I have never been a part of a clique. In grade school I became friends with my teachers but was never a teacher’s pet. I thought practical jokes were clever but was never the jokester of the class. In high school, no matter if I joined a sports team or musical theatre I never quite … Continued
Gokarna, India – A Wave of Solitude As I sit here listening to that Windows ‘sample’ music track – The Maid with the Flaxen Hair, I try to make sense of what my first solo trip meant to me and if it meant anything at all. If I can take a trip all by myself, I … Continued
Sometimes, a single week is enough to change your life. Sometimes, one haphazard beginning is enough to change your world. I arrived in Fes well after sunset, in the company of a classmate from Paris and a guidebook that neither of us had read. The next five days passed by in a whirlwind: the narrow, … Continued
When the soul pulls toward a certain direction it is best not to ignore it. For as long as I can remember, my soul pulled toward somewhere else, somewhere far away from where I was born. Despite the sense of wonder and adventure that the world inspired in me, my desire to explore parts unknown … Continued
I had been backpacking around China alone for a couple of months. I was (until my money ran out) free – free of restrictions, and free of responsibilities. The only problem I had was that I couldn’t speak a word of Mandarin beyond ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’. This wasn’t such a problem in the big … Continued
I gazed out the window of our beautiful condo and noticed a boy who had to be at least 7 years of age or younger outside kicking a deflated soccer ball while laughing so loud and carefree. Despite the fear, he still managed to smile from ear to ear. The aroma of fresh produce of … Continued
The moment you feel you’ve gained independence is when when you’ve moved away with no supervision. When you make choices of your own to better understand how to navigate through things. At first you may feel you’re like Dorothy, being jostled around in a thick tornado of bad doings. Then, just like Dorothy you end … Continued
Travel is freedom. Sounds as much of a cliché, as it’s true. I leave my house, get on a taxi, bus, plane and just in one second I leave everyday humdrum behind. My mind goes to other spaces, and my thoughts become as first and new as the places … Continued
Moving On Leaving home after high school graduation had always been the plan. It still is, and I am equally excited and terrified for the day I pack up the van and pull out of the driveway for the last time before I no longer … Continued
The Impersonator The black cat sitting in the hallway wakes me up with its pleas to be fed. The door to the room I am in is open, and I can clearly hear his meows. The red velvet curtains placed along the windows cast a blood-like radiance across the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Literary titles are numerous … Continued