Yap Corner

You’ve found my corner! It’s not hard to find, usually wherever you hear the most talking is where I’ll be. So I have a lot of corners. One for fashion, news, random ramblings choose a corner and dive into the yapping!

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  • Tis the Season

    By: Amoure Glover

    tree from Christmas market in Jamsil

    Ahhh another year abroad for Christmas. Do I miss the American way of celebrating Christmas you ask? well of course ! But , thank you Miss Korea for providing me things to do and try that still have a touch of Christmas spirit.

    As most know Christmas in America is a big family holiday. We decorate the house, bake delicious treats, go house to house to see the Christmas lights, and still open up gifts together as adults! In Korea I learned it’s a bit different. it’s mostly a couples holiday for cute dates and expensive dinners. I was a bit shocked that not many families spend that holiday together once the kids get older.

    I did discover something amazing to help get in the mood of Christmas (yay!). In Jamsil near the Lotte Mall, they had a Christmas Market. Of course as your trusted yapper I’m going to tell you EVERYTHING that I experienced at the market.

    entrance of Christmas market

    Getting there was great! My friend and I decided to arrive around in the morning around 11:00. Which was perfect timing as the market opened at 11:30. When we entered we were greeted by a giant Christmas tree and surround by food stalls and shops.

    The first on our list of things to do was to check the food of course. The food they had was AMAZING. the first thing we bought was buffalo sauce on pork with waffle fries. We also got drinks mine being a hot matcha and hers a sprite.

    pork belly and waffle fries

    The pricing was reasonable. The food was absolutely AMAZING 10/10 demolished in 10 minutes. I will say though, the place doesn’t offer much seating so be prepared to walk and eat or find a standing table. But it doesn’t take away from the joys of the food. After walking around there are many places to take photos, the Tree of course being the popular photo zone. The place also offers a photo-booth.

    Me and my friend had an amazing time in the photo booth and you were able to use your phone number to sign up for the waitlist and get a message when it’s your time.

    pictures of me and my friend!

    After some cute photos I recommend stopping by for more to eat. Usually it’s common to have something sweet after a meal and we found the perfect treat! It was marshmallow stick with strawberries and dubai chocolate! THE perfect sweet treat. I miss it This one we ate outside the cafeteria that was provided, they had standing tables outside.

    Strawberry and dubai chocolate with marshmallows

    While walking around more with my friend, we noticed they had a Popmart! of course we had to take advantage of the situation. They did have a kiosk where you can add your number and then be notified when to go in! There is a time limit of 10 minutes to give others a chance to get things as well.

    When you walk out of the shop there are still many places to buy cute keychains and and Christal’s decorations. But BE WARNED! they are expensive so be prepared to spend some some money. It is worth the price for memories, but I know some go just for the pictures ( like me ).

    Map of different shops

    There are a lot of photo zones in the area, I will say the high light is the Tree, especially at certain times, they have a fake snow comedown for the tree. But between you and me the fake snow ✨magics✨ is bubbles, so make sure to have good full proof makeup on.

    So ,even though I wasn’t home for Christmas again this year, I’m still making special memories away from home. Comment down below your favorite holiday memories ! I would love to read about yours!

    snow (bubbles ) from the tree
  • Is Passion Overrated ?

    Is Passion Overrated ?

    By: Amoure Glover

    Art by: Mayafinearts” Whirling Dreams”

    As I’ve been getting older and meeting more people, I’m learning passion is starting to be something of the past. Why do we put an age limit on passion and dreams? I love when I meet children and their dreams are always high and have so many things they want to try they can’t even count them. But for some reason everyone starts to hear a clock slowly ticking behind them with a count down.

    When I speak to children about what they want to do for their future, there’s fire behind their eyes as they speak. Usually from ages 8- 17.

    As someone who has experience teaching children to adults is been an interesting observation. Children often talk of travel, after travel they’re pick up a new hobby of art, music, reading, even gaming. But they always have a new goal and passion for something at the end of the week, even if it sounds unattainable they’ll try.

    While I talk to adults who are 35 and up, they feel less passionate about having a hobbies and interest. Is it because of work? The hard reality of financial burdens? Parenthood doesn’t allow for personal freedom? Sometimes it’s all of these, sometimes a combination. But pressure from others judgment I’ve learned is a HUGE deal for most. I can ask someone, “ why don’t you try that hobby you talked about?” And the answer I get most of the time is “ I’m too old to try” and “others will judge me if I try it now” and the class favorite “ it’s too late”.

    I love the idea of it’s never too late and you’re never too old to try something new. There are even some celebrities who don’t reach their fame or peak till they are older. Like Stan Lee thanks to him we have Marvel, but didn’t get his comic books published till 1961, he was 39 years old at the time. Alan Rickman. Famous for his role as Professor Snape in Harry Potter, but his first major role as Hans Gruber in Die Hard helped his career, and that happened at the age of 42 years old. One of my favorites, Samuel L. Jackson. He didn’t start taking off till he was 46 years old for his role Jules Winfield, in Pulp Fiction.

    Pinterest

    I give you all of this to say. Chase that dream you wanted. Learn that that language. Travel to that place. Take the class. Send that application for the job. Don’t be afraid to chase and try.Passion has no time line and neither do your dreams. So leave a comment down below of your goals are for the new year!

  • The Mermaids of Jeju Island: The Haenyeo

    The Mermaids of Jeju Island: The Haenyeo

    Photo credit: CNN

    By: Amoure Glover

    Do you love powerful women? How about deep-sea diving? Or maybe old traditions passed down through generations? If you answered “yes” to all three, you’re in luck! Jeju Island, located in South Korea, is home to the tough and resilient Haenyeo, legendary women divers who harvest seafood without using oxygen tanks.

    Thanks to the 2025 K-drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” public interest in the Haenyeo has risen again. The drama, starring beloved actors IU and Park Bo-gum, offers a beautiful and emotional look into Jeju’s lifestyle and family dynamics. It explores how far love and sacrifice can go, especially within families. Beyond the heartfelt storyline, the show also highlights Jeju Island’s rich tradition of free diving, upheld by the incredible women known as the Haenyeo.

    The Haenyeo are a unique community of women divers, recognized by UNESCO for their cultural significance. Their history dates back to at least the 17th century. Their role has always been vital not only providing food and income for their families, but also representing a rare example of a women-led profession in a traditionally patriarchal society.

    How the Haenyeo work

    The community became almost entirely women after many men either died at sea or were conscripted into the military. In their absence, the women took charge of providing for their families. According to Oceanographic Magazine, the Haenyeo free dive with minimal equipment: just wetsuits, goggles, flippers, and weighted vests. It’s an intense and physically demanding job, so a ranking system was developed to categorize divers by skill level:

    • Sanggun (high-level)
    • Junggun (mid-level)
    • Hagun (beginner-level)

    A Sanggun can dive over 10 meters deep and is sometimes called a Daesanggun, meaning “supreme leader.” These elite divers not only lead in the water but also mentor the younger generation. Junggun divers work at slightly shallower depths, while Hagun are newcomers still building their experience.

    Becoming a Haenyeo is no easy feat. Take Ji-ae Chae, a woman interviewed by journalist Emily Cataneo in 2017. At the time, she was a Junggun, and before being allowed to dive, she had to gain unanimous approval from her village. Even her mother, a Sanggun herself, was hesitant to support her at first. Ji-ae discussed the harsh realities of the job, including the challenges of exporting seafood, long working hours, and safety risks in the open ocean.

    A typical day for a Haenyeo starts at sunrise, diving until lunchtime, followed by hours spent preparing their catch, like opening sea urchins.

    Dying Tradition

    While being a Haenyeo is deeply respected, the tradition is sadly dwindling. According to The Korea Times, the number of Haenyeo has fallen from tens of thousands to fewer than 3,000. Over 96% of the remaining Haenyeo are over the age of 60. The job’s physically demanding nature and the lack of interest among younger generations have contributed to this sharp decline.

    Photo credit : Kim Hong

    So now we must ask ourselves: How can we preserve this powerful tradition? A tradition that not only sustains families but also symbolizes women leading and thriving in a challenging world.

    Sources:

  • Homesickness

    Homesickness

    Homesickness

    By: Amoure Glover

    Everyone loves the luxury of living out of your home country. You get to have a romance, try new foods, make new friends, and have a fresh new start. But no one warns you about what happens after you start to feel settled and you start to miss important things like holidays, birthdays and milestones, all the way across the sea.

    I would love to say it gets easier, but from someone that is now 3 years away from home, the ache is still there. Now what I can offer are ways to cope, grief and become strong. So welcome to the sad girl yap of how to deal with the cold called homesickness.

    Pages: 1 2

  • Skin care glow-up

    By : Amoure Glover

    (more…)

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