The biggest culture shock in coming to Seoul has been the lack of friendliness amongst strangers. Because I'm familiar with Hawaii's aloha spirit and Thailand's 'mai pen rai' attitudes, the rush-rush mentality of Koreans struck me as offensive.

Coaching volleyball has been both an incredible blessing and an intense challenge—sometimes simultaneously!

Frustration and fatigue weighed down my spirits as I wheeled Malika down the hill toward the bus stop. We had just finished volleyball practice, which had been a needed break from the things-gone-wrong at home.