But after a few words and pointing to the intercom they understood my question. But they just kept saying tteokduk. Then one of them made an eating gesture, something about traditional and asked me to follow him. So I did.
Tag: culture and traditions
Culture and traditions show up in small, ordinary ways. These posts focus on daily customs, shared habits, rituals, and unspoken rules that shape how people live, gather, eat, and move through the world, paying attention to what is practiced quietly and consistently rather than performed for visitors.
TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
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My Favorite New Year’s Traditions from Around the World I’d Totally Adopt Here
As the clock strikes midnight, global New Year traditions reflect hope, renewal, and connection. These symbolic practices highlight humanity’s shared desire for fresh beginnings, offering unique ways to celebrate the New Year across cultures. Explore the beauty of worldwide New Year customs and their universal meaning for starting anew.
FOOD AND DRINK
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Why Food Tastes Better When You Travel: My Favorite Food Adventures
Every adventure starts with something on a plate. The people, the smells, and the quiet lessons tucked between each bite tell me more than any guidebook ever could. The first taste draws me in, but it’s what happens afterward that stays with me—the shared tables, the street corners, the markets, the mistakes, and the meals I still think about years later.
SLOW TRAVEL & LIVING ABROAD
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Leaving America: Living Abroad When You Don’t Know the Language
Living abroad without knowing the language isn’t easy, but it’s possible—and often rewarding. With patience, curiosity, and technology, you can navigate daily life, connect with locals, and grow through small wins. It’s not about fluency—it’s about finding confidence, humor, and humanity in every new interaction.
SLOW TRAVEL & LIVING ABROAD
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Leaving America: 6 Real Reasons to Move Abroad
Leaving America isn’t about rejection—it’s about choosing a different lifestyle. This post explores how living abroad can offer balance, affordability, and freedom from constant stress. It’s about building a life of your choosing—one rooted in peace, purpose, and the courage to start fresh somewhere new.
TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
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5 Simple European Conveniences That Would Improve Life in America
Living in Europe revealed how true convenience comes from thoughtful design, not endless highways or megastores. High-speed trains, walkable towns, reliable transit, welcoming cafes, and daily markets make life easier for everyone. They build community, conserve resources, and create equality—details I miss deeply in America’s car-driven, consumption-focused model.
SLOW TRAVEL & LIVING ABROAD
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Leaving America: What a Better Life Actually Looks Like
Most mornings feel flat, like I’m just going through the motions. I make coffee, scroll my phone, and nothing feels real. But then I think about the life I had when I lived abroad—how even simple things felt new and meaningful. I remember walking through markets, hearing languages I didn’t know, sitting in cafes with no pressure to rush. That life made me feel awake. I don’t want another quick trip or break from routine. I want a life that feels like it matters—where I’m curious again, where things make sense, and where I feel like myself.
SLOW TRAVEL & LIVING ABROAD
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Leaving America: The Truth About Staying in the U.S. for Family
I used to say we stayed in the U.S. for family. It sounded noble. Responsible. Like something a good daughter, mother, or sister would say. But after moving back from South Korea and spending a year and a half trying to make that reason feel true, I’ve started to question…