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The most recent Korea-Japan trade conflict
Korea and Japan may be many things but close friends is not one of them. Every year, some conflict arises and it usually originates from Japan’s lack of apologies and sincere repentance for war crimes committed during the occupation of Korea from 1910-1945. Since the anti-Japanese movement is very strong in Korea, Koreans often ask…
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Finding meaning in the meaningless
It’s now been nine months since my best friend was in an accident that would eventually cost him his life. One part of me still feels like I saw him only yesterday while another part of me feels like this hell has been going on for significantly longer than only nine months. Saying that the…
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Self-care Sundays
I’m back in Seoul and busy as ever. I’m teaching two classes and have to deal with more than 200 students over the summer. It’s great to feel busy and tired in a good way again. With my weekdays filled up with classes, office hours, and grading – my weekends are my off-time. Saturdays are…
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Making progress
I’m starting to regain my energy and concentration. I’m slowly starting to recognize my reflection in the mirror. I’m sleeping better with fewer nightmares. I feel stronger. Physically and mentally. I feel healthier. I even sometimes feel happy. Although it only comes in glimpses – yet. I’ve completed all my sessions with my therapist. I’ve…
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Choices
They say that the hardest part of any decision is making it. We make decisions every day, but not all of them are potentially life changing. Sometimes, however, life presents us with tough choices where our decision may determine our future way of life, level of happiness, income, etc. Making the right choice would always…
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How to suck at things in Korean
My Korean vocabulary was expanded recently when I learned the word 음치(eum-chi) meaning tone-deaf. I started thinking whether there was a connection because I once learned the word 길치 (kil-chi) from Talk To Me In Korean, and used to call my best friend 길치all the time because he had absolutely zero sense of direction. I…
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Small but certain happiness
There’s no hiding that life is pretty tough right now. But no matter how hard things get, one way or another, we all have to make it through to the next day. Even if we cannot see that far into the future at the moment. So how do we make it through the tough days?…
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Let it out and let it be
My parents tell me that when I was little, I would start to cry whenever there was a hole in my sock, somehow expecting it to hurt in the same way as when I fell and skinned my knee. Come to think of it, I also cried when they washed my hair. I guess I…
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Keeping busy
There’s an adage that says “a busy mind is a happy mind”. We should therefore all strive to keep busy at all times, as it would prevent us from worry and sadness. During WWII, Winston Churchill famously said that he never worried about the outcome of the war. “I am too busy. I have not…
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How to deal with a grieving person – a universal guide
People who have lost a loved one generally report an improvement in their sense of grief after 6-12 months. Generally. Not everyone. Because everyone is different. The depth of their grief depends on who they have lost – a parent, grandparent, child, spouse, friend. On whether the death was expected or not, and on what…
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Sofie to Korea 