Between August and December of 2012, I traveled from the United States to six different countries. Before I left, several people asked, “what will the toilets be like where you’re going?” I […]
I rafted the Nile
Last weekend, I went white water rafting on Uganda’s Nile River. Fear filled my bones for days leading up to the trip, along with most of the five-hour voyage down the mighty […]
Six days on Rwanda's roads
I recently spent six days traveling the Northwest corner of Rwanda. My brain has not yet processed the amazing, frustrating, enlightening adventures of the week. And, that makes writing about it difficult. […]
Shaila meets the gorillas
I made my way toward town under a bright, star-filled sky. It was 4:30a.m. Locals still meandered their way home from the bars, but I had my hiking boots on in preparation […]
Adele, a driver and me
I opened my eyes and stared up at the tee-peed mosquito net that surrounded me. It was 7:30a.m., and I was in Africa. My flight from Istanbul, Turkey landed fewer than eight […]
Istanbul: A shock to the system
I can think of no better way to say it. Istanbul, Turkey has been a shock to my system. It all started when our plane arrived 45 minutes early (but curiously took […]
Biking in Copenhagen
One of the happiest moments of my two-week travel adventure occurred at 6:30a.m. while sitting on the Copenhagen, Denmark metro after two short hours of sleep. To ensure a stress-free journey to […]
Dear Dad, please visit Iceland
Dear Dad, I know international travel is not your thing, but I went to a place I want you to visit. Iceland may seem a random and obscure destination for Americans, but […]
I woke up in Iceland
I woke up in Iceland and saw my breath. Where is my sweater?, I wondered as I calculated 16 degrees Celsius into Fahrenheit with my iPhone’s converter app. The 60-degree crisp air […]
Rwanda: One month and counting
Two years ago, I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Work to advance my career path toward more service-based work. While eager to move into a field I felt more […]
