Ok, so this blog is definitely not about Korea or Asia or Orientalness at all. It is about Europe - to be exact, Paris - and family.
My cousin, Dana, works The French Open every year, and for the past several years, she has invited friends and family to come. As I now live abroad, I thought, "what the hell!" this year:) So, 12 hours and two continents later, I found happiness on so many levels...
Culinary deliciousness, of the bread and cheese and salad (with mustard vinaigrette!) variety ...and a little gelato, thrown in...and figs...
...and falafel (I know, WHAT?! But Paris has the "best" falafel stand in the world outside Israel, and middle eastern food is a rare commodity in Korea. I ALSO had the best escargot EVER, so forgive me the pita and hummus.)
Market shopping
I did learn a few things in my Asia-to-Europe-and-back-again experience. I have definitely let my guard down from living in Korea. Asia is, relatively, very safe for a lone traveler, esp a female. Harsh punishments for petty crimes and a collectivist social attitude help to make pick-pocketing and other such traveler mishaps nearly nonexistent. Arriving at CDG and making my way through the RER and Metro system on my own, I felt the re-awakening of my suspicious senses emerge. Amazing that I have dropped those so quickly for being here only 5 months.
Also, I found that Korea is very traveler friendly, as opposed to France. I don't speak French, and even though it was wonderful to see the familiar Roman alphabet, I still had to ask for help with directions. Korea and, as I'm finding, other Asian countries, have a relatively new infrastructure and have included English on transit and airport signs, making things incredibly easy to navigate independently. I was a little taken aback at the comparison.
That being said, my romanticizing Europe is clearly not without merit! I love it there, whether it's France or Italy or Austria or wherever. Whenever I go, it feels like I've arrived back home. So my longing for Europe, all the while feeling bewildered at much of Asia, is completely founded. That continent is, hands down (in my opinion), the better one. I already can't wait to go back.
Thank you, Dana, and my new friend, Amanda, for making such a respite possible, and for making it so ridiculously fun.
So, after my whirlwind two weeks, do you think that 3 countries and 2 continents in a "fortnight" qualifies me for jet-setter status?!? :) If not, just say so, because I am happy to keep working at it!
My cousin, Dana, works The French Open every year, and for the past several years, she has invited friends and family to come. As I now live abroad, I thought, "what the hell!" this year:) So, 12 hours and two continents later, I found happiness on so many levels...
The best 4 sets of tennis I've ever seen, played between my favorite and my least favorite
(and my favorite won!!!)
Macarons
(Yes, Liz, from ALL the places you told me to go!)
Monuments, statues, churches and buildings, all beautiful (wish you were here...)
Culinary deliciousness, of the bread and cheese and salad (with mustard vinaigrette!) variety ...and a little gelato, thrown in...and figs...
...and falafel (I know, WHAT?! But Paris has the "best" falafel stand in the world outside Israel, and middle eastern food is a rare commodity in Korea. I ALSO had the best escargot EVER, so forgive me the pita and hummus.)
Market shopping
Also, I found that Korea is very traveler friendly, as opposed to France. I don't speak French, and even though it was wonderful to see the familiar Roman alphabet, I still had to ask for help with directions. Korea and, as I'm finding, other Asian countries, have a relatively new infrastructure and have included English on transit and airport signs, making things incredibly easy to navigate independently. I was a little taken aback at the comparison.
That being said, my romanticizing Europe is clearly not without merit! I love it there, whether it's France or Italy or Austria or wherever. Whenever I go, it feels like I've arrived back home. So my longing for Europe, all the while feeling bewildered at much of Asia, is completely founded. That continent is, hands down (in my opinion), the better one. I already can't wait to go back.
Thank you, Dana, and my new friend, Amanda, for making such a respite possible, and for making it so ridiculously fun.
So, after my whirlwind two weeks, do you think that 3 countries and 2 continents in a "fortnight" qualifies me for jet-setter status?!? :) If not, just say so, because I am happy to keep working at it!
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