A Tale of Four Famines

A Tale of Four Famines

I am a voracious reader. Without any doubt, reading is one of my life’s greatest pleasures. But not everything I read can be considered pleasing since some of the books in my library are devoid of sweetness and light. On the contrary, they are...

A Protest on Teheran-ro

A Protest on Teheran-ro

In June 1977, Teheran mayor Gholam Reza Nikpay visited Seoul to meet with his Korean counterpart, Ku Ja-choon. South Korea and Iran first established diplomatic relations in 1962 (in fact, cultural exchange began 1,600 years ago due to the Silk...

Remember This Moment

Remember This Moment

After a month at the University of Texas, I felt rather shaky. Lost on that bustling and crowded campus, I was having doubts about my ability to function academically and socially; such freshman insecurities were far from unique, but I did not...

Vaping Culture in Seoul

Vaping Culture in Seoul

There is a new store in my neighborhood, wedged between Banapresso Coffee Shop and a restaurant called Onghaeya. A high-end women’s clothing boutique formerly occupied that spot, followed by a sushi joint. They have been succeeded by Max Vape...

What Blueberries Have Done for Me

What Blueberries Have Done for Me

This is the six-year anniversary of the greatest day of my life. On July 18, 2017, I was perusing the Internet when I came upon an article about blueberries. It averred that this sweet and juicy little fruit, also known as Vaccinium cyanococcus...

A Clear-Eyed Look at Jim Brown

A Clear-Eyed Look at Jim Brown

Due to congestive heart failure brought on by pneumonia, James Nathaniel Brown went the way of all flesh on May 18. His 87-year life is a mixture of appealing and appalling. I will address the former before moving on to the latter. A native of...