State of The Loaded Local
Where did the mugs go?
Lately, I’ve been having an internal debate as to where I should take The Loaded Local. As many of you know, I created the website to be the one-stop shop for study abroad students to find the best bars and clubs abroad. To be clear, that is still the focus of the website. However, I found that it was difficult to share my own story within that “mold” of nightlife. Simply put, I don’t spend as much time going out anymore. Maybe it’s me growing out of it at 23 (ha) or perhaps it’s a product of my rural placement in Korea (more likely). Regardless, I found myself wanting to both build The Loaded Local and share my own story as a foreign English teacher in Korea. While the lack of nightlife information out there is the problem I am aiming to solve, I want to do so while satisfying my own itch to write.
The solution? Por qué no los dos? I’ve decided to blog about teaching in Korea while continuing to build the nightlife side of my website. You may have noticed that my social media profiles no longer boast the two “clanking mugs” that have symbolized The Loaded Local since its creation two years ago. Truth be told, I love that logo (s/o Alex VanHaasteren) and refuse to move on from it. Rather, it remains on my website while I use my social profiles to tell my story. There is only so much interesting content I can share on Facebook and Instagram regarding the nightlife I rarely partake in. On the contrary, there are plenty of fascinating things I enjoy sharing about my daily life in Korea. In an effort to remain authentic, I’ve chosen to just be me as opposed to a faceless brand. Meanwhile, I am continuing to build the Loaded Local website as a resource hub for study abroad students looking to have an unforgettable night out. For now, I think that’s the perfect medium.