This past week was my last hurrah in traveling and volunteering in Vietnam. I will be in Hanoi for a few more days before I head back to New York – just in time for the NBA playoffs (let’s go Knicks!). Since this was my last excursion, I took a week off from work to travel around central Vietnam via the Hanoi-Saigon Railway: Quang Binh Province, Hue, and Hoi An. Continue reading »

There are so many wonderful aspects of my host culture in Austria, it’s hard to pick just a few to write about. For one, I really like the relaxed vibe, which is visible in every park and café. People seem to take the time to really enjoy whatever they’re doing—it’s hard not to in such a beautiful city! Continue reading »

This afternoon Beppe asked if I wanted to go see some “Buddha relics” that were on display downtown. I said sure, not knowing what that entailed but sticking to my “yes” policy during my language exchange homestay in Italy. We go by bike, he said. Be careful, because I don’t have insurance for you, and it’s dangerous. Yup, I said, attempting to suppress the death-visions that popped into my head at the thought of riding one of his vintage bikes over Roman-era cobblestones alongside Italian drivers. Continue reading »