All Posts

Sep 3, 2015
10 min

10 Lessons From Europe and An Introverted Traveler

I’ve kept you all waiting so long that I very well may have forgotten everything I wanted to add to this list! (So much for an unforgettable trip? Ha!) For those of you just settling in on this here blog, I went on a very short backpacking adventure throughout Europe by my lonesome in July–my first time going back there as an adult. I got back to the U.S. about a month ago and I promised to put together a blog with a list of things I learned, about myself, the world, travelin

Aug 1, 2015
2 min

Switzerland, My Captor

Apparently I’m not supposed to leave Switzerland. I was totally irresponsible and missed my flight yesterday and it was seemingly my only chance to get out of Switzerland, and mostly Europe in general, for the next few days. (My best option looks like a flight from Milan to Miami tomorrow evening.) I’ve been on a transportation-screw-up roll. If I didn’t know any better I’d think Mercury was in retrograde. I have no one else to blame but myself, though. From the moment I miss

Aug 1, 2015
1 min

Pictures Speak Louder

I’ve decided that what I saw in Switzerland cannot be described in words. And honestly the pictures don’t really do it justice either. But, here’s to trying anyway. (Picture diary for Italy coming soon as well.) Interlaken, Zurich, and Grindelwald, Switzerland, in 12 photos: #interlaken #travelabroad #travelwriting #lovetravel #switzerland #eurotrip #photography #photojournalism #travelling #travelblog #Travel #photodiary #thealps #europe

Jul 31, 2015
2 min

Spending All My Money On Ya, Süiza

Switzerland is super ‘spensive. I paid more for transportation here alone than I did to get to Europe from Miami and back. That goes for my whole trip, though, now that I think about it. I’ve spent more money on transport than I have on places to sleep and food. I’m not really sure how I feel about that. While trains are super efficient and pretty sweet ways to get from country to country, (I actually wish we had a system as sophisticated to get from state to state) the inter

Jul 30, 2015
2 min

Lost and Insecure

I walked around lost in Wollishofen last night for almost an hour. This time it wasn’t just because of stubbornness. Nowhere was open along the road for me to ask for help. And when I finally found somewhere, I didn’t hesitate. It was nice to know I was going in the opposite direction. I guess. After a while I almost started to cry out of frustration. Even though it was dark, and verging on 23:00, I wasn’t afraid and I didn’t feel unsafe. I just felt exhausted and incredibly

Jul 29, 2015
2 min

15 Minutes in Zürich

The first thing I did when I got to Switzerland was take the wrong train. Nothing new. I’d done it a few times in Cinque Terre too. Except now it’s cold. It’s cold and I’ve got no sleep arrangements. And the language is nothing at all like Spanish. I also don’t have any clear directions on where to go or any internet access. I obviously really like train rides. Luckily it was easy to go back to the Zürich main train station–much quicker than it had been to double back in Ital

Jul 28, 2015
5 min

Italy in Five Places

Italy, once I traveled away from beautiful Venice, was like a dream. Now before you crucify me for maybe possibly contradicting my last blog, I will specify: the land of Italy, the less inhabited areas, are a dream. Traveling from Venice to Cinque Terre, the northwest coast, gave me a chance to admire Pisa and Florence, as well as all the lesser known places, like Viareggio, from—you guessed it—behind a translucent screen. But this kind of spectating I welcome, because at lea

Jul 23, 2015
2 min

Me, Myself and Europe

I have some treats for you guys! Owing to my recent trips. I wrote some blogs on my phone. (And this time it didn’t get stolen.) So I will roll them out day by day for you to get a back to back to back hit of my adventures, though you will have to wait another few days until I’m settled back into the U.S. Hopefully the wait is worth it! Most of them I wrote on the train to Switzerland—including this one. Only because it’s one time where I actually got to pause for a bit and r

Feb 11, 2015
6 min

If You Don’t Get Robbed in South America, You Didn’t Do it Right

Well, the word is out.I was robbed in Chile. Twice. (Three times if you include the whole group). Now that the cat is out of the bag. I guess this is where I fill the space up with explanations and background details in order to save face. But really, the only thing I particularly want to share is the irony of the fact that after getting robbed the first time, I wrote a blog on my phone about my first day in Chile, and the very last sentence was “one thing is for sure, I won’

Dec 3, 2014
7 min

The Hidden Gems of Arizona

I have been traveling a lot–thanks to this blog and one of my very thoughtful and kind readers.And I realise that my other readers have been deprived as a result. I also realise that I really should be writing about my travels and the wonderful adventures that I find myself taking. After all, if my greatest dream is to be a travel writer…So here I am. I’m not going to bombard you by putting everything together in one extremely long and winding blog. (I hope.) I just feel like

Nov 4, 2014
3 min

So Far Gone

I think … I’m losing my mind. (Read: this blog will make zero sense). Or perhaps, I’ve already lost it. I can’t remember the last time I saw it. Or the last place we went. Or what I was doing the last time I had it. But I am certainly hoping it hasn’t been permanently misplaced.I just … I don’t know what’s real anymore. I am having a hard time separating reality from my dreams nightmares. I wake up in the mornings and just lay there wondering which thoughts are a result of my

Jan 28, 2014
3 min

Don’t Date A Girl Who Travels

I am working on two blogs — both of which need some research, which is why I haven’t posted yet. (You know I usually just write and post right away otherwise.) But these blogs are both controversial in their own right and require a little bit of homework. One is about religion (gasp) and one is about the bomb that the US dropped on Somalia while everyone was watching the Grammys. Until then, I’m just going to leave this here because I am kind of worried that I may have done a

Jan 7, 2013
2 min

Where The Heart Is

I am really surprised that I never came on here to express my elation with the fact that my editor gave me time off from work for the holidays. I am also, though not equally, surprised that I never came on here to express my subsequent, albeit short-term, depression following the disclosure of something I was expecting but dreading. I must have been too busy dealing with emotions. Although the time off doesn’t really surmount the bad news, I can’t say enough how perfect the t

Aug 23, 2012
4 min

The Sun Burns

Last weekend we made our annual trip to the Keys, but this trip was anything but usual. For one, I was actually old enough to go out and drink — and I had every intention of enjoying what the nightlife had to offer, even if that meant sitting around chatting and drinking non-virgin Pina Coladas. It was also solely a girl’s trip this time around, with just me, mother dearest, Kit Kat and TK, as the boys traded it in to hunt birds in Jamaica. It was a trip we all needed, though

Jun 27, 2011
3 min

The End Where I Begin

My last week in Australia has lent itself to a lot of analysing and reflection, as it should have I suppose. I am not quite sure why it would take until my very last few days for me to realise what a feat I have overcome, but I am glad to acknowledge it nonetheless. Here goes… Those who go across the world for short programs always come back home feeling like they experienced the best thing life has to offer. They tell everyone how much fun they had, how amazing the place was

Jun 21, 2011
3 min

Fins and Things

If there is any part of this six week trip that has made me feel the experience was worthwhile, it was my past weekend trip to Cairns. I have always been the type to get more excited about natural beauty than architectural. Though I can certainly appreciate the intricacies of buildings a thousand times my senior, there is something far more magical to me about observing untouched, natural perfection. What’s more, I managed to off three things from my bucket list in just one w

Jun 6, 2011
3 min

Work, Souvenirs and Such

My days have become routine. I wake up, I go to work, I go back to my apartment and I go to sleep. There really is nothing much more to my weekdays than that.(Other than the occasional supermarket visit or something of the sort, of course. And I am thankful that I get to go out and do interviews on occasion, and at the very least I remain quite updated on the happenings in the Eastern subs.) Nevertheless, this past week has been very dull. I was all alone in the apartment thi

May 29, 2011
3 min

My Weakness is Showing

It happened. No matter how much I pep-talked myself, how occupied my days were, or how deeply I dug down into my inner well of strength, I find myself writing to you today, more homesick and lonely than I think I have ever been. I admit perhaps my biggest vulnerability is my fear of being alone. (And maybe now you are wondering why would anyone the sheer opposite of a loner want to take a 15 hour trip halfway across the world for a length of time; but I’d like to think there

May 22, 2011
4 min

And So My Journey Begins

My first week in the expensive city of Sydney has been eventful, to say the least. It took me about three days to get over my jet lag–I often found myself falling asleep by 6pm and then waking up before the sun did. I didn’t mind the waking up early part though because it really gave me a chance to get the most out of my days. We spent the first few days doing orientations & sightseeing–don’t do this, here is the CBD, lemonade is really sprite–the works. Oddly enough, during

Jan 15, 2011
3 min

It’s About Time

My trip to Jamaica was nothing short of interesting–as usual. Only in Jamaica can you go to KFC and be told there is no chicken. Seriously. Kentucky Fried Chicken with no chicken. (It really is as ridiculous as it sounds.) Anyone who moved up here from Ja can tell you that one of the first things they want to eat when they go back is KFC. But nothing is more frustrating than coming off the airplane and heading straight there with the taste of the barbecue chicken already in y