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Whiskey & Soju

A journal for Koreans in Canada to share the challenges of cross-cultural relationships and the immigrant experience.

Featured posts(3)

Part 3: The Date
Whiskey & Soju Cross-Cultural Dating Blog The Date

(Read Part 1 here) (Read Part 2 here) You give her a big, slightly clumsy hug, perhaps holding on a moment too long, and then let go just as quickly. "The car is parked out back, if that's okay," you manage. She nods, a small, knowing

by Joon Lee Jun 12, 2025
Part 2: Preparation
Whiskey & Soju Cross-Cultural Dating Blog Preparation

(Read Part 1 here) Friday rolls around. It's only been two days of talking with this girl. All you really know about her is that she likes art and could, apparently, devour hamburgers every single day. Sounds like your type of girl, you think, but a fog of

by Joon Lee Jun 06, 2025
Part 1: The Beginning
Whiskey & Soju Cross-Cultural Dating Blog The Beginning

Try to imagine this for me. It's Wednesday. You wake up groggily, no matter how much you've actually slept – nine, ten, eleven hours, it makes no difference. You find yourself wondering if this is just what being over thirty feels like, this constant, low hum of

by Joon Lee May 31, 2025

Latest posts(34)

Our Honeymoon
Whiskey & Soju Cross-Cultural Dating Blog Honeymoon

Cricket, croooaaak, cricket... cricket. CROAAAK. The sounds of mid-April spring sprang sporadically across the Langley grove. Colours of deep-set purple, woven with hints of pink and blue, spread across the sky as dusk lazily began its nightly ritual. Out in the backyard of our temporary escape, I lit a fire

by Joon Lee May 07, 2025
Silver Lining of a Cross-Cultural Relationship
Whiskey & Soju Cross-Cultural Dating Blog Relationship Dynamics

Cross-cultural relationships inevitably bring unique dynamics to the surface, moments where understanding takes a little more effort, especially when navigating language nuances – even with my admittedly rudimentary Korean. Things might get misinterpreted or momentarily confused, but looking back, navigating these hurdles together is often how the relationship finds deeper, calmer

by Joon Lee May 01, 2025
시간의 결
Whiskey & Soju Cross-Cultural Dating Blog Korean Memories

엄마는 나를 다섯 살 때까지 업었다고 했다. 내가 첫 돌이 되던 해 황달이 심해, 돌이 한참 지나고 나서야 걸었다고 들었다. 나는 걸음마뿐 아니라 걸음걸이도 확실히 또래에 비해 느렸다. 사실 걸음만 느린 것이 아니고 행동 자체가 느린 아이였다. 그래서인지 특히 외출 준비를 할 때면 ‘빨리, 빨리’라는 말을 자주 들었다. 어렸을

by 장지형 May 01, 2025
두 도시의 향기
Whiskey & Soju Cross-Cultural Dating Blog Korea vs Vancouver

매일 저녁, 나는 다음 날 남편이 먹을 점심 도시락을 미리 준비한다. 메뉴는 대게 파스타나 샐러드, 혹은 밥과 몇 가지 반찬을 돌려가며 하는데, 크론병이 있는 남편에게 마늘과 파 종류는 좋지 않아 요리에는 최소한의 양념만 사용해야 한다. 맛을 내는 데 제약이 따르지만, 다행히 캐나다인 남편은 다른 무엇보다 쌀밥을 좋아한다. 나는 갓 지어

by 장지형 Apr 30, 2025
단단한 벽돌이 녹는 시간
Whiskey & Soju Cross-Cultural Dating Blog Cultural Differences

나는 초등학교시절 하교 후 몇개의 학원을 거쳐 집에와, 쇼파에 누워 교육방송에서 방영되는 스펀지밥을 세상 편하게 시청하곤 했다. 우리는 그 무렵 친구들과 학교에서 서로 '뚱인데요'하고 장난스러운 말도 주고 받았다. 핑크색 불가사리 캐릭터가 '뚱인데요'하고 말하는 파트는 내가 성인이 된 지금도 인터넷 상에서 '밈'으로

by 장지형 Apr 30, 2025
The Head Chef and her Devoted Janitor
Whiskey & Soju Cross-Cultural Dating Blog Cooking Korean Food

Here's the thing: I despise writing. Not because it's boring – far from it. Like many people, perhaps, I often find I can express myself much better on the page than I ever could out loud. No, I hate it because I can't shake the

by Joon Lee Apr 29, 2025

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