Probably Robbed in Brazil
“We are going to Brazil!” we excitedly announced at a picnic with friends a few years ago. One of our friends, Will, a giant 6’4” former U.S. Army Officer who grew up in Brazil, looked us up and down. “You are probably going to get robbed.” He flatly stated. The […]
High in the Mountains, High on the Beaches: Jamaica
There were three things I knew about Jamaica before our trip there: Bob Marley, legalized weed, and beautiful beaches. I was wrong about one out of three. No, this is not a post unraveling a giant conspiracy theory that Bob Marley was actually a Puerto Rican or a tedious list […]
Kutna Hora: Silver and Bones
“Cut! Stop! There is a person on the set”. I raise my head and see actors in medieval dresses all around me, and someone from the production crew running toward me, waving his hands and desperately pointing to a sidewalk. “Oh, shit”. Walking in quiet contemplation and studying the cobblestone […]
Hysterique de O’Hare
I don’t know how I feel about airports. This is strange for me to admit because I am the type of person who has strong feelings about almost everything in my life, including completely inconsequential things. On one hand, I love airports – the hustle, the crowds, the excitement of […]
Sunbathing in the Murder Capital
Acapulco. What a fantastic name for a city! The first time I heard of Acapulco was as a kid from a cheesy 1990s Russian pop song. And although I could not place Acapulco on the map and did not even know that the city was in Mexico rather than some […]
If I Were a Country: China vs Japan
If Victor were a country, he would be Japan. He has a deep respect for traditions, always courteously queues up in line, and can often be found working 16-hour days. I am China. I chew my food loudly, sing out of tune in the middle of the street, and can […]
