South Korea Part 1

Hello!! Sorry for the radio silence the past few weeks but I am finally home from my adventures in South Korea!!! This trip was AMAZING and it is going to be hard to put into words, but you can expect lots of photos! I had no time/energy to blog during my trip so I'm going to be slowly posting over the next couple of days, along with a few non-Korea posts so get ready!

So, after a very long flight to Korea I finally landed at Incheon, where Lydia whisked me off to Suwon, a "suburb" about half an hour from Seoul that is a bustling city all its own. Friday night was mostly spent unpacking along with a walk around Suwon's lake park in order to keep me awake long enough to catch up to Korean time.



Jet lag had both of us wide awake at 6 am, and after a long walk around the lake we headed out to lunch. I had never had Korean food before so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

We had a full, traditional Korean meal, where they cooked the meat right at our table (this is a big thing in Korea, at least half of our meals were made in front of us)! There are a few big holes in the table, and a guy comes in with massive tongs holding red-hot coals. They then place a grate over the coals, throw on your meat, and cook it right there, passing plates as you go along. The important thing to remember is to grab the meat quick, as it will either be gobbled up by your companions or burned on the grill!

Along with beef, we had about 12573230 side dishes, including rice, rice noodles (or glass noodles, for Americans), two different kinds of soup, and various kinds of vegetables.

It. Was. Amazing.

I am officially obsessed with Korean food now!! If anyone has any recommendations for great Korean restaurants in either Dallas or New York please send them my way! I'm going through kimchi and bibimbap withdrawals...

After lunch we headed out to the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, an old palace built in 1789. Much of the palace was destroyed during the Japanese occupation in the early 20th century but was recently restored. You can read more about the palace and its history here.

"All my pictures from Korea end up being in doorways." 

Pretty much every palace/temple/historical site we visited has beautiful, detailed ceilings painted like this. I can't imagine the time and effort it took to make such amazing work but it makes the visit even more worthwhile. 

Sorry for the horrible picture but I couldn't get a good angle- anyway this is a huge golden Buddha on top of the hill behind the palace. We didn't have time to climb up and see this one (that comes in Gyeongju...)

After the palace we took a peek across the street at this giant bell (we tried to ring it but it was secured, probably so silly Americans like us don't try!). 

Look at that detail on the ceilings!

We then headed down the street to Namun market, an old-school outdoor market that sold everything from pigs' heads to chilies to live fish. 

Part of the old Suwon city wall. 

If you think this looks fun, just wait until we get to Busan and the Jagalchi fish market! But that comes later...

In just over two weeks, we went to Suwon, Daejon, Daegu, Gyeongju, Busan, Seoul, and Panmunjom! Whew, I know. We often were in two cities within a day and I'm exhausted but it was 100% worth it!

To avoid confusion, I've marked every city we visited in Korea on this handy little Google map. Suwon is the little marker underneath Seoul, the marker in the middle without a name is Oak Valley resort, and the marker wayyy up on the North Korean border is Panmunjom.

Sorry to be so photo-heavy, but I took a million pictures on this trip and probably didn't capture half of what I was lucky enough to see. Remember, this was just Day One, so stay tuned for the rest of my adventures in Korea!

College Tourist Updates

Hello! I wanted to post a quick little update about my work for The College Tourist. Every week I put together a roundup of articles from our Global Writer's Network. Here is my roundup from yesterday, as well as from the past couple of weeks.

June 6th Roundup

May 31st Roundup

May 23rd Roundup

You can follow The College Tourist on Twitter to see my weekly updates as well as other great articles on traveling, studying abroad, and how to survive college; you can also follow me on Twitter, to see blog posts and some of my other musings. And don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin!

In case I haven't reminded everyone 1428305830 times, I will be traveling to South Korea next week!! So you can all expect quite a few photo-heavy posts in the next couple of weeks, stay tuned!

Via The College Tourist, by Sweet Tea and Sass

Summer Reading List

It's summer! That means sleeping late, spending time with friends, and laying by the pool with a good book. During the school year I rarely have time to read for fun, so summer means I can finally tackle the pile of books I accumulate throughout the year.

If you are at a loss for new books this summer, here's a little list of what I'm reading/what I love/what I recommend for the long, hot summer ahead!

1. The Millenium Trilogy, Stieg Larsson

I couldn't put The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo down, and I found myself awake until 5 in the morning finishing it. I highly recommend the trilogy; maybe it's the fact that one of the main characters is a journalist, but the mix of murder, mystery, technology, and politics makes for a thrilling read. 

2. Argo, Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio

If you loved the Oscar-winner, are fascinated by the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, or just love history and politics, pick up Argo. It's a quick read that gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the CIA gets people out of sticky situations, and how they pulled off rescuing six Americans in the middle of a revolution.

3. I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb 

I have a Malala obsession- I have been fascinated and inspired by her fight for girls' education around the world, especially since I saw her speak at the Social Good Summit. I downloaded her autobiography last semester and I'm excited to dive in! 

4. Atonement, Ian McEwan

I love the movie (anything with James McAvoy is a winner for me), and while I know I will probably cry my eyes out while reading this I can't wait. I personally would rather read something beautifully written and sad than a sappy, Nicholas-Sparks-style novel (sorry for all the Sparks lovers out there but I just can't). 

5. Into The Wild, Jon Krakauer 

I read this last summer after seeing the movie and it literally changed my outlook on life. While I'm not going to embark on a Christopher McCandless-style odyssey across America, I do have a greater appreciation for life and all the little luxuries that come with it. It's a quick read, and while you're bound to shed a few tears (the ending of the book is spoiled on the cover/the fact that it is based on a true story), find time for this little gem. The movie is worth it as well!

6. The Paris Wife
I am obsessed with this novel- I give it to everyone who wants a book recommendation!! I had been eyeing it at Barnes and Noble for a while, and my book-loving grandmother somehow read my mind and gave it to me for Christmas! It's the story of Hemingway's first marriage to Hadley Richardson, and is told from her point of view from the end of World War I to their divorce in 1927. It also features a cast of characters like the Fitzgeralds and highlights of Heminway's life such as their trip to Spain where he wrote The Sun Also Rises.

7. A Fist in the Hornet's Nest
This is the first of two novels by NBC's chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel. Engel is probably half of the reason I want to be a journalist, and his daring adventures around the world and love of international affairs is a huge inspiration to me. Hornet's Nest is half autobiography, half a retelling of the US invasion of Iraq, where Engel was the only American correspondent in the country. I tore through this in a few hours- if you do the same pick up his second book, War Journal. 

These are just a few of the books I am reading/love right now. I could go on and on about books, but how many reviews can I write before you get bored? So, here's a quick list of a few of my other favorites and what I plan on tackling this summer. Maybe this list will hold me accountable and see that I actually finish all of these!

• Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden (really, really excited about this after finally seeing the movie)
• Persuasion, Jane Austen
• The Last Station, Jay Parini (if you loved the James McAvoy movie, you'll love the book about Leo Tolstoy's last year)
• To the Diamond Mountains, Tessa Morris-Suzuki  (for my trip to Korea)
• For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway (Speaking of Heminway!)
• To Begin the World Over Again, John C. Hulsman

Enjoy your summer reading!

June

It's June, which means summer is in full swing! I can't express how happy I am to be home for the summer, after what was an absolutely insane semester. Yesterday I reflected on just a few of the amazing things that have happened in just a few short months, and now that I've looked into the past I'm looking at the future!

So to start off this month, I've gathered a few things I'm looking forward to this summer and beyond.

1. Korea
I am so, so, SO excited for Korea! I talked to Lydia yesterday and every time I think about it I get more excited. I never even thought about visiting Korea, and as a result I have no idea what we are going to do, so Lydia is in charge. This will be a whole new adventure and I'm ready for it! You can expect a flurry of blog posts while I'm there and once I return, as well as a few posts on The College Tourist.

via Wikipedia

2. Reading
During the semester, I rarely have time to read for pleasure (the major downside to being a political science major), so breaks mean I can actually read what I want to. Unfortunately, I have always had a terrible habit of reading multiple books at once. I just can't wait to finish one before picking up another! Right now, I'm currently making my way through Argo and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Number 3 in the Millenium Trilogy). But I have a very, very large stack of books waiting to be cracked open. Stay tuned for my summer reading list!

3. Amsterdam
I'm still getting used to saying, "I'll be in Amsterdam next spring...for the whole semester." I've known for two weeks and it still hasn't quite set in. Thank goodness I'm going in the spring and not the fall, I would go crazy with the stress of planning it all! I have 7 months and 26 days until I move in, and while that may seem like a long time I have a feeling this summer and the fall semester will fly by until I find myself at Schiphol Airport in January. I have a lot of details to work out, like my housing, class schedule, and, most importantly, everything that I want to do and see while I'm there! I already have an Amsterdam board on Pinterest, as my Travel board just wasn't enough.

via Pinterest

4. Spending time with friends
Going to school in New York is amazing, but it also means I can't see my old friends as often as I want. A lot of people I know at Hofstra always say things like, "I'm not friends with people from high school," or, "I don't have any friends when I go home," and this amazes me. Sure, there are people I don't talk to anymore, but the people I was really, really close with in high school are the people I still hang out with now! My two best friends have been close with me since 6th grade, and my entire high school group still hangs out on a regular basis when we're all at least in the same state. Being apart from the whole group is hard, as we're spread out all across Texas, New York, California, and, in the case of one of my friends, Peru for two years. But we've made it work and exactly two years after graduation (which is insane!!!), we all still love to see each other!

All the girls...

And one with Reece!

These are just the major things I'm looking forward to, but I'm sure this is going to be a great summer!

Time to Review

This semester was a lot of things: crazy, fun, jam-packed, and full of amazing people and memories. There is no way I could document every single thing that happened that made this semester what it was, especially in one blog post, so here's a highlight reel of Spring '14.

1. Dancing on Broadway
It is hard to put into words what it feels like to dance in a real theatre on Broadway, with not only an amazing company of dancers but some of my best friends. I have always loved dancing, and while I'm not the best, I feel so good doing it. I really don't think I could have survived this semester without being able to retreat to the studio a few times a week and dance out all my feelings.

2. Working as a Pride Guide
I started out this semester with a job as a campus tour guide, or Pride Guide, leading tours for prospective students and working in the office of admissions. And I love it. This, along with being a French tutor, was my first real job and I had a blast! Having a fun job (with great perks like going to Gala) helped the semester fly by.

#Applyto Hofstra 

3. Editing at The College Tourist
I'm so thankful for the opportunity to work on my editing skills this summer, as well as continuing to work for The College Tourist. I have gone from virtual intern to freelancer to editor in a matter of months! Make sure to follow my weekly roundups of our Global Writer's Network and watch out for a few posts from Korea!

4. Friends Forever
I have grown so close to my group of best friends this year, but this semester we grew even closer. Maybe it was all those late nights in the dance studio or late night pizza parties watching 'Frozen,' but there is no way I could have made it through this semester without the support of these crazy people!

5. Zeta Phi Eta
Probably the biggest event of the year for me was joining Zeta Phi Eta. I had never even heard of Zeta, a pre-professional co-ed fraternity for communications majors, but I am unbelievably thankful that I joined! I love being a part of the Travel Tree, and I can't wait to continue with my position as Merchandising Chair!

I know this is a pretty sappy post and I've used one too many exclamation points, but I really had an incredible semester. There are so many incredible things that happened, and while there were some downsides, as always, they were completely overshadowed by amazing people and amazing memories. I'm excited to see what the fall will bring!

Fort Worth

I always say I'm from Dallas, even though I live in the suburbs (I don't want to get New Yorkers too confused), but I often forget about Fort Worth, a big city all its own that is just as close. I once had a professor who, when I said I lived in the suburbs, asked, "Fort Worth?" and I slowly had to explain that Fort Worth is definitely not a suburb, it's a city completely separate from Dallas.

One of my friends is interning in Fort Worth over the summer, so I found myself there for the second time in 2 weeks for lunch and a little exploring.

Our first stop, same as last week, was the amazing Velvet Taco. If you didn't already know I am obsessed with Mexican food and I gorge myself on it before I go back to New York, where I am deprived all semester. Velvet Taco has the craziest combinations with every kind of meat or topping you could want.

I had to stop and pose for a few pictures in front of this taco-themed mural that runs along the side of the building. I didn't even notice it last time!

I went with the rotisserie chicken (left) and the bacon frittata (right), which has an egg layered inside the tortilla, with all the toppings (which included bacon, potatoes, and peppers) inside the egg!

Our next stop after lunch was the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. I don't really care for modern art but I always love the buildings they're housed in. The museum is built of huge, steel-and-glass boxes that look out on a pond and garden with more sculptures and a view that makes you forget you're in the middle of the city.

Isn't this view incredible? I was more interested in the grounds than the art itself. 

With more time to kill, we crossed the street to visit the Kimbell Art Museum, which is more my style (think Van Gogh and Goya as opposed to Pollack and Warhol). Confession: last week when I was in Fort Worth I went to the Kimbell by myself and it was perfect. What else was I supposed to do? I had driven all the way there I might as well do something! There's something about going to a museum by yourself- you can look at what you want to, skip exhibits you don't care about, and move at your own pace without worrying about anyone else. But I also love going with friends!

For anyone in DFW this summer I highly recommend checking out the new addition to the Kimbell which currently houses their new Samurai exhibit. I went last week and loved it- they have a huge room full of complete samurai armor, individual helmets, and other artifacts from the period. I will definitely be back this winter when the Kimbell hosts another Impressionist exhibit!

I'm not sure what this massive metal, spiraled tower is supposed to be but our voices echoed inside!

The Kimbell also has a courtyard that connects both buildings, with a little orchard, two long reflecting pools and a huge lawn. It was a beautiful day just made for taking pictures!

Most of the photo credits go to Lidia- we've been friends since the 6th grade!

Outfit details: Shirt, Ross. Skirt, Francesca's (old, here in red and navy). Shoes, Antonio Melani (old, similar). Necklace, Francesca's (old). Earrings, Vintage. Bag, vintage Coach- you can now buy it as part of the Coach Classics collection! My dad bought it for my mom years ago, and she passed it down to me.

I hope everyone enjoyed the post, I know I enjoyed my day exploring Fort Worth! 

What to Wear: Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! Since everyone seems to be headed to a cookout, bbq, party, or parade today, I thought I'd put together a few outfit suggestions in case you are at an utter loss (like me) over what to wear.

While this post is specifically for Memorial Day, most of these outfits can carry you through all your summer soirees. Side note: I am very new to Polyvore, so I'm not too sure of how these look but I'm working on trying out new things for the blog!

1. Nautical
I've seen a lot of red, white and blue looks for Memorial Day so here is my take on it, with two different options for shoes. Since summer means outdoor parties, heels or fancy flats don't always mix with grass, so sometimes a classic pair of Converse can complete your outfit (switch the pearls for something a little less dressy if you go with Converse).

2. Tropical
This outfit is pretty much all J. Crew, but I love all the bright colors and patterns, especially paired with a white tank and metallic sandals to pull it all together. If you haven't noticed, I'm a fan of maybe overdoing it when it comes to accessories and bright colors, but you can't stop me! If you're scared of 'too much,' skip the statement necklace and swap the earrings for a pair of studs to tone things down.

3. Blue Lilly
I love a good Lilly dress for the summer! This ensemble is pretty much all my favorite things put together, and has all the preppy essentials- Lilly, monograms, pearls, Jacks, and a classic Tory. I definitely plan on recreating looks like this all summer with my Lilly dresses!

4. Get Wild

I am in LOVE with this skirt, and the crazy, 3-D print and wild colors are something you can only wear during the summer. 

Shirt/Skirt/Earrings/Wedges

5. Red White and Lilly

I'm a sucker for a cute phone case, especially if it matches my outfit! I have certainly been accused of being too 'matchy-matchy' but my obsession is still going strong. I love this toned-down Lilly dress paired with the jelly Jack Rogers sandals to keep everything casual. 

I hope you enjoyed this little fashion post! If you want to see more outfit suggestions for any occasion, let me know!