TRAVEL MONEY & PLANNING What You Need to Know Before You Start Planning Your Next Trip Posted on September 1, 2015July 24, 2026 Off-season makes sense for the savings in hotels, airfare and the decreased crowds. However it works for places like Paris. Paris in the Spring is hell on Earth, but in August, you’ll have some popular attractions all to yourself. Deals are plentiful May thru October to Thailand but you may not enjoy your time (or possibly die trying) because typhoons are likely to pop up anywhere. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES The Truth About the Seokguram Hike: More Sweat Than Serenity Posted on September 1, 2015February 25, 2026 I expected serenity on the 4km climb from Bulguksa to Seokguram. Instead, fog erased the views, steep drops tested our nerves, and the line to see the Buddha stretched over an hour. Was the hike worth it? Here’s the honest truth no brochure mentions. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES What Makes Anapji Pond One of Gyeongju’s Most Beautiful Spots Posted on September 1, 2015April 12, 2026 Gyeongju was once the capital of the Silla Dynasty and remnants of its former glory lay all over this pretty college town. And although the original palace was burned to the ground in the 10th century, the man-made pond still maintains its original footprint where many remnants were recently discovered. Read more
MILITARY LIFE & TRAVEL Saying Goodbye Every Three Years in the Military Posted on August 21, 2015May 8, 2026 I sat in a quiet parking lot before dawn and said goodbye without words as my husband left for deployment. After he was gone, I managed the house, raised our children, and learned how to live with the silence he left behind. I built routines to stay grounded, even when loneliness and fear crept in. I came to understand that while he served overseas, I was serving at home in my own way. Through every goodbye, I held onto the belief that love, resilience, and time would carry us to the next hello. Read more
MILITARY LIFE & TRAVEL Daily Life in Daegu: One Military Spouse Perspective Posted on July 31, 2015December 27, 2025 If we weren’t expats in South Korea, daily life would be uneventful. But in South Korea, everything from shopping to going to a restaurant, going to the movies, or riding in a taxi is an opportunity for adventure. And this is what I love about living in Daegu. The ordinary… Read more
SLOW TRAVEL & LIVING ABROAD Expat Life in Daegu: Settled, Wired, and Looking for Work Posted on July 22, 2015February 18, 2026 Settling In: My Journey Begins in Daegu My apartment is all set up. From now on, everything I do will be tweaking how I use the space. Our VPN works, and I can stream videos and order from JCPenneys and Pier1. I met a few of my neighbors and even… Read more
CULTURE, EVENTS & EXPERIENCES How to Taste Wine for Beginners: Sip, Savor, or Spit? Posted on June 17, 2014July 24, 2026 Wine tasting notes may seem complicated. But it’s not– go for what you like. Ultimately, it will help you to select wines you’ll actually drink and enjoy at home. If not, you can always buy wines with a pretty label. Or just stick to bottles labeled red or white, sweet or dry. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES My Journey Through Military Life: Army Brat, Soldier, and Now Military Spouse Posted on May 10, 2014February 23, 2026 Born into a world where traveling and the military are intertwined, the essence of service courses through my veins. From the tender moments of my infancy at Ft. Meade’s Kimbrough Army Hospital, where I received my very first slap on the rear, to the bustling streets of Rome, where I… Read more