Image Source: Dio Hasbi Saniskoro Recently, a friend admitted to me they feel uncomfortable receiving a government stimulus check because they feel fortunate enough to be financially, emotionally, and physically well – recognizing many others might not feel the same security during these turbulent times. Regardless of which category you fall in, one way to […]
Riding Solo in Amsterdam
Everyone said it would be amazing; that it was the best thing they had ever tried. You do what you went when you want and answer to no one. But I had never traveled alone before, nor had I been anywhere in Europe outside of London. Amsterdam was a city of firsts for me. From […]
New Year, Kinder Me
For me, 2018 was the year of living boldly. I was recovering from a rare disease diagnosis that inflamed every joint in my body, and I was learning how to define my new normal. But after leaving the hospital, suddenly, the world outside didn’t seem as scary anymore. I was ready – no, I was […]
End of Term Reflections
The past three months have felt like six months yet also as if they’ve flown by in the blink of an eye. I started planning my year in London the moment I was accepted to graduate school. I anticipated an intense year trying to balance returning to school and exploring Europe, but I thought the […]
A Day In New Orleans
A melting pot of French, Spanish, Caribbean, West African, and many other cultures, New Orleans was a must stop on our road trip. Though I was so excited to finally be in the city known for its great music, food, and rich culture, our visit landed on a sweltering hot summer day. I thought I could […]
Hook Em’ Horns
Austin, Texas was my favorite stop on our road trip. In fact, we chose our driving route accordingly just so we could stop to see our friend Sangeetha and Liz’s brother Clark. I had never been to Austin and wanted to do everything, but our plans were sidetracked by a looming tropical storm. Luckily, we still […]
White Sands National Monument
Tucked away in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico, White Sands National Monument is an oasis of wave-like gypsum dunes that glisten under the desert sun. Millions of years ago the monument was home to a deep lake layered with gypsum, which is rarely seen as sand because it is water-soluble. However, the isolation of the […]
Truth or Consequences, NM
Truth or Consequences, NM, formerly known as Hot Springs, NM, changed its name in 1950 when “Truth or Consequences” game show producer Ralph Edwards announced the show would air live from the first town willing to share the game’s name. T or C, as the locals know it, has since reaped the consequences of attracting […]
Six Hours in Santa Fe
Before this trip, what I knew of New Mexico was limited to Frankie’s disdain for Santa Fe on season four of Netflix’s Grace and Frankie. Luckily I did not find a snake in my pocket once during our visit! We arrived in Santa Fe early so we could make use of the entire day, stopping […]
Time for the Grand…
…CANYON! I have always wanted to see the Grand Canyon, even more so after moving to the West coast, and I was finally able to see the national park. On our drive from Zion, we first stopped at Horseshoe Bend. Aptly named, the site is a winding horseshoe-sized bend of the Colorado River near the town […]