Like being hit by the infamous Apple itself, it came upon me one snowy evening in February to stray from my midnight essay writing routine and check the latest Facebook reel on the subject of ESL Teachers in Korea. Only two advertisements into my inspection, the words “Seeking Replacement Teacher for Position on Jeju Island” immediately seized my romantic heart and simultaneously thrust it into a swift commitment to international travel. Countless daydreams, e-mails, blogs, and Skype-talks later, the unpalatable task of connecting the American Indian Movement with the Vietnam War became but a trifling setback in my newly tailored plan for escape; three short weeks following my University graduation, I was due to arrive on Jeju-do, South Korea.

“Welcome to English News KCTV - I’m Nik Brountas….”- and with those words he leads into the top story of the day from the studio of the new English language news service dedicated to serving foreigners living and working on Jeju island.

Today I’m interviewing Nik at the modern and bustling KCTV office in Yeon-dong. Kang In-Hee, the production director also sits in on the questions, and I get the proceedings started by asking how he came to be anchorman: “I knew someone who does some English editing work for some other programs here. Through him I learned they were looking for someone to start the English news… they were looking for someone who had a green card [family visa]… I came in and did a camera test and met everybody.”

Bull’s Darts Bar is nestled amongst a cluster of flashy neon lights in the heart of City Hall. This underground establishment was opened in September of 2006 by Go Hun Mi (고훈미). Darts have been a personal interest of hers for many years, and she had a desire to utilize her love of darts to get other women more interested in the sport. She wanted to “gear the bar towards women” because she felt that, while men are the main players of the game, more females could become darts enthusiasts if they didn’t feel so intimidated by male players. So, she opened the bar with the intention of managing a women’s dart league.

In 1653, Jeju met its first foreigner. It came in the form of a shipwrecked Dutchman named Hendrick Hamel. The local community must not have liked what they saw, as they immediately shipped Hamel and his crew off the island to live in captivity in Seoul. It took Hamel and a handful of crewmates nearly 13 years to escape.

Nowadays, Jeju is far more hospitable to its foreign guests. The island attracts an eclectic group of foreigners who have come to live here for wildly different reasons. Their lives and dreams have become the subject of an award winning photo project by fine art photographer Kim Oksun.

Who says you can’t choose your family? If you’re like me, a fellow pet owner here on Jeju, you understand how important health and happiness are for your furry (or feathery) family members. It’s safe to say that owning and taking good care of a pet anywhere is a huge responsibility; however, it’s even more difficult in a foreign country - not to mention an island where the culture of pet ownership and care hasn’t been cultivated for a long time. I’ve had my puppy, Bubak, for three months now and, during that time, it’s been a challenge to find the right vet, the right park (see Information 4), the right food and the right kennel for her well-being. Although I do not claim to be an expert in Jeju pet care, I will offer some modest and heart-felt advice to all you current and potential pet owners.