Three weeks ago, I boarded a plane ultimately bound for Lima without much idea what I was going to do, who I would be. Though I had many years abroad under my traveler’s belt, South America was terra incognita: the language, the people, the food… like Africa, I had never stepped foot on the...
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So, a little background. I’ve taught in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. Most of my experience with non-native speakers has been in east Asia, where standards are low, pay is high, and the majority of expats sure to be English teachers. All well and good. South America is a completely different...
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No one is paying me to write this. If Starwood wants to toss a few points my way for spreading awareness (hint, hint), I wouldn’t say no, but I say all of this of my own accord. Like so many Americans who are hesitant of signing up for credit cards or ignorant of the...
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Maybe I’m spoiled, but I just don’t get it. I’ve only spent a week in Peru, 2-3 days of which I was violently ill. The others were used to acclimate, search for restaurants, markets, cafes, etc. At the 7-day mark, I’m far from comfortable. And that’s ok. That’s expected. Because though I’ve had my...
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Four days. That’s it. My entire world has been turned upside down – rather, I threw myself to the other side of the world – and I’ve accepted it in a way I would never have thought possible a few years ago. Though I consider myself a seasoned traveler, that experience has been largely...
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“Every encounter at an airline starts with the customer’s attitude,” she said. “If a person comes on all demanding or confrontational, I will do everything in my power to make sure they don’t get their way. If someone’s a dick, I will get on the radio and word will spread and everyone at this...
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Warm Nights No matter where I go in the world, I’m a Texas boy at heart. And that means certain things are expected of me: 1. I should be able to consume mass quantities of beef with speed and enthusiasm 2. I’m required to professionally distance myself from former President Bush if I want...
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I don’t even know how to begin describing Costa Rica. A simple enough landing, a quick rush through immigration and customs… only to have yourself deposited in a mine field of family members and taxi drivers asking where you need to go. In that respect, it’s not much different than Bangkok. In fact, Costa...
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Although I’m hardly a germaphobe, I still get squeamish when in a confined space with someone who’s coughing. Not because I believe every little germ, virus, and cold is going to kill me, but simply because I hate being sick, to such a degree I hold people accountable for their illnesses. If you’re a...
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There’s something I should address to all my readers, those who have been following me for years, and those who have only recently stumbled across my blog and have yet to get the full view of my experience: I’m not going to be down forever. If anything, I’m feeling pretty great at the moment,...
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