at coming into South Korea. Too bad I am taller than most Koreas so I had to bend my back to walk there. At the end of the tunnel for tourists was a set of barbed wire. Ok, it’s time to go up and out the tunnel. It seemed like a long journey for little excitement.   

North Korea left, South Korea right

 Other areas of the tour included the Dora Observatory and the last train station until before North Korea which connects the capital cites of both countries. It was all very interesting and informative.

 I later discussed with my friend about the reunification of Korea. I say within ten years but there is a lot of doubt. Maybe soon I will talk about the possibilities of a reunified Korea. Hopefully within my lifetime I can see one Korea, but until then, we can take day tours to believe it will happen. If visiting Korea, I definitely recommend a tour of the DMZ.

Last Train Station in South Korea before North Korea

New Environments, New Friendships

When living abroad, one may find themselves in completely new situations and environments. I have had to adjust my lifestyle and ways of thinking in order to succeed as a teacher in Korea. One aspect that has changed is my feeling towards friendship. I have always loved my friends and loved making new friends but never before have a gained the full concept of making friends. Back in Oklahoma, I had many of the same friends growing up. I felt I had no need to make new friends because I felt I already had enough. When first living in Korea, I had a clean slate. It was a time in my life when I was completely alone. However, thankfully, this period did not last long.

I was in the same situation as most other new teachers in Korea. All came from different backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, and environments but we all came looking for something different in Korea. This open mindset has allowed friendships to bloom resulting in hundreds of remarkable new friends in Korea. It didn’t happen overnight but it has been a gradual process in my time in Korea. From my foreigner friends to my Korean friends, I can say these friendships have truly changed my life.

 Isn’t it nice when you can say, “I have many best friends”? I say, “That’s my best friend in Oklahoma. That’s my best friend in Europe. That’s my best friend in Korea”. I am blessed with such friendships. If it sounds like I am bragging, you are right. I think we should all brag about our friends.

What are true meanings of friendships?

 I am human which means I do dumb things. It’s nice to have people say, “Ryan, that was a dumb thing you did”.  Other the contrary, it’s encouraging to hear, “Ryan, that was a dumb thing but (give advice here).” Friendships are the cause of laughter, personal growth, adventure, memories, random moments, contentment, refection, and sharing together. 

I did want to tell stories about my friends here but I would have to write a novel. If you my friend, wherever you are, I want to say “Thank you! I value you and our friendship.”