From Korea with Love

"I carry your heart with me… always."

About the Blog

Once upon a time, there was a wistful young woman who, like any other girls, wanted to be rescued from the “castle of loneliness” by a daring handsome prince… and so she waited like forever in her own Cinderella world… the four corners of the bedroom being her own cozy fireplace where she’d spend the wee hours of the night dreaming of the day her prince would come. Finally, he came… a prince from another kingdom, or should I say from another country not faraway, whose culture and lifestyle are entirely different from hers. From being the dreamy young woman that she was, she has become the queen of the household and a novice in a foreign land.

This is the tale of an ordinary Filipina named Chris and an ordinary Korean called Khan who met a couple of years ago, became friends, fell in love, parted ways, were brought back together by fate, got married (Thrice!), and are now living the day to day adventures of being a Filipina wife to a Korean husband and being a Korean husband to a Filipina wife.


69 thoughts on “About the Blog

  1. I really like your blog! My Korean boyfriend is the only son and oldest child in his family. And I just know if we look towards the path of marriage I will be going through some of the same things you did. We are discussing certain things along marriage and such, but I know we are far from it too because I’m in school still and currently residing in America. I know if we were to marry we will most likely live with his parents in Korea. Honestly I’m nervous for the Korean traditions, but more nervous for my own customs and traditions as it seems both of our set of parents are strict when it comes to marrying someone with the same ethnicity and culture. There’s a lot I still need to learn as I’m only 21 and he is 29. I know with his age, he is getting ready to think about marriage and I should prepare myself. Your blog has cleared some of my worries, but I’m inspired to start my own too!

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  2. Hello! 🙂 I just randomly found your blog while looking for terms of endearment to call my boyfriend (Filipino, and not Korean haha). But I really found your blog entertaining and cute. :))) I hope to read more of it as soon as I finish my thesis this year 🙂 Hwaiting!! 😀

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  3. ptpa
    HI! Just would like to share for those who are looking for business specially Korean Products.
    We are offering Business No Membership Fee.
    Benefit: travel to KOrea – Free Accomodation and food
    This is only for those who are interested to do the business or use the product for personal use.
    For registration: annelee0527@gmail.com

    NO FEES TO BE COLLECTED

    Like

  4. Hello!

    Great blog. I was wondering if there would be a way to collaborate.
    Please contact me via email if and when you can.

    Thank you so much.

    Take care.

    Like

  5. Good day,ma’am. I have been reading your blogs since the first week of my second visit here in Seoul. I have a Korean boyfriend so he was the one who invited me twice to visit his family. Right now, I am having a summer vacation from the Philippine school where I teach. I am fascinated with all your experiences and have been telling my boyfriend about it until he finally told me to leave a comment on your blog…so I could at least get to know some Filipinas in Korea. Sad to say, I do not know any Filipinos here.

    I am actually thinking about teaching in Korea (particularly in Seoul because here is where my boyfriend’s family lives). I have searched some schools hiring English teachers (it is my field of specialization anyway)….but as you have mentioned in one of your blogs, they are looking for native English speakers (some even posted “no experience needed”. ) (~insert a long siiiggghhhh here)…

    I was just wondering if it could ever be possible to get hired as an ESL teacher here even though I am not yet married with my boyfriend? I guess I am just trying real hard to be able to make it without his help (like marriage) because I have been hearing about Koreans’ prejudice against Filipinas marrying Koreans. I hope I could possibly get some information from you.

    Thank you…and keep posting more blogs.. I enjoy reading them. 🙂

    -Jenn

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  6. Hi! I find your blog really interesting! I am a Filipina as well and I plan to work there in South Korea. Do you have any tips? I have read your article about you living in South Korea before getting a teaching job. How did you support yourself during your jobless stay there? Please email me.

    Please tell me more and leave me tips and advices on what to do! Thanks! ^_^

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  7. hi Deanna Sallao..i had a few questions and was wondering if you could help me?…please email me when free?..thank you…

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  8. Hello mam chris
    San po kita pwd i pm
    I need ur help poh
    May itatanong poh ako
    Pls

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  9. Hi, Deanna! Can you give me more details, so I can post the event in the blog? You can send it to my Email… mcs52081@yahoo.com. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Aw, thank you! 🙂 I have seen your blog. I think you are on the right track. I hope to read more exciting adventures from your new life here in Korea. ^^

    Liked by 1 person

  11. I like your blog! I am also a Filipina who is married to a Korean guy. We stayed in the Philippines for over 3 years before moving to Korea last April 2015. I am new to blogging and I got inspired by reading your blogs. You are an awesome blogger. Wish I could be like you in the future. kkk 😉 God bless!

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  12. Hi Chrissantosra,

    I am Deanna Sallao, (Marketing Manager of BNK),
    I would like to invite you to a one night of wonderful business opportunities and expanding your network in Seoul!

    What: Business Network Korea: “Where Koreans meeting Non-Koreans for business” When: 13th of July, 2015 (18:30)
    Where: On The Border – Mexican Grill & Cantina ( 2F, 211, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul – Line 6, Seoul )

    For more details, please visit: http://bit.ly/1Tb1VNL

    I would also like to ask for your assistance if you can kindly promote our up-coming event in your blog/website.

    You don’t have to pay for your RSVP; just click the link provided and I will RSVP you on my end.

    Hoping for your kind response and see you there!

    All the best,
    Deanna Sallao of BNK-Seoul
    Marketing Manager

    Like

  13. Hi, my name is Christian, I am 33 years old now. I want to work in Korea as a factory worker…… do you know someone who can help me. I am jobless for almost 3 years now. Please help me. Salamat po.

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  14. Your posting is useful. Does possession of the F5 make it any less of a pain to deal with Korean banks in terms of getting a credit card and are their Korean foreigner small business grants, mentoring, and business partnership programs you could enter into with a F5 visa, that you cannot enter into with anything other than a D type visa? I have a F6 and I find that Korea is still the Hermit Kingdom in most respects. jm8257@gmail.com – Joel

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  15. Would you please tell me your email address? my email address is tempanother@mail.com. I would like to ask few questions.

    Thank you

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  16. Kamusta po, Ms. Clemencia? That is a great suggestion. I have thought about forming a group of Pinoys helping fellow Pinoys in Korea, but we actually have a lot here now. I haven’t heard any groups assisting tourists, though. I know some people who may be able to help you. Send me a personal message on FROM KOREA WITH LOVE’S HOMEPAGE on FACEBOOK, and I will give you the details. =)

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  17. Hi Chris.. This is a nice blog. I was thinking, why don’t you get together with other filipinas living there to form a group to guide filipino tourists that want to visit South Korea specially those who do not speak or understand Korean.
    Like me, i’m a senior & making a stopover in Incheon this June 7 & would be very grateful if a filipina can direct me or better yet accompany me to shop for pasalubong (gifts) for the family for a few hours lang sana.
    Do you know someone who can help? Thank you so much. God bless.

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  18. Hi Ms. Chirs!
    im preparing my tourist visa now for my vacation this march.
    but my employment contract will end this feb 14,2015 and my bank is just 2 months old.
    will it be Ok? or should i apply for a new job first before applying for the visa?
    Thank you!

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  19. hi
    i am a korean who is single 53year old my purpose is that i am looking for my fiance(wife) AND in case meet my partner i willing to rerocate to australia with my parter beacause my younger brother invite me there if u find good girl pls contact me thanks alot

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  20. thank you so much ms Chris…
    God bless you too and your family.

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  21. Hi, Dawn. ^^ Once you have acquired the appropriate visa after getting married, it would be easier to find a job… but mostly as a teacher. You will be surprised how many hagwons (academies) in Korea there are. Some of these hagwons hire even those without a teaching degree. What you can do first is to get a TESOL/TESL certification in Korea. You can take a TESL course in the Philippines, but that will take a few months to finish… if it’s a diploma course. If you have more questions, you can message me via this blog’s FB homepage. God bless you and your husband-to-be. ^^

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  22. Hi ms. Chris.
    your blog helps me a lot and opened my mind about Korea. My boyfriend is a Korean and I’m planning to go to Korea on March or June to meet his parents and for vacation. We are also planning to have our wedding their later. I have no problem with my boyfriend. I love him so much and he love me also..(hehe) and our family supports our relationship.I can speak and write Korean but not very perfect.My boyfriend told me that he will fallow me where ever I want to live after our wedding but I know he would love it if i chose Korea but I’m a little scared that I may not be able to live (because of some paper problems in the future cause all I know right know is tourist visa or some strange attitudes of Koreans that i may not be able to adapt) and find a job( cause Koreans are seems to be perfectionist). I still don’t know what to choose. I am a graduate of hotel and restaurant management and I’m currently working in a hotel here in Cebu for almost 1 year. I was looking for a hotel job vacancies in the internet pero wala po akong makita puro teaching job lang po and my qualification doesn’t speak to it and after reading your blog naisip ko na walang tatanggap sakin bilang teacher and this reality keeps on scaring me.

    any advice ms. Chris?
    Thank you.

    Dawn

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  23. Thank you for the invitation, Adam. I’d love to attend the event, but I am not in Korea right now. I hope everyone will have fun and the event will be a blast! ^^☆

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  24. Hey Chris,
    It’s Adam. As you are probably aware, I’m planning the K Blog awards with Taehoon from the Korea Observer. I was wondering if you had planned to attend the event.
    If so, please contact me or Taehoon. It is a charity event, so we’re charging 10 bucks at the door or ahead of time (all profits will go to Korean Unwed Mothers Family Association and Busan Abandoned Pet Sanctuary).
    We are gearing up for it to be a fun event there will be stand up comedy and music) and hope to have all of the people who have been making a great contribution to our community with us (that definitely includes you).
    That being said, it would be really appreciated if you would please RSVP the Facebook event, and invite some friends.
    Thanks in advance!
    -Adam, Taehoon, and the K-Blogger awards event team
    https://m.facebook.com/events/377897475710294

    Like

  25. Hi Chris, I have been following your blog for a while and wanted to let you know that I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award (hope you haven’t received this already) … hope you like this idea 🙂

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  26. Hi! ^^ You can reach me via FROM KOREA WITH LOVE’s Facebook homepage.

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  27. Hi Ms. Chris Santos-Ra. Can we ask you some questions about women who are in an interracial marriage? It is for our undergraduate research study. How can we contact you? or is it okay if we can get your e-mail address? Thank you very much, Ms. Chris. 🙂

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  28. Hi, Hana! ^^ I go to Apo with my Mom sometimes. Thank you. ^^♡

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  29. I think I saw you bandang sa Apu Church few weeks ago. If I’m right, you’re stunning !

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  30. Hi titser ate cris,
    I read all your blogs from the start.
    I just wanna share to you about what im experiencing right now and i hope you give advice of what im going to do.
    I have a fiance who is an engineer working in Malaysia we met b4 in Amman.2011 when we met and inlove to each other untill i give birth to our son 2012.Every 6 months he come here in the Philippines to visit us. Every months he send us for living. Last june he did not send us but its ok for me coz he told me he come here the month of july and will get us in Korea. It was june2 the last time he sent us message untill now i am waiting and his son. The worst thing is he dont even call or message on the birthday of his son. Im so worried what happen to him. I called his kakao talk but he did not answer it he even didnt open his fb. Almost everyday he send or calls us before but now i dont know whats happening coz we did not argue. I know you know more about them what do you think why he is not make a contact to us? I dont even have his friends number he have friend in fb but i know for sure he dont understand english. Pleasw help me about this.
    Thanks alot.
    Crystal

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  31. Hi, I saw a post from your blog about ARC. I lost my ARC last June 2014 and I just paid 40,000 won. I am worried that ipI might not be allowed to enter Korea again. The immigration officer was asking about me going back to Korea until September but could not really understand but I did not have time to clarify anymore since I was running late for my flight. I really hope you can help me get an answer for this. Thanks!

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  32. Hi! ^^ Noong ako, I had to write an authorization letter for my cousin who processed it, and then pinadala ko din ang alien ID ko from Korea and syempre ung NBI form galing sa Phil. Embassy sa Seoul. Alam ko un lang ang mga binigay kong requirements… and sa Manila din ang processing. It took 3 weeks ata or almost a month before natapos ang pag-authenticate. I found this site. It might be of help to you: http://www.authenticationexpress.com/

    The requirements are listed here: http://italicized.hubpages.com/hub/HOW-TO-GET-YOUR-DOCUMENTS-AUTHENTICATED-BY-THE-DFA

    Good luck. ^^

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  33. Hi Ms. Chris.been saw you 2 years ago thru Fb.i lost update from you sinced i made new acc~i like this blog tried to follow & sign up but it says i cant connect~i saw your post about the 13 digit #s in Alien I.d and i was like “aa ganun pala,di q napansin”haha.Thanks for the information i learned^^
    Ms. Chris ask q din po sana panu po yung NBI red ribbon?i sent my authentification to my brother in Cebu pero sa Manila pala yun e process.no any documents needed.pero yung pa Red Ribbon some requirements may be needed daw. baka alam you po pwd nilang hahanapin na documents pra mpdla q agad.
    Help me and thanks a lot po!ill wait for your response

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  34. Hello, Mike! ^^ I’ve checked your website, and I would love to read/review some of your books. I have been studying Korean on and off. My husband, on the other hand, is learning Filipino. I will send you my home address via email. =) More power to you and your company. ^^

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  35. Hello Chris,
    Very nice blog. It has a real professional feel. Would you ever consider reviewing Korean language books? As you actually live in South Korea, you can offer a very unique perspective to your readers. My company, Tuttle Publishing makes some of the most popular Korean language learning books and I’d love to send you one or more (for free of course) to take a look at. Book reviews make for great posts 🙂

    Please let me know what you think. Here’s our books:
    http://www.tuttlepublishing.com/language-books/korean

    We are also the #1 Tagalog language learning publisher, in case you are interested.

    Best,
    Mike
    mpage@tuttlepublishing.com

    Like

  36. Hi, Dennis! ^^ My husband and I have a Japanese-Korean restaurant in the Philippines, but we don’t buy Korean ingredients from Korea. We get most of them from Korean marts/shops in my hometown in the Philippines. Aren’t there any Korean shops there in Uganda? You can also use dried nori or Japanese laver/seaweeds. Even local shops have them, I suppose. =)

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  37. Kimbap is a korean yuri geuredo i want to be the first to open up a kimbap stop point in the neighbor hood please how do i get to buy and import kim from korea now that i have learned how to make it from your blog. The korean wave has spread to Uganda trust me. +256715503839

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  38. Sure po! I’m about to graduate na next year and I’m planning to treat myself big time. Haha. I hope maka timing po ako ng cheaper fare next year. Salamat po sa reply! 🙂

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  39. Hi! ^^ I’m sure the right opportunity will come when you can finally visit Korea. ^^♡ Thank you for appreciating my honesty in my posts. When you come to Korea, let me know so we can meet in Seoul. There are so many interesting places there that I can show you. ^^

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  40. Hello Miss Chris! I really like your blog. I really like how you share your honest opinions about matters. I’m a fan of Korea, actually. From culture, people, food and music. I actually listen to Kpop like everyday. But I’m happy to know some things that we usually don’t know about Korea. We (esp. kpop fans) most of the time think kasi na they (Koreans) are close to perfection na. But because of your blog I’m enlightened that there is always other side of the coin. Nevertheless, I’m always this enthusiastic saying in time I am going to visit Korea someday. 🙂 🙂

    P.S
    Kinikilig po ako sa love story niyo. God bless po always 🙂

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  41. Hello, Rio. Tell me more about it. ^^★

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  42. Hi! I am Rio from Manila. I came across your blog and it made me remember the month I spent in South Korea as a 12 year old. 🙂 Super fun memories. It really makes me want to go back there!

    Just to share a little, I am a social entreprenuer engaged in marketing products of necessity for the purpose for raising funds for different advocacies for less fortunate children in the Philippines – those on the streets, those who can’t go to school, and those who are sick with Cancer.

    We are looking for more ambassadors who would like to do the same and that’s why I try to connect with other Filipinos around the globe because I believe the more we are the more lives we can change.

    If you are open I will be very glad to get in touch with you to share more. 🙂

    Thank you and blessings to you.

    RIO
    Blessed Mother / Happy wife / Social Entrepreneurs / Proud Filipina

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  43. Hi, Dara. Thank you. More love for you, too. ^^♡

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  44. Love your blog. And your story is so romantic, just like a drama. ^^

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  45. Thank you, Zelda. True love is already on your way. Keep your faith. =)

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  46. I wish to have one too. I was touched with your story Cris ^^

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  47. You will. Just pray and wait. =)

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  48. Thank you, Delaney. I hope you find the job you’ve been looking for. Good luck. =)

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  49. Your blog gave me a reason to hope again for a teaching job in SK. It’s been years already since the day i planned to work there… your blog helps a lot. I really hope this will help me..

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  50. A cinderella story indeed! I wish to have one also!! 🙂 🙂

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  51. Thank you, Maddie. God bless you and your family. =)

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  52. Your blog is so inspiring ms. Chris! I am a fan! – Maddie

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  53. Thank you, Hangukdrama. =) Good luck on your studies. ^^

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  54. wow I really enjoy reading your blog ^^ I’m also learning Korean at the moment

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  55. I am honored. Thank you. =)

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  56. Such a fun read 🙂 thank you and I hope you don’t mind me adding you to my blogroll ^^

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  57. Hello, Apple! =) Thanks a lot for visiting the blog. God bless you. ^^

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  58. Hello Ms. Chris. I’m glad I’ve come across your blog. I’ve learned a lot. Thank you.

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  59. Thanks for dropping by. =)

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  60. Thank you, Tweetyb8o8. =)

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  61. I love your blog! It’s beautiful!

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  62. every time i come here i am not disappointed.great blog.

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  63. I have read your blog and im so proud of you as my kababayan. Sis, i am graduating here in the philippines in 2013 of april and i really want to have work in south korea can you help me find job? i really like teaching english or any office related work my degree is bachelor in science in office management and i can understand basic korean and japanese language. Please email me at marishdeguzman@yahoo.com i will wait for the response sis. Godbless!

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  64. I have read your blog and im so proud of you as my kababayan. Sis, i am graduating here in the philippines in 2013 of april and i really want to have work in south korea can you help me find job? i really like teaching english or any office related work my degree is bachelor in science in office management and i can understand basic korean and japanese language. Please email me at marishdeguzman@yahoo.com i will wait for the response sis. Godbless!

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  65. Hi, Teacher Volet! ^^ I am so glad to hear from you. Yes, God has been so good to me… he gave me a wonderful husband. I miss you. I always tell my “wonjangnim” (boss) here in SK great things about you and WIS.

    See you in the Phils. next year! ^^

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  66. Hi Teacher Chris! I am so happy to get across your blog. It really shows how happily married you are with Khan. I miss you.

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  67. Thanks, Xionne. ^^ I’m sure you are going to enjoy SK. Stay in or near Seoul area… there are more places that are foreign-friendly. Take care! ^^

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  68. ***I just want to say that I really like your blog which I always follow since last month. [ I just recently discovered your page by accident =) ]

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  69. Hi Ms. Chris. I just want to say that I really like your blog which I really like. I am going to visit SK someday… hopefully…
    God bless

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