Hi! I'm Katherine, named after Queen Katherine the Stunning (okay, I added that last bit), but you can call me Kate. You can also call me 준이 (Jun Ee). I'm not Korean, but having lived here for a few years, some of my Korean friends thought it fit I should have a Korean name. June is my favorite month, and a popular name-part in Korea, so when I heard Jun Ee, I knew it was me.
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Firstly, I'm a writer. A professional one. I've written all kinds of things. Articles that have been published in magazines and on loads of different websites. Short stories. I'm working on a book. Oh, and some plays. One was even produced here in Korea. That was wicked cool.
I'm also an ESL teacher in Korea. I teach English to a range of ages and get to talk about my favorite things everyday. I also get to draw very un-lifelike giraffes on the board. It's pretty awesome. I'm starting my fourth year on the peninsula, and I love my life.
I'm also into traveling the globe. I've crossed the international date line a few times, I've been 360* around the Earth from east to west and back to east, and I've crossed the equator. I've stood on four of the six habitable continents. So far. That's a little more than amazing, considering all that traveling started just over three years ago and I've been working a majority of that time.
I love the beach more than anyone else I know. I like wasting Sunday afternoons lounging on a sofa on the Starbucks rooftop overlooking Mudeung Mountain and reading a book. I'd rather spend money on experiences instead of stuff.
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A few words that have been used to describe me.
exemplary
fantastic writer
fun
sincere
happy
happy virus
beautiful
all heart
honest
talented
caring
nice
respectful
confident
incredible smile
best playwright ever
great to work with
calm presence
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Some favorites of mine, in no particular order:
the beach - any beach, doesn't matter which one
Disaronno (want to bring me a gift? it's not sold in Korea)
Castello del Poggio Moscato d' Asti wine
any other wine that's cheap and delicious - red, white, rose or sparkling
animals - cats, dogs (big ones are the best), koalas, pandas... the list goes on and on
jewelry
writing
bubbles - more of a fun distraction
fall leaves
springtime
my birthday
mountains - just looking
dancing
singing
playing soccer - the only exception to my hate for running
art - creating it and observing it, all forms
culture - experiencing new ones
scavenger hunts - don't do them nearly often enough, but they're fun!
theater - watching it, producing it - everything about it is just magical
taking pictures
chocolate - ferrero rocher. yum.
tea - almost any kind except green tea. it smells like feet.
love - it's pure magic. (sometimes evil magic, but still magic)
traveling - i don't think anyone realizes just how big the world is - or just how small - until they travel
Some unfavorites of mine, also in no particular order, but some more than others:
snow and ice. let's be serious, Earth is uninhabitable in snowy, icy conditions.
hiking. unless there's a trail. and not up a steep mountain. and a stick isn't needed. then it's okay.
running. only if i'm going to miss the train (not the subway) or get hit by a bus. or to play soccer.
green tea - as previously stated, it smells like feet. green tea plantations, however, are exceptionally lovely.
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