As the only child of two working parents, I learned to keep myself entertained from a very young age. I would create elaborate soap operas for my Barbie dolls and challenge my alter ego in games like Connect Four and Battleship. (I grew up before computers and smart phones. Can you imagine?) But as a young adult, […]
Travel Tips
Winter Packing Tips for People Who Hate to Be Cold
Anyone else find packing for a trip super stressful? You want to be prepared for any situation, but airline baggage restrictions mean you can’t bring your entire wardrobe along. It’s even trickier when you need to add all your bulky winter gear. Whether you are chasing the aurora borealis in Lapland or Christmas market hopping […]
Tips for Visiting a Traditional Latvian Sauna
Nē, nē, nē, duša ir pirmais! These were the instructions given by a Latvian grandmother in her birthday suit after I entered the bath complex and reached for the steam room door. Never mind that I was already clean. The Latvian sauna ritual always begins with a shower. Perhaps amused by my halting Latvian and my […]
How to Have Fun Almost Anywhere
When I started this blog, one of my hopes was to show a few naysayers that I was capable of living beyond the comforts of North America and Europe. From the wilds of the Cambodian jungle to the crowded Beijing metro, I have tried to make the most of every experience and tackle every challenge […]
Chinese Words and Phrases for Foreigners
In my opinion, one of the top reasons Westerners are reluctant to travel to China is fear of the language barrier. The elaborate Chinese characters are awfully intimidating and the challenge of speaking and being understood might seem insurmountable. While I failed in my attempt to master the language, I did learn enough Mandarin to survive […]