The winter I was 21 I backpacked through Southeast Asia for two months with three other girls, my old Pentax K1000, and a second-hand guitar.  We landed in Malaysia, wove north through Thailand, and after boating down the Mekong River to a town called Champasak, parted ways in Southern Laos, from which I ventured to Vietnam alone.  Two weeks later we m ...

Seoul.  Wednesday morning.  Phone.  Check screen.   Answer."Bro what's up?" Fellow teacher.  Same start date. "Asleep.""Fukuoka, tonight.""Same to you."  Hang up.  Think.  Not an insult.  Destination:  Fukuoka, Japan.  Shiet.  Check passport.  Visa expiring. I've been in Korea 2 years, off and on. Teaching.&n ...

Think you are ready to teach English in Korea?  Written job offer from your recruiter:  check.  Free airfare from your new school employer:  check.   Passport and visa from the Korean consulate:  check.  Wallet, pictures of loved ones:  check.    Now, besides a clean pair of undies and socks, do you even have a clue on how to st ...