The clean slate of possibilities awaits as summer approaches, signaling freedom from school or the uncertain yet exciting new chapter of life after graduation. Where will you go? What are your plans? Who will you become? Will you be a mover, a shaker, a leader, a fixer, a starter or a fighter for things good in the world? Will you be a traveler? Continue reading
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