As an expat living in South Korea, the North Korean threat is always present. I would be stupid not to take notice.

Lately, the threats have been more jarring than in years past. However, like many Koreans, most of the expat community shrugs it off, likening the threats to whining...

Due to a rather provocative article on Foxnews.com, I've been drawn into a discussion with friends about gender equality. Stephen Colbert also tore her argument apart, I will go a bit further.

According to the author, Suzanne Venker, gender equality is a nice...

After a tragedy like the Sandy Hook shooting, questions like: "What are our rights?" and "What about our freedom?" bubble to the surface.

People forget that freedom is not a tangible object nor is it an objective stance. Freedom is subjective. Freedom is an idea we strive...

There are certain things that bother me. Being a woman is one of them.

I do not like the expectations that are laid before me on a regular basis. Expectations placed by movies, television and even my own friends. I use to love indulging in...

Back in 2008, I received a call I will never forget. I was walking east on Maple Street near State and Division in Chicago. I was just passing Blue Agave, thinking about good times, good friends and great margaritas when my cell rang.

It was my dad, he had...

The Olympics are over, thank goodness.

While it is a wonderful opportunity for athletes, some treat the Olympics as a reflection of friendly global relations. I would say that sort of thinking is solidly fixed in fairyland.

The Olympics can sometimes be viewed as an advertising campaign for those...

I always believed, if I was given the choice between rape and death, death would be my answer. Yet, not many rape victims are given that choice.

I recently watched a documentary on human trafficking, The Day My God Died. This documentary focused on the women sold...

As an expat, my status as a U.S. citizen is always a topic of scrutiny. Positive, but mostly negative, opinions of the U.S. are thrown my way. Frequently the bashing is for no other reason than to dump their opinions on me as if I was a political candidate at...

My Swedish significant other and I have been looking for opportunities to work internationally. We've discussed moving to the U.S. (where I'm from), moving to Asia (where I've worked before), or staying here (Sweden). It's our Decision 2012.

I have a dissonant feeling about moving home. I have spells...

As I have been off Facebook and Twitter, I have been alternatively reading current events on various news pages. To no one's surprise, I've found that unless you're subscribing to the Wall Street Journal, the Kardashians are just as likely to pop up on a sidebar as Drew Barrymore's marriage...

I recently read Tracy McMillan's controversial blog post, "Why You're Not Married", and the even more disturbing recent follow-up: "Why You're Still Not Married".

These two articles have enraged many. Quite rightly so. I'm more enraged she's making money writing about such things.

I...

Facebook is everywhere. Thanks to smartphones, Facebook is on the train, in shopping malls, in bars and restaurants, in everyday passing conversation, in multiple languages, in class, meetings, seminars, and even present during oral defenses for our MA dissertations. And now, it's on Wall Street.

It seems impossible to have...

I currently work at an international nursery/preschool here in Stockholm. I'm doing this to help fund my studies towards a Master's Degree in English Literature. The combination of graduate work and preschool employment makes an interesting dichotomy: I spend my week going from seminars on Postmodernist Literature to changing diapers...

Back when I lived in Chicago, I grew to know some local artists -- musicians to be specific. I watched them struggle to make ends meet so they could continue to create their art. And, I came to the conclusion, that if you truly appreciate an artist, you pay for...

I have found that intolerance has become a theme in my Expat Existence. In light of the 9/11 anniversary this weekend, I wonder if, as a human race, we will ever be capable of putting aside our differences for the betterment of the globe and future generations.

The anniversary of...

Over the last few months, some surprising and high-profile events have taken place in the world, economically and politically. And, well, some surprisingly not-so-high-profile incidents have taken place in my life involving an elderly woman on a subway and a trip to Sardinia.

On my way home today in Stockholm,...

It was 1989, I was ten years old and in Social Studies class with Mr. Rehmer. More than eating my vegetables, I dreaded his depressing lectures on the National Debt.

Mr. Rehmer would start by writing large dollar amounts on the blackboard. He then told us how he was...

The question that is continually asked of me, especially amongst my European friends: Why are Americans continually voting for these conservative, corporate mogul politicians? Good question.

A few months ago, at Uppsala University in Sweden, a lecture was given on Jane Austen and the subject of poverty. The speaker, Professor...