I don’t think that’s really a question, lol, but I’m guessing your question is more along the lines of “why don’t you post more pictures of yourself  on your blog?” I really don’t like taking pictures of myself. For one, I’m not a very photogenic person and  I look totally different  in photos than I do IRL (in real life). I also have a lazy eye that loves to ruin 99.9% of my photos. So I prefer pictures that don’t expose my lazy eye, like this one:

-removed for privacy reasons-

The fact that I’m a horrible self picture taker doesn’t help much either. Half the  time when I try to take a picture of my whole face, I just get an eyeball. And I’d swear (except that I don’t) that I was really trying to take a picture of my entire face in this one:

-removed for privacy reasons-

And then when I do get a picture of my whole face I look like a mad person. Exhibit A:

-removed for privacy reasons-

See? Self photography portraits really aren’t my thing. Which is why you don’t see many pictures of me on my blog.

What is your main purpose in blogging?

My main purpose in blogging is for me to express my thoughts, feelings, and experiences so that I can look back on them 20 years from now and see how far I’ve come in life. I’m very sentimental when it comes to memories so this is just another avenue in which I can document what has happened in my life

If you had to narrow it to 3 things you do with your blog to help bring in more readers, what would you say they were?

First, I am an advocate of K.I.S.S. – Keep it Simple Stupid. Keeping my posts short, sweet, and to the point I think really helps. I try to leave out unnecessary adjectives, and boring things about my day like how I went to the mall to get a new pair of glasses (I did, and I must admit they are FAWESOMETASTIC!), because they are boring and not worth writing about.

Secondly, I try not to blog about the same stuff and change it up from post to post. I’m not to sure I actually do this very well, but I try.

And last but not least, I try to post on a semi-regular basis. Of course right now posting is irregular, but i have noticed when I do post regularly it keeps readers coming because they know there will always be something new the next time they visit.

What do you love best about photography?

The thing I love best about photography is how a simple change in camera settings, composition or even the perspective can completely change the perception of the photo. I wish I was actually good at it.

What is your favorite article of clothing?

Shirts are most definitely my favorite article of clothing. I’m not that into fashion (I’m still very tomboyish and STILL hate shopping), but a nice shirt can do so much for an outfit. Speaking of shirts, I have recently bought about 20 nice shirts (trust me, before I was basically wearing the same shirt in about 14 different colors…not good) within the past 2 weeks as a small and necessary gift to myself. And although I haven’t bought new pants, these shirts will make it look like I have a whole new wardrobe.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

Pretty much anywhere overseas. Backpacking Europe is a dream of mine, and I actually plan on doing so in a year or two (provided that nothing major in my life happens). I was about to post a blog entry about my backpacking plans but then I forgot, thanks for the reminder.  I’m also thinking about joining the Peace Corps.

If money was no option, and you had to be selfish and buy yourself one thing you wanted, not needed, what would you buy for yourself?

A Steinway Grand Piano. These babies range from tens of thousands of dollars to millions. It doesn’t even have to be new…as long as it has the beautiful tone of a steinway I will be happy. I am seriously thinking that a Steinway may be my first major purchase after I graduate college. I guess I haven’t really emphasized how important music is to me and how much joy I find in playing the piano. But really, it’s my #1 hobby. It’s my life. And a steinway would make me life complete. Maybe I should include a few more piano posts, but since my home electric piano is on it’s last limbs, I might just have to wait until I go to school.

What countries have you visited?

Off the top of my head I’ve visited: the US, England, Ireland, Scotland, Whales, Germany, France, Sweden, Japan, China, Guam (If that counts), Wake Island(if that counts), North & South Korea. In no particular order. Of course I probably have missed a couple since some places I visited when I was very young.

What type of camera/lens/camera equipment do you use?

The DSLR I use is a Nikon D60 with a 50mm f1.8 lens. For my point and shoot I use a Canon something-something or other. I forgot what exactly, and I can’t find it right now. But canons make the best Point and shoots in my opinion, while Nikon makes the best DSLRs.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

This is a very simple answer if the formula (W + I) * C is used. Where W represents the constant of wood, which is well known to be 61, as documented in many scientific journals. “I” is the variable in the equation, and represents the word “if”. I = one of the circumstances with 0 equaling the chance that the woodchuck cannot chuck wood, 1 being the theory that the woodchuck can chuck wood but chooses not to, and 2 standing for the probability that the woodchuck can and will chuck wood. Clearly, we must choose 2 for use in this equation. C = the constant of Chuck Norris, whose presence in any problem involving the word chuck must there, is well known to equal 1.1 of any known being, therefore the final part of this calculation is 1.1. As is clear, this appears to give the answer of (61 + 2) * 1.1 = (63) * 1.1 = 69.3. However, Chuck Norris’ awesome roundhouse kick declares that all decimal points cannot be used in formulas such as this, and so it must be rounded to the final solution of 69 units of wood.

I am curious to know if you were homeschooled? You have made reference to it, and I was wondering if you were, do you think it was beneficial to you, or a hinderance?

Nope I’ve never been homeschooled. I have attended a variety of schools though: Public, Private, American, British, International, Military.  My education was definitely a benefit especially the education I received while living in Asia. It really helped me prepare for college since it seems more is expected of students in Asia.

If you could make a movie about yourself, who would play you, your significant other, your best friend, and your enemy?:)

Wow. Talk about a hard question. Hmm, let me think…For me I’d probably pick the lead character from Akeelah(sp?) and the bee. I guess I kinda feel like my life is a little similar to Akeelah as depicted in the movie.

My best friend “K” would probably be played by the infamous Journee Smollett (The girl on the great debators) probably because my best friend has a lot of personality and loves to talk.

I don’t have a “significant other” although Nick Cannon had great potential before he married Mariah Carey .

Also I don’t have any enemies…at least I don’t think so.

If you could travel anywhere where would you go?

Antarctica only because I know very few people go there, and besides the subzero temperatures, lack of vegetation, and lack of internet, it seems fun enough.

list top 5 things you’d like to do before you die?

1. Get married
2. Have Kids
3. Visit everywhere I’ve lived
4. Buy a Steinway
5. Play in an orchestra

Haha, I hope I’m not too late and my question is totally lame, BUT what is one food you absolutely refuse to eat? Like, if someone forced you to eat it, your relationship with that person would be in jeopardy…okay, maybe not that hardcore. But seriously, your NUMBER ONE LEAST FAVORITE food. Go!

LOL! This is easy. Chitterlings.  Just in case you didn’t know, according to wikipedia:

Chitterlings (often pronounced /?t??tl?nz/ and sometimes spelled chitlins or chittlins in vernacular) are the viscera intestines of a pig that have been prepared as food. In various countries across the world, such food is prepared and eaten either as part of a daily diet, or at special events, holidays or religious festivities.  They are nasty and they stink to high heavens

Okay maybe I added that last part.

Most memorable moment. Go.

I have a lot of memorable moments. But I guess the most memorable would be the events that took place on September 11th, 2001 (well really September 12th for me). Just two weeks earlier my mom had been working in the our nation’s capital. But luckily for my family, we  had just moved to a subtropical Japanese island a couple weeks prior.

School had just started, but my attendance was sporadic from  September 1- September 12 due to inclement weather. You see, the island got hit by a typhoon (this typhoon had hurricane Katrina beat!) which literally circled the island three times, as depicted in this picture I stole borrowed from wikipedia:

On the night of September 11th, 2001 at around 11:00pm I woke up to the howl of typhoon winds feeling that something wasn’t quite right.  I went back to sleep and at 4:00am (September 12th) I got up and knocked on my parents door to see if we’d have school the next day. Surprisingly they were not asleep.  They showed me what was happening on the news.   We didn’t have school for along time after that and we (Americans) weren’t allowed to go around the island for even longer.  When we finally were able to go out a couple months later, the locals  were excited to see us.  Many would run up to us and just say “I’m sorry”. Yes, the very same country we had dropped atomic bombs on showed compassion to say sorry, for something they didn’t even do.  September 11th changed my life forever.

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Post tags: about me, college life, questions and answers

Happy questioning.

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Post tags: about me, college life, questions and answers

As you all may know Korea, specifically South Korea, is just one of the many places I call home (If you didn’t know, you can read more about that here).You see, I know how it feels to be back on free land after stepping foot in North Korea. Yes I have been to North Korea. More than once.  Maybe not for 5 months as in the case of the journalists, but the hour or so I have collectively spent there, with guns held up to my head, was enough for me.

North Korea is one of the hardest countries to legally step foot in. But if you know the right people and literally are willing to sign that you know you are putting your life in danger, and you realize you may never return, you can visit.  Upon entering the rules are simple: Don’t laugh, don’t smile, no sudden movements, no jeans, no T-shirts, don’t talk to the guards on either side.   And going there is just one of those things that make you more appreciative of living in a free country.

Here are some of the few pictures I took behind enemy lines in 2005, sorry for the poor quality:

Russians

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When I went to North Korea for the first time, there were Russians visiting on the other side. We had to wait for them to leave before we could step foot in the "Blue House". The place where negotiations take place between North Korea, South Korea, and the United States. Half of the house is in North Korea, Half is in South Korea.

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Post tags: about me, CNN, dmz, Euna Lee, kim jung il, korea, Laura Ling, north korea, South korea

I presented my research in Michigan. They have a beautiful campus.

And even though I had to say goodbye to 35 wonderful people I spent 2 months getting to know…

I am happy to be home. In my own bed.  Beneath my own WARM thick non itchy sheets. Even if me and my mom have already started arguing…but I shall save that for another post.

Ahh, home sweet home.

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Post tags: about me

Maybe it’s the American in me that doesn’t understand why so much respect should be given to a bunch of birds (sorry if I have offended anyone from the England), but either way, I got to feed some ducks for the first time in my life.

I ended up attending a potluck and this pond just so happened to be nearby

I saw a small family feeding the ducks. They looked so content and happy.

The girl was especially fond of the ducks.

It looked like so much fun and since these were not the “Queen’s ducks”, I knew I could finally join in, without fear of killing a duck!

I ran inside to get some bread and came out to feed the ducks with my friend. By the time I had come back, the little boy was in trouble for attempting to jump in the water (or something along those lines), and they quickly left.

Me and my friend continued to feed the ducks anyway.

That is not me. That is my friend

Finally at the tender age of 20-something I got to feed the blasted ducks.

Of course if I ever were to run over the queens ducks, I’d keep on rolling.  No ducks were harmed in the making of this post.  Promise!

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Post tags: about me, ducks, england, summer

The list of things I don’t like to eat is miles long:  steak, beef, pork,  turkey, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, eggplant, mushrooms (yes, most vegetables). I do enjoy carrots and corn and kimchi!

Kimchi!!!

I am not too fond of spaghetti although I like lasagna. Starches are okay.   I love most fruits except the bitter ones. . I do LOVE smoothies I also LOVE nonamerican food. Yakisoba, Bulgogi (I know it’s beef but it’s different because it’s Korean), lumpia, mmmmm. I blame that on my ex-expat life.

Surprisingly one of my hobbies is cooking.  Or maybe that’s not a surprise, at least I know I can satisfy my own desires.

Are you as picky an eater as I am? I have yet to meet a picky picky eater like myself.

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Post tags: about me, eating, food, habits

Although I am technically an American, I have lived in America for only a few years. Throughout the day there are constant reminders that I’m not a true full-blooded “American”;  I am still trying to get use to the food, to the music, to the people.

If I’m not “from” America then where am I from? Japan? China? Can I really say that given my complexion?

Or am I from England since I lived there longer than anywhere else?

How can such a simple question be so hard to answer?

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Post tags: about me, Expat life

Picture provided by fd on Flickr

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Post tags: about me, addiction, internet

I admit I am a hard stick when it comes to getting my blood drawn.  So when I was poked on yesterday for over an hour to get four vials of blood, I wasn’t surprised. What I was surprised with was the reactions from the technicians.

They told me I was “handled it better than most adults” and how I was such a “brave little girl”.

Umm?? Hello??? I am not a “little girl” I am a 20-something year old adult!!

I’ve been dealing with this problem for too many years now. No matter what I do, I look like I’m between the ages of 12-14. Makeup does not work.  Dressing up might as well be a joke.  I feel like I’m aging in reverse, especially after my teenage-hormone-induced acne has cleared up.

My first day on my job the security guard jokingly said that I looked “far too young to be working here”.  Mind you I was wearing a business suit,  makeup, and high heels.

When I came to college and arrived in my dorm room my roommate and her friend just stared at me. I had absolutely no idea why . Then it struck me, “how old are you??” She asked.  And when I told her, she let out a huge sigh of relief.  “Oh, because I thought you were 14 at most!”

Gee, thanks.

Some people pay tons to look young.  But I wish I looked older than half my age.  The only thing I am happy about is the fact that I am not flat chested because then I would have some SERIOUS problems.  It’s a big deal. I’d swear it holds me back in the world of work (but i don’t swear, remember?) and the way people treat and perceive me.

How old do I look like to you?? (I am about 5′ in height).

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Post tags: about me