The Drive to Seoul

I recently grabbed lunch at a classy Korean restaurant on my way back to the office. While paying for my over-priced food, I noticed that the restaurant had private, authentic, karaoke rooms.

My previous Asian-style karaoke experience in the US was on the second floor of a Korean restaurant in Pittsburgh. The space was far too big, and a dining room table was awkwardly set up in the middle of the room.

However, Seoul Garden, the restaurant in Nashville, has a few small rooms lined with plush benches surrounding a large table.  

I convinced my friends that it would be fun, so I reserved a room for last Friday night.

{Ellen was a little jet lagged from the flight to Seoul}

Although it took some of us longer than others to get into it, by the end of the night we were ready to pay for another hour. 

The best part of the night? Being able to drive home and not having to sleep at a McDonald's waiting for the first train at 5:00 in the morning. 

Finding Love

On Sunday night, a pretty girl in a white peacoat came into the restaurant where I work. She said she was meeting a man but wasn't sure if he'd come in yet. When I told her to check the bar, she explained that she wasn't quite sure what he looked like. She was on a blind date. She seemed friendly enough, so I asked her how they were set up. They had met on match.com, and after a series of failed dates with other men, she was hopeful.
What seemed to be twenty minutes later, the mystery man showed up. I led her and the handsome, but far too groomed for my taste, fellow to their table. Little did they know that the couple sitting next to them had gotten engaged moments prior. The small white box on the table was evidence of their new commitment.


Yesterday I had lunch with a man from Somalia. Over a traditional Southern lunch consisting of fried catfish, turnip greens, sweet potatoes, and cornbread, we talked about his culture and mine.

He told me that when he met his wife he knew he was going to marry her, and, seven days later, he did. He explained that love develops not before marriage, but because of it. His wife and son live in Pakistan, and he's desperately petitioning for them to come to the United States.


Imagine if the newly engaged couple, sitting next to the seemingly successful blind date, had only met seven days prior.

Why I Miss Japan: Reason One Billion

Thank you Okada family for the most wonderful care package! I'm ready for the year of the Rabbit.

Having the Iraqis Over

A few months ago, an Iraqi family invited me inside of their new American apartment when I showed up at their door. With a Burmese man waiting in my car, I was supposed to pick up the Iraqi man and take the men to a nearby bus stop where they would learn the basics of the public transportation system. The hospitality and wonderful smiles of the family overwhelmed me, and I promised them I would visit again that Saturday.

I quickly built a relationship with the Iraqi family, consisting of a wonderful mother and father, two beautiful girls, and a little baby boy.

{A cherished present from one of the girls}

Last Wednesday, while in their neighborhood, my friend and I dropped by their apartment. We were spontaneously served a beautiful meal on their bedroom floor. In an effort to return the favor, I decided to invite them over to my house for once. Last night I drove the twenty minutes to their apartment as my friends put the finishing touches on the American meal we prepared for them.

The father enthusiastically told me how beautiful my house was, and nodded at me as if I had already succeeded in achieving the American dream, which, I suppose, I have.

We sat around the dining room table and talked about food, favorite sports, school, Iraq, and learning English. The eleven-year-old girl promised me that she would learn English in two months. We both look forward to the girl talk.

Next Friday we're all going to their apartment for a traditional Iraqi meal.

Last night I was incredibly thankful for friends who went out of their way to buy halal meat for chili, wrote "peace" in Arabic on a cake, and helped me prepare everything in the hour I had after work.

Snow Day

It snowed about two inches in Nashville overnight. I woke up to a text message from my boss telling me not to come in today.
In the South, things generally shut down at the sight of snow.
The only evidence of life I've seen this morning are these little footsteps in my backyard. It looks like a few critters had someplace to be.

Thank Goodness for Good Friends

Two of my closest friends, one from high school and one from college, live in Nashville.
This morning, Mallory, my friend from high school, showed up in my bedroom while I was still sleeping. She came to fulfill her end of a deal we made. (She had to clean my bathroom. Long story). In my sleepy, slightly hungover state, I was confused as to how she got into my house, but thankful that she followed through with her promise.

Living in a city with my friends has been wonderful.
We like to lounge around and eat together,

explore new things with new friends,

partake in cultural events,

work up a good sweat,

and hang out at classy bars, even when our budgets barely allow it.


Even though our jobs can be exhausting, we always make time for each other. Although Nashville isn't the biggest or most exciting city, it has two of my favorite people. I'm starting to believe more and more, it's not about where you are but who you're with.

Special Things

While traveling through Japan I met a lovely Thai woman at a hostel. We indulged in fried shrimp and karaoke together. I really loved her top, and didn't believe her when she said she'd send one to me.

For Christmas, she sent me the exact shirt I loved.

With gifts, it's always the thought that counts. But when you actually like the gift, that's pretty cool, too.

Today a little girl from an Iraqi family who I help through my job gave me a beautifully wrapped Christmas present.
It was a Christmas Bell placed in a My Little Pony box.
I'll cherish it along with these other Christmas ornaments some of my old students in Japan recently sent to me.


My Christmas tree will be DECKED OUT next year.