When I was young, my life was a blank canvas: fresh from the chopping block and clear with possibilities. My imagination ran wild and loose on this empty landscape, and I was free to be anything and anyone that I desired to be. One day, I was the divine princess of Cypress, my home city. … Continued
There is a phenomena of travelling to ‘find oneself’. Despite the fact that this phenomena was surely born of a need for a cryptic response to the question ‘why are you travelling’, there is some truth to it. When you strip back the artifices of how we legitimize ourselves in life, through career, through family, … Continued
Going Home Again to Nepal The incisor-like summit of Everest fills my window, tinged blue in the late morning light, partially shrouded by stubby clouds. The pilot makes an announcement and passengers briefly cast aside all airline etiquette – crowding the aisles and hovering over the windows, gaping at the peak. Slowly, I feel a … Continued
It probably started out in some ratty composition notebook that was passed around half a dozen people early in high school—pages of lists, gear and destinations, prices and plans. It moved on, made its way through several more notebooks, scrap paper, homework margins, and online documents. It, this plan, it evolved like this until … Continued
I open my eyes. I blink. I check my phone to see what time it is. It’s five minutes before 3AM. I close my eyes as I try to think what day it is and why I am awake at this hour. Then the memories of the past days of this week burst into my … Continued
American. That’s what it says in the space after “nationality” in my passport. Its navy cover is starting to fray around the edges and the pages are starting to curl at the corners. I guess that’s what happens after being stuffed into my sweaty jean pocket one too many times. The metal disk bore an … Continued
“I suppose I should let the cat out of the bag, being that I leave in about 2 1/2 weeks…., I will be teaching English in Beijing, China for an entire year at a learning center. I will miss so many of you dearly, you really don’t actually know. I just started crying a bit … Continued
I board the plane crisp and respectable and promptly feel myself morph into something retched and inexplicably slimy. Flights do that to a person. But after all the rearranging of doll-house-sized pillows and the moments of fitful sleep, the end is near. I know this because the nice lady just handed me a slip … Continued
I remember thinking it was crazy to be driving 1971 miles for a job I might not even want nor be offered. My husband and I had loaded up our Saturn station wagon and were driving cross country from New York to Utah for a six day job interview. We were applying to be Wilderness … Continued
The people are everywhere. We pass each other and I nod my head in a “what’s up?” or “hey” kind of way. The nod is returned, along with a smile. My eyes are round and blue. Some have eyes that are mere slits. Others look back at me with oval, brown eyes. But the smiles. … Continued