Now that 2015 is officially here, I've committed to making the next twelve months all about adventure, challenging myself, and capitalizing on the lack of giving a fuck that my current headspace is in. I may never have the means to indulge myself in this manner again and it seems like an opportunistic time to evolve into the person I want to become (I envision a female hybrid of Anthony Bourdain and Indiana Jones). To this end, I have booked my first trip for the year – twelve days exploring South Korea with a two-day tour of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at the 38th parallel north.

South Korea has fascinated me for awhile. In less than a century, they have transitioned from the status of a third-world country to one of the world's leading economies (currently ranked 14th by the World Bank). They have also strongly committed to becoming a global influence through "soft power" means; in the same manner that a portion of America's clout and mystique comes from iconic brands like Coca-Cola and Levi's, South Korea wants to export hallyu. As a curator of cool, I need to witness this first-hand.

Seoul, here I come.