Brian's the man behind the camera.
After returning from his first trip abroad to Egypt, my nephew Brian Miller turned right around and went back to the Middle East for a semester of intensive Arabic in Jordan. Next stop, a study program in Kuwait with the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. From there he took side trips through Syria and Turkey.
Brian’s mother, on the other hand, has never set foot overseas. That all changes tomorrow. Watch out, world. My sister Bev has a passport!
Brian has been teaching English in Jeju, South Korea, for five years, taking his vacations in Japan, and in Cambodia, and in Thailand, and in Vietnam, and in Hong Kong. Tomorrow afternoon his mom and dad head east to see firsthand what their son has been up to. Bev and Lon’s first ever flight out of the country will last…16 hours. Their son will meet them in Seoul, with a final destination at his home on Jeju, a beautiful Korean island on the East China Sea. In addition to teaching, Brian shoots photos for a newspaper called Jeju Weekly. A book of his photos – titled The Village Across the Sea — is due out next month.
Brian grew up describing things visually for his ol’ Aunt Betha (he was only four when I lost my sight) and has a knack for explaining his photos in
Here's a sample of Brian's work: A portrait of a haenyeo (female diver) on the shores of Jeju Island, S. Korea. The haenyeo dive without breathing equipment to spear fish and gather seafood for market.
words. His oreum photo, for example. The word “oreum” is Korean dialect for the island’s parasitic volcanic cones. “Basically, they’re mini-volcanoes,” Brian told me. He and his parents will hike some oreums on their visit.
Bev and Lon are understandably excited – it’s their first trip overseas, first passport, first international driver’s license. When they’re not doing the regular tourist stuff, they plan to hike and fish. Bev is a phenomenal golfer, but she’s leaving her clubs at home. “They have some beautiful courses,” she said. “Not sure I’ll play, though. May just look.” Of course the reason for the whole trip is a night @ Gecko’s, Brian’s ex-pat hangout. “Sure hope my dart game is on while I’m there!” Bev laughs.
The whole trip sounds fabulous, really. Except maybe for the menu. “I’ll probably go hungry a few days until I get the chopstick thing figured out,” Bev said, confessing she’d slipped a few plastic forks into her luggage. Good thing, because her son doesn’t want her to miss a single bite of the local cuisine. “They promised to eat raw horse, but I’m not sure they’ll keep to it,” Brian said. “I’ll try to talk them into eating a live octopus or something, too.”
What a great send off – love the title- who knows where your sister will venture to next now that she has a passport! The picture you chose to display is awesome – nephew Brian is very talented. Hope to here more of this adventure!!!!
Just contacted Brian to see if he might be willing to write a guest post midway through his parents visit. He hasn’t responded yet, am thinking now that those three might be way too busy for him to stop and write anything. Stay tuned!
One word for this latest blog post:
WOW!!!!!!!
I’m impressed…..you’ll have to keep us posted on your sister’s trip to see Brian.
Waiting to hear more about the trip…and the dart game at Gecko’s!
Our journey has begun! First leg….our drive from Grand Haven to the Grand Rapids airport. We’ll stop and pick up daughter Stacey and 1 1/2 yr old grandson Bryce. They’ll deliver us to the airport. Think we’ll stop for our last bit of greasy American food along the way before we tackle that raw horse. Really? We promised? Stu…ipod is charged and ready to go!
Hmm. I was thinking of recommending an ambien and a couple glasses of wine!
How cool is this, we’re Getting an update directly from the stars of the show! Have a safe and very fun, fun, fun visit with Brian, I know he is stoked to see you guys.
Oh, and good luck with the horse.
This sister is older than you, right? Amazing that she hasn’t had a passport before now, and even more amazing that her very first flight overseas is one that will take 16 hours. Good luck to your sister on her maiden voyage!
I’m so jealous…
Don’t envy the 16 hour flight though… thank goodness international flights offer all-you-can-handle free beverages of your choice.
Hope your sis has a wonderful time in Korea!
Can’t wait to hear more on the adventures of Bev and Lon. Lon, who might just shoot the horse, rather than eat it. Bev…who I once admired as a kid for basically living on hot dogs and graham crackers. Brian, you are going to be very busy with these two. Have a great time, you wild Miller’s!!
I know Brian, I met him in Jeju and have even witnessed him in action taking some beautiful photos. Your nephew is quite a guy!
Thanks, Marie. We think he’s quite a guy, too — but of course we’re related to him! So good to hear that others agree with us — that Brian Miller is the best!
It’s happy hour in Seoul, South Korea! We’re here! Enjoying sansachoon and gimchi tonight. No raw horse yet. It’s a whole new world.
Hey, and just got word that Arnold Schwarzenegger is there, too — think he planned the trip once he found out Bev and Lon would be there. Hope you run into him at Gecko’s, you’ll kick his *** in darts.
Enjoy, and keep these updates coming!
Hey Beth my middle son is still in Jordan. He has been there since last July studying Arabic at Qasid Institute. He won’t be home til March. Bon Voyage to Bev I envy her. Someday my Wife and I would like to go to the Mid-East to see what my son has fallen in love with. Peace
Qasid Institute. I’ll have to ask Brian — maybe that’s where he went, too! It’d be great if you guys could go to Jordan, I think sometimes the only way to really understand a foreign place is, well, to go there. Even better, wehn possible, to *live* there for a while. Very cool what your son, and Bev’s son, are doing.
oh how delightful! love to travel and sounds like it will be a very special journey for them all. that is awesome he has such a knack to describe. Love when people are able to do so. I remember our looooong flight to China. It is worth it.
Had no idea you’d been to China. Wonder if you took your guide dog with you?
Toured the DMZ today. Incredible. The tour is led by an armed U.S. soldier. South Korean soldiers stand guard everywhere you look. It was eery to see North Korean soldiers peering at us thru their binoculars. We’re back in Seoul for the evening. Tomorrow….Jeju Island.
In Seoul eating schnitzel and sauerkraut at the German restaurant. I’m so confused.
Ha! Was going to say that your trip to the DMZ reminded me of being in West Berlin before the wall came down. And now, hearing that you’re eating schnitzel and sauerkraut has *me* confused, too! Mahlzeit!
We are enjoying the island! We’ve been very welcomed here and have met many new friends and have seen several different areas of Jeju City. We’ve eaten Korean cuisine, Japanese, German and Indian….no raw horse yet. Today we will travel to the south side of the island to explore the harbor area. Mountain hiking tomorrow.
Who would think you could get German food on an island off the coast of South Korea! Love these updates from your sister, please thank her for educating all of us. Or, I guess, if she’s reading these comments I can thank her myself. Thank you, Bev!
Korean cuisine, Japanese, German and Indian…with any luck you won’t have time for raw horse! Enjoy the hike, that’ll make room for more good food!
Things I’ve learned on Jeju island…..
1. Breakfast doesn’t happen here. If it IS consumed, its rice and gimchi.
2. Just because an establishment is open doesn’t mean they’re ready for customers.
3. You can’t flush toilet paper. You throw it away in a basket next to your toilet. Gross!
4. Don’t pour your own drink. The youngest person pours for the oldest. Pour with your right hand and receive the drink in your right hand. Using your left hand is considered rude.
5. A tall white guy walking around downtown Jeju City with his parents is somewhat of a novelty.
6. We haven’t been to the Mexican restaurant yet..
7. The islanders are some of the nicest peeps I’ve ever met.
7. The island never sleeps.
Loved this update. I think you should start a blog, Bev!
I experienced #3 (the toilet paper thing) in Merida, Mexico. Takes a while to get used to.
I agree- Bev needs to write a travel log! Loved the list of things you have learned- so far! ENJOY!!
Off to stay with Flo for a few days, am bringing my computer along and hope to get wi/fi connection so I’m able to read all your updates out loud to her, Bev. Keep them coming — so fun!
We’ve been traveling around the island and have found that each area has something unique to offer. Brian lives on the north side of the island in Jeju City. It has all the conveniences of city life, most importantly a rich social life. We have certainly taken advantage of that. The south provides the harbor area where we enjoyed a short cruise allowing us to view beautiful water falls and to get a taste of the fishing community. Today we traveled to the east side of the island. We climbed oreums and explored caves. From the top of the oreums we saw beautiful country with lots of trees, rich soiled farmland and the ocean. The west offers cliffs and beaches. We have that to look forward to very soon as well as to return to areas already visited as there is still more to see and do. Hope your doing well, Mom. This is your post card. We’re having a wonderful time. Wish you were here.
Coming in late to this conversation, but have a question? Just how big is this island? I’ve never heard of it before.
Off to see Flo now — I’ll forward your postcards!
Tad – the island is 73 km wide and 41 km long.
Busy, busy, busy. We’ve enjoyed various live performances on the island and have been hiking/climbing a new site everyday. Everyday is more beautiful than the day before. After a day of hiking, we meet friends for dinner and extended social time. What a life! Today we’ll travel to the famous Gecko’s! Brian has reserved a Gecko pension (condo). We will stay there two nights. Friends from all over the island will join us. We’ll swim, hike, eat, drink and oh yeah have a little weekend long dart tournamet to determine the Master Champion Dart Thrower on Jeju Island!
Amazing. Makes me wonder how many other beautiful places there are around the world that I’ve never heard of before. Cancel my trip to Florida this winter — I’m going to Geju!
Oh. Yeah. Forgot about the 16-hour plane ride, though.
About the raw horse?
Aha! I see what you’re doing, Bev. If you keep busy enough, you won’t find *time* to enjoy raw horse!
LOVE the idea to rent the Gecko Pension.
Couldn’t get internet connectin at Flo’s, but Mike visited and was able to read all your “postcards” to her from his iPhone. She was tickled,she is so glad you and Lon made the trip and that you got there safely. After a few nights at Gecko’s I am confident you will be “safe” but perhaps not so “sound”?
HOPE YOU WIN AT DARTS! Am back at home in Chicago now and have wi-fi, keep us posted–!
Our wonderful trip is coming to an end. The whole experience far, far, far exceeded our expectations. Honestly, when we left Grand Haven MI, we didn’t know what to expect. I think I actually dropped a few pounds….ON vacation. Brian had us hiking or climbing something everyday, ALL day. Just when I thought I’d seen the most beautiful site on the island, I’d climb something else, turn the bend and see something even more incredible. After a day of hiking, we’d meet friends for dinner. We’d eat, drink, laugh and play (darts),. The next day, we’d get up and do it all over again. We saw live professional performances . Nanta was amazing! We saw dancing at Folk Village and a demonstration of Kum-do. But as is the case anywhere you go, its Thr people that make
It’s the people that make a difference. We’ve met and made some very special new friends. Those are the best memories. So Bob, no raw horse…..as far as I know. There were times when I wasn’t sure what I was eating to tell you the truth and there was that one time when some suspicious meat thrown into the hibachi brought a few chuckles….but no, I’m sure that wasn’t horse….was it?
Well if it got thrown in the hibachi, at least it wasn’t RAW, huh?!
Thanks so much for all these updates, Bev. Feel like I’ve made a friend through this travelogue of yours.
Safe trip home. Where you going next?
Can’t wait to sit down with you face to face some afternoon (or maybe, for an entire weekend?!) to hear all your stories firsthand.
Safe trip home — I’ll miss reading your updates on this blog post! Maybe you’ll have to head back to Geju again soon…?
No, they were successful in avoiding the raw horse. But if you’ll recall, mom, we DID eat raw beef mixed with raw eggs at one of the galbi restaurants. The mystery meat being thrown into the habachi was pig intestine stuffed with noodles. I told the waitress to hold the rectum…seriously. No joke, they eat rectums.
I remember the raw beef and eggs. It wasn’t bad. I was better off not knowing the content of the mystery meat.
Hold the Rectum.
I’m going to use that for a blog title someday
Or maybe if I ever start a rock band.
It’s all too wonderful!
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