Requirements and Changes Expat Living: You Always Have Access to the Light

You Always Have Access to the Light

Strategies for Peace and Well-Being

Written by Cristina Murano

Each of us has our own story, a story that contains our fears, joys, challenges, and memories. We carry this story with us wherever we are, regardless of our geography, but our geography also shapes and influences how we feel at any given moment. This interplay between who we are and where we are is constant, and it requires energy, adaptability, and resilience.

As I have evolved, I have acquired new ways of maintaining balance and inner well-being. All this is not to suggest that balance and well-being are permanent states of being; on the contrary, they are like constant goals to achieve. Sometimes I am successful at arriving at balance and well-being, and sometimes I am not. Ultimately, the point is that I, and all of us, strive to find that sweet spot where we feel our feelings embrace ourselves with compassion and use self-reflection and self-awareness as a means to get a little better and a little braver every day.

Here are the things that have helped me:

Books

Books have been a constant in my life. They are gifts with immeasurable value. I could name so many, but the following are the ones that are recommended as a starting point, no matter where you are in your journey of healing and love:

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, by Pema Chödrön. This book was suggested to me over fifteen years ago, and it changed my life. Chödrön, born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown, is an American Buddhist nun. Before becoming ordained in her thirties, she graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and taught as an elementary school teacher. She lives in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, at Gampo Abbey, an establishment for Western monks and nuns. She has written many books, including The Wisdom of No Escape, Start Where You Are, The Places That Scare You, and Smile at Fear.

When Things Fall Apart is by far her most famous and revered 1 . The title speaks volumes about the content and guidance found within. It truly is good heart advice. For instance, on our relationship to others and ourselves she

writes: “The only reason that we don’t open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don’t feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at

Another book that is simple but profound is Ashley Neese’s How to Breathe: 25 Simple Practices for Finding Connection, Calm, Joy, and Resilience. Neese is a breathwork teacher and author. She is trained in yoga, meditation, medical intuition, and somatic therapy. Her work is about helping people fully inhabit their bodies and “cultivate resilience, develop relational intelligence, and trust the wisdom held within 2 .”

How to Breathe takes readers through a series of breathwork exercises that are tailored to a specifi c feeling that aids in being more at home with oneself. Neese describes breathwork as part of a long, international history of self-care and enlightenment:

“Th ere are Tai Chi breathing practices specifi cally designed to strengthen the diaphragm and acupuncture points in Chinese medicine to open the fl ow of qi (life force) in the body. In some African and South American traditions, the breath is used to release spirits from the body, thus aiding in the healing of the individual and the community.”

Neese also says, “Th e places in the body that are emotionally or energetically backlogged are likely to become areas of chronic pain and tension if they are not addressed on a consistent basis.”

Nature

In conjunction with books, spending time in nature has proven rejuvenating. Th e simplicity of it, the wonder, and the sounds are peaceful. Have you ever let yourself get lost in the conversations of birds? I highly recommend it. Have you ever noticed the movement patterns of bugs? Th ey are fascinating. Th ere is a lot to revere and learn from nature. It can heal us if we let it.

Meditation

Finally, there is meditation, which is challenging. Our minds are craft ed to think, so to calm this requires eff ort, discipline, and commitment. Meditation teachers recommend starting small with fi ve-minute sittings each day or every other day. Ideally, you should be in a comfortable, quiet, and safe space. Your posture is fi rm but relaxed. You can be sitting on a cushion or in a chair. You breathe in through your nose, focus on emptying your mind, and notice the length and soft ness of your breath as it goes in and then out. You let the sounds of your thoughts fl oat and become quiet, like white noise. then longer if you choose. Meditation, like books, breathwork, and nature, creates the same conditions for us: more peace, less suff ering. In turn, we as individuals feel more in tune and at peace with others.

Th is is part of how a compassionate, understanding, and generous world is cultivated: through small, individual steps toward radical self-love that touches us fi rst and then extends out to all of humanity and the Earth. Given all that is happening in the world and the dire circumstances of our planet, we need this collective commitment towards peace more than ever.

Sources

1

2 Pema Chodron Foundation. (n.d.). Perma Chodon. https:// pemachodronfoundation.org/about/pema-chodron/ Ashley Neese. (n.d.). Bio. https://ashleyneese.com/about/#ashleybio

The Author

Cristina Murano’s work is in the areas of education, equity, public governance, and sport, with a focus on youth, women, and 2SLGBTQ+ people. She is originally from Toronto, Canada. Instagram: @profondoluce

ASweetTour Café Illda & Dokyo 990 Bakery

Reviewed and photographed by Cami Ismanova

In the era of social isolation, masks, and hand sanitizers, The vintage interior design of Café Illada brings back an impromptu tour of a new café nearby can make our vibes of the 20th century. The café is full of pages from daily life a little more entertaining. Luckily, we have a magazines and newspapers on the walls and ceiling. Also, full spectrum of choice starting from popular franchises decorated mirrors, old posters, a sophisticated china to small cafés on street corners. The latter are growing collection, and inspirational quotes can be seen around into a new trend that attracts “caféholics” all around the the café. The interior gives off a warm, old-fashioned City of Light. Nowadays, people are interested in cozy impression. The café is located in a two-story building cafés that do not have a lot of visitors, yet have a lot to with the café on the first floor and a living space on the offer in terms of menu and interior design. Therefore, second floor. The exterior is vibrant and flamboyant. It I am here introducing two recently discovered gems at clearly stands out among the gray buildings nearby due to the well-known humun (후문, back gate) of Chonnam its colorful decorations. What makes Café Illda noticeable National University (CNU). is a harmonious mix of details that immediately catches Café Illda was opened in December 2017 by Youngseo the eye. Kim. Since Youngseo was a young girl in high school, While the design is definitely something that we consider she always dreamt of opening her own café or bakery. when making up our minds on where to go, the menu is After studying and gaining more experience, she finally what might truly steal our hearts. Café Illda has a lot to decided that it was time to open her own place. One offer, including scones, tarts, tons of cookies and candies, thing she knew for sure was that she wanted her café to and most importantly, delicious cakes. It is basically a have a special atmosphere created by authentic design. dessert paradise where you can fill your stomach with Youngseo says, “The world keeps changing and the heavenly sweet treats. My favorites are the strawberry modern generation is actively pursuing change,” meaning and blueberry cakes that go along perfectly with a hot that trends appear quickly and disappear even faster. She cup of Americano. Those two are totally a hit! They wanted her café to be comfortable just like grandma’s do not have this commercialized plastic taste with two house where people from the neighborhood could come strawberries floating on a cloud of whipped cream from over to enjoy hot coffee with mouthwatering cakes. the refrigerator. Quite the opposite, I would say! They

are instead fresh out of the oven, home-baked goodies. Th e desserts are served on delicate porcelain, which contributes to the atmosphere. You can expect a regular beverage menu that consists of coff ee and tea served either hot or cold. Overall, the staff is nice and foreignerfriendly, and the price matches the quality. Th e business hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Monday through Th ursday (and half an hour later on weekends). Prices start at 3,700 won for a cup of Americano.

Now, on to the next spot on the list. It is time to let you know about the best bakery in the back-gate area, the notso-widely-known Dokyo 990 Bakery. I heard about this place several times from an acquaintance, so I decided to check it out. As a cheesecake lover, I am sure I discovered the most amazing cheesecake! Dokyo 990 Bakery has a great variety of goods including bread, cookies, cakes, scones, tarts, croissants, scones, cupcakes, macaroons, and just about everything else! Th eir seasonal cheesecakes change fl avors, from cherry and strawberry in the spring to blueberry in the hot summer. Th e cheesecakes are always a treat, so they are usually sold out in a matter of two to three hours from the time of opening.

Unlike the café I mentioned earlier, this bakery is not much about looks and fancy interior. It is a small bakery in an alleyway, but the quality and quantity of its baked goods are above average. One of the special features of the bakery is that you can order a personalized cake that suits your taste in advance. Designs vary from typical “Happy Birthday!” messages to face caricatures and character drawings. Th eir business hours are from 9:00 a.m. to around 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays. Th e staff

is friendly and welcoming. I recommend that you check this bakery out anytime you are around. If you work or study nearby CNU, I suggest you stop by this bakery in the morning to grab something for breakfast with your morning coff ee. It is sure to be an amazing start of the day!

Café Illda

Address: 43, Uchi-ro110-beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju 광주 북구 우치로 110 번길 43

Dokyo 990 Bakery

Address: 410-6 Hodong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 광주 북구 호동로 10-6

The Reviewer

Cami Ismanova is a student at Chonnam National University majoring in economics. Writing has always been her passion. She writes about the environment and traveling around Korea and abroad. She has dozens of hobbies that keep her happy and busy all year long. Instagram: @camidisman