This year I headed to the Philippines for my week vacation. Many had suggested that I should visit the country since I got to Gwangju. It was a well-deserved week of relaxation. I arrived in a drizzly Manila at two in the morning. The metered taxi from the airport to the hotel took around 30 minutes. I only stayed in Manila one full day and two nights at the Leesons Residences Hotel in Malate. The whole time I was in the city it did not stop raining. I did very little sightseeing, starting first with a trip to the National Museum. Just outside of Intramuros, the museum exhibits wonderful historical, archaeological, and ethnographic material on the Philippines. After spending the morning in the museum, I made my way to Intramuros, the oldest district in the city, ... read more

I have returned to South Korea. This time, I will be residing in the sixth largest city: Gwangju. Two weeks in, I have seen the pedestrian downtown, walked most of Sangmu, visited some local attractions, and have signed up for yoga classes. I flew out of Atlanta on New Year’s Day (a day that saw Michigan—and other Big Ten teams—get embarrassed) headed to Seoul, with stopovers in Phoenix and Los Angeles. After leaving my house 36 hours earlier, I pulled up to the Gwangju Bus Terminal where my new boss, her sister, and a new work colleague waited for me. Following quick greetings, we were on our way. I went grocery shopping, settled into my new apartment, and slept the rest of the afternoon. That night, I was invited out to dinner with the English teachers ... read more

It was a shame that I didn't get to spend Christmas time with my family this year. However, Shanghai had plenty of the Season's spirit. Everywhere one turned Santa's big smile was there to greet you, or drawn "Merry Christmas" signs on windows were at every other store. Even street vendors set up shop to sell all types of Christmas merchandise. The shame was that even with all this spirit, Felipe and I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in an empty bar in Suzhou because there were no trains to Xian--though Ivy, the bartender, did provide good conversation with her knowledge of the NBA. Three days in Suzhou, instead of traveling to Xian, was regretful. But, since I did get sick, the days of rest were alright. Shanghai Shanghai is like any other metropolis of ... read more

What a wonderful time we had in Beijing. Over a week of exploring the capital, and its surroundings, was great. We stayed at the Sulitun International Hostel (near the Worker's Stadium) in the northeast side of the city within walking distance of the Dozhimen subway station. Arriving early evening in the city, the first stop was a delicious dinner at a local restaurant that was fit for five or six people. It was eaten--and finished--by my brother and I. Large plates of Chinese brocolli, stir-fried vegetables, and pork were devoured with cold (but not great) beer. The evening was spent walking the neighborhood. Early next morning Tiananmen Square was the destination. The subway lines in the city are easily accessible by English speakers--in large part thanks to the Olympics. The atmosphere within the square is hard ... read more

BOGOTA Bogota has plenty to offer. The city center is beautiful, and walking throughout is easy and relatively safe--just "no de papaya" and you will be fine (in other words use common sense). The Plaza Bolivar is a beautiful spot for travellers and tourists alike: the Prima Catedral, el Palacio Narino, the Bolivar Monument, the Palacio de Justicia, and other government buildings can be found here. Around the area, one can find a number of museums. I visited some of them last year--Casa de Botero, Casa de la Moneda. Others, like the Police Museum, are close by. Transmilenio is a great service, though most of the time you will have to fight your way just to be able to climb on. With a recent hike in price--now at 1500 Colombian pesos--most people are not happy with ... read more