DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Returning Home After Years Abroad: Reverse Culture Shock Survival Guide Posted on November 25, 2016September 3, 2026 Don’t take it personally, living in a different country forces you to remove the cultural biases we are naturally inclined to possess. You see the world from the standpoint of another culture. Therefore expect to be told that you have changed. Certainly, you’re not the same person anymore. And be happy for that. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES What You Need to Know Before Taking a DMZ Tour in South Korea Posted on November 9, 2016September 4, 2026 The DMZ isn’t your typical tourist destination. Learning all the things that happened there, watching them watch and photograph you and signing the “possible death” waiver adds to the tension. I did learn a lot and seeing it first hand put most of it into perspective. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Villa Borghese: The Best Day Trip in Rome Posted on November 5, 2016September 4, 2026 Villa Borghese in Rome blends art, history, and beauty in one unforgettable setting. From strolling through its peaceful gardens to admiring Bernini’s marble masterpieces, every moment feels steeped in grandeur. Inside the Borghese Gallery, Apollo and Daphne and Pluto and Proserpina come alive through skillful detail and storytelling. Beyond the museum, the park’s lake, temples, and sculptures offer space to slow down and reflect—reminding visitors that art, nature, and mythology all intertwine here in the heart of Rome. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES 24 Hours in Paris: My First Trip and What Made It Special Posted on October 27, 2016September 4, 2026 As long as I live there are a few things I will never forget. I will never forget the day I met my husband or the day my children looked into my eyes and knew who I was. The first time my husband left for war was the worse. And I will never forget the first time I saw Paris. Never. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES How to Experience the Best of Siem Reap in 10 Amazing Stops Posted on October 10, 2016September 4, 2026 I can’t believe Angkor Wat has never been considered one of the wonders of the world. It doesn’t have to be a wonder of the world to leave you lost for words. You know, I am a big history buff and I am never happier than when I’m walking in the footsteps of history, tracing my fingertips along the hard, cold stone or trekking through the doorways of ancient & often mysterious monuments. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES 10 Reasons Hanoi is Vietnam’s Most Fascinating City to Visit Posted on October 10, 2016September 4, 2026 Hanoi is a beautiful, hectic, vibrant, colorful, historic, modern yet traditional mix of French colonial buildings, pungent aromas and millions of people and even more motorcycles in constant motion. Halong Bay is 3 hours away. If you had told me I would be paddling a kayak (with Steven) in the middle of Halong Bay in the South China Sea, I’d have told you you’re crazy. Hạlong (or Ha Long) Bay, in northeast Vietnam. Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES Visiting the Boryeong Mud Festival in South Korea: Everything You Need to Know Posted on July 24, 2016September 3, 2026 They come to wrestle, slide, swim and play in the mud. We watched people just sit in the mud with their plastic encased smart phones, they played soccer and sat for colored face and body painting. I went to see what the fuss was about and my son, bless his 19 year old heart, wanted to see a whole lot of girls in in muddy swimsuits… missions accomplished!! Read more
DESTINATIONS & CITY GUIDES 30 Strange, Funny, and Fascinating Things I Learned in South Korea Posted on July 20, 2016August 23, 2026 Living in South Korea for two years is a long time for an American expat. What I Have Learned Living in South Korea could fill a book. It’s a little past our 1st anniversary in Korea. Which means we have one more year to go. We have no idea where… Read more