I have a friend, who, for the purposes of this blog we’ll call Derek (not his real name). A few years ago, Derek traveled to Laos. It’s a beautiful–if secluded–country and a real gem when traveling through Southeast Asia. One…
I love poker. It’s a game that reveals the inner-workings of the human mind better than any, and the small battles that take place on the felt translate directly into the real world. Legendary poker psychologist Mike Caro says the…
This is my latest in my “Strange Places I’ve Called Home” series. The rest can be found here. My first time up to Paju came two weeks before starting my new job at English Village. The first thing I noticed…
by Zachary A. Marx • • Comments Off on Strange Places I’ve Called Home: Part 5, Seoul, Korea
You can read about the other “Strange Places I’ve Called Home” here. In early spring 2007, I was at a strange place in my life. Nine months into my stay in Japan, and I was essentially told my services were…
by Zachary A. Marx • • Comments Off on The North Korean Humanitarian Dilemma
Once again, we wait with bated breath and watch while North Korea rattles its saber, and once again, we hope that it is merely talk and not a prelude to something more. Of course, the American media has made hay…
For the last year, I’ve lived very comfortably on the absolute edge of Western Civilization, approximately 1.5 miles to the North Korean border. When I say, “I can see North Korea from my backyard,” this isn’t a metaphorical statement. During…
Those of you who have followed my blog know that I have a very special relationship with the late Dear Leader, Kim Jong Il. After visiting the DMZ last year, I referred to the North Korean regime as part Dr.…