Over the weekend, my friend Carol posted “before” and “after” photos of herself using the smartphone photo app Cymera. Unlike most western photo editing apps, this Asian app (I’m pretty sure it originated in Korea, since its homepage is hosted by Cyworld) allows you to make numerous beauty edits, many of which are obviously catered for […]
If you grew up in Korea, or in a Korean household, you may be familiar with a children’s show called 뽀뽀뽀 (Popopo). According to its Korean Wikipedia page, it first aired on May 25, 1981 and has been in syndication since. The show was probably most popular in the 1980s; I remember setting aside time every day […]
Have you guys read Malcom Gladwell’s Outliers? In it is a chapter titled “The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes” which explains how the Korean culture — more specifically, its emphasis on hierarchical structure — has made them more prone to plane crashes. As I’m sure all of you already know, last week, Asiana Airlines Flight 214 […]
Many of us are aware that South Korea has the highest highest rate of cosmetic surgery per capita (according to a 2012 report by the Economist). But just how prevalent is plastic surgery in Korea? And, perhaps more relevant to this discussion, just how homogenous is the standard of beauty in Korea? These questions, along with the argument […]
When I was a little girl still living in Korea, I overheard that a good “test” to conduct on a future daughter-in-law is to have her peel an apple for you. If she is able to peel the apple so that the skin remains in one piece, this indicates that she is not only adept […]
When I had written a short update on the morning of Aerin’s dol, I had been worried about Hurricane Sandy’s impact on the party. But while we could not hold my younger daughter’s first birthday at a banquet hall as we had originally planned… And more than half of our guests could not make it […]
It is no secret that I was not attracted to J when we first met. Even when we were friends, I would often wonder why other girls found him attractive. (And in case you’re feeling sorry for him, don’t be. He is well aware of this story and likes to remind people that despite all […]
I have a new obsession. (And if you’re friends with me on Facebook, you probably already know what I’m talking about.) It is a Korean drama called 응답하라 1997, or Answer Me 1997. As the title suggests, the show revolves around a group of friends who graduated high school in 1997. The story unfolds through […]
So remember how we were planning on throwing a big celebration for Aerin’s dol? And how we had even booked a fancy schmancy banquet room for the party? Well, that went out the window…just ONE WEEK before the event. 👿 Allow me to explain. I had contacted numerous restaurants, caterers, and such in order to […]
J has been offered a prestigious position at a new company. 🙂 You don’t know how stinkin’ proud I am — he always busts his behind at work to provide for our family, and he is finally being recognized for his dedication and hard work. He gave his two weeks notice yesterday, and will be […]
I like books, gadgets, spicy food, and art. I dislike shopping, hot weather, and the laws of entropy. Although I am a self-proclaimed computer nerd, I still have a love for handbags and makeup... and I am always teetering on high heels. To learn more about me, visit the "About" page.
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