When the government lifts its ban on going out in one short week, there will still be many barriers to navigate. The sun may be shining, but the world may look just as uninviting to some as a windy Saturday may look to a runner. We may continue to hunker down, stay at home, and wait. Just as I’m learning to face down the wind, we’ll learn to live with our barriers. … More Facing down the wind
As I near the close of a second month in quarantine, the dust has settled on the initial shock of social separation. It seems we’ve now collectively nestled into new routines. I’m beginning to loosen my tight grip on connectivity and shift my attention back into the present. As if by magic, I’m beginning to hear my own voice in my head again. Slowly but surely, my words are finding their way out. … More Quarantine Month Two: New routine, consuming less, and slowing time.
So is it the journey or the destination that counts? I would argue it’s neither. … More The age-old debate of journey vs. destination…
My week in Costa Rica was so full and rich that it felt like it could’ve been longer; each day so action packed that it could’ve been two. I’ve gotten lots of questions about how I planned my trip, so instead of simply narrating the experience, I’ve provided links and a few tips. … More COSTA RICA: How I planned my escape to paradise
I live in a world where it is normal to breathe in all the people who happen to be headed the same direction as I am on my way to work. For an hour, I am pressed against strangers. Arms I don’t know rest on my head to hang on to the pole that steadies … More Fighting for Space in the City: The Commuter’s Pains and Little Glories
After 8 fairly sleepless hours on the plane, the cabin lights clicked on and I realized they were serving breakfast. It felt like I had barely blinked since the weird chicken in some sort of creamy sauce had been served, and suddenly an unidentifiable pastry was being placed before me. I checked the time on … More How to Live in Two Time Zones
I celebrated the Fourth of July in France. An American friend and I wanted to have a barbecue to celebrate, but since we both live in apartments where barbecues aren’t allowed, we decided to go for the next best thing and head to a park in Paris. We threw a picnic. I only have a … More Why I Am Happy to Celebrate America in France
I pass them every single day. I recognize them. The man in the metro who walks around with a small, dirty espresso cup after he plays the same, disjointed melody that might be Frank Sinatra, might be his own composition, on his clarinet. The heavy set woman with her hair covered who sits on a little … More The War on Pain
It’s raining again. The weather has become a popular topic of conversation these days. When I pass the cleaning man in my apartment building as I head out for a run, and he asks how I’m doing, I smile and tell him that I’m doing well, and himself? And he tells me he’s well too, happy … More A Sunless Summer in Paris
We decided to have dinner in the park. We like to save money and eat well when we travel, so we rode our bikes over to the Hakaniemi Market Hall and decided to take our food to go so we could picnic at Kaisaniemi park, right in the heart of the city. We had only been in Helsinki for … More Talking to Strangers
The Transition Artist 