Rachel Stine

Sep 2, 2023 | koreatimes.co.kr | Rachel Stine

By Rachel StineI came to Jeju Island on Dec. 19, 2020. I was accompanied by my dog Miracle and the man I thought I would marry. On Dec. 29, 2022, I left, alone. During this time, I completed the Olle Trails, and healed three inner wounds I hadn't even realized I had. The first was OCD. While it's a genetic curse I'll always carry, I've made a full recovery from my May 2021 relapse. I'm off medication.

Aug 28, 2023 | koreatimes.co.kr | Rachel Stine

By Rachel Stine"Miracle's acting weird. You think I should take her to the vet?"I was at the home of two friends ― a couple that lived in a seaside apartment. We sat in front of their PlayStation 5, surrounded by beer cans and a mountain of fried chicken. "What do you mean, weird?" the younger one asked. I mashed the buttons on my controller. "I dunno. Not eating?

Aug 22, 2023 | koreatimes.co.kr | Rachel Stine

By Rachel StineWant to know another secret? I considered cutting the entire last section of this series, talking about IVF treatments. It seemed too intimate to publish. The face-to-face comments had stung, but I suspected the anonymous online comments would be a toxic typhoon of misogyny. But the words of an old writing professor came to mind as I reviewed it. "Don't flinch," she said, meaning that pre-publication anxiety is an indicator that you've got good material.

Aug 11, 2023 | koreatimes.co.kr | Rachel Stine

By Rachel StineThe Olle Trails open a quiet space for hikers to confront our subconscious saboteur. In my case, that confrontation occurred on Trail 14-1 ― a short inland route that stretches from Jeoji to the O'Sulloc Tea Museum. Route 14-1 started pleasantly enough. As I walked past the inland farms, I asked myself: "Are you ready to commit to the life you've built in Korea?"Well…yeah. Mostly. I was in my early 30s. I had spent 10 years fundraising for the North Korean Underground Railroad.

Aug 5, 2023 | koreatimes.co.kr | Rachel Stine

By Rachel StineIf you think the "Mama Universe" stuff I mentioned in the last column sounds like the ramblings of a California 'psychonaut' ... you're right! I got the idea from Duncan Trussell. One day, while walking down an olle, watching the orange sun flicker over the cattails, I found myself struck by his podcast comments:"Who loves us? Who's been loving us … who loves us, all the way into all age? That's the Earth. That's the Universe.