Re-entry Lobotomy: Retraining My Brain

March 11, 2010 31 Comments »

As I drove the car slowly down the road getting used to all of its high-tech gadgets I noticed a truck pulled over on the side of the road. There was no one coming in the oncoming lane, so I swung out to provide the truck ample room as I passed it. For one brief […]

My Three (Girlie) Travel Secrets

December 15, 2009 16 Comments »

One of my best friends (who I love dearly…Angie…ahem) always sends me (and other victims) these crazy ‘chain’ emails. She always begins the email by apologizing for sending it…which I find a little weird. You know the kind, the chain emails where you need to fill something out about yourself and send it one to […]

30 Lessons I Learned as a Vietnam Expat

October 19, 2009 16 Comments »

expat vietnam lessons

I love to reflect upon my time in a place, so it’s fitting that after a year as a expat in Vietnam I sat down and actually thought about what I’ve learned about Vietnam, Asia, and myself. It wasn’t an easy road, and until I met some local friends about 6 months in did things […]

Coming Full Circle

October 13, 2009 11 Comments »

I spent the weekend going back to square one; back to where I started my life in Ho Chi Minh City. Let me back up a bit; I’ve been living out in a ‘suburb’ district for the last 6 months. Even though I have to come into the ‘city center’ (District 1) a few days […]

Three Glorious Years!

September 1, 2009 18 Comments »

My parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary next week – amazing. I find it really hard to believe that my parents could stand anything for 50 years, let alone each other. This is especially difficult for me to understand considering I, their flesh and blood creation, am incapable of staying committed to any place or job […]

Some Recognition!

July 18, 2009 4 Comments »

Tripbase Blog Awards 2009 I just had an email telling me that I was selected as a finalist in a technical travel blog category in the TripBase.com travel blog awards! I didn’t even know I was nominated – so this was stunning news! If you haven’t figured it out yet – I work hard at […]

Alphabet Soup

May 19, 2009 6 Comments »

Life is full of turns, twists, and curves. I recently listened to one of my favorite podcasts, This American Life, they did a show on Plan B. They explored the idea of what we thought we were going to do and what we actually did; plan B, or C, or D. It gave me a […]

Travel Ink

January 2, 2009 1 Comment »

Check out my latest article written for The Indie Travel Podcast.   It’s all about the tattoos you get while traveling.  Did I get inked???  Read it and find out – Travel Ink! While you are on the Indie Travel Podcast site – browse around and check out the new design.  Craig and Linda did a […]

ChristmAsia!

December 24, 2008 3 Comments »

I’ve had a few questions about what it’s like to spend Christmas in Asia, so I thought I would give you my perspective as well as a photographic tour through HCMC Christmas Festivities. For for photo journey of HCMC lights – click here! I must admit that Ho Chi Minh City has surprised me with […]

I Will Survive

November 16, 2008 7 Comments »

Let’s take inventory. I’ve been in Saigon for two months now. It’s honestly been good and bad. Maybe bad is the wrong word…it’s more like “challenging”. Considering I’m a challenge junkie, one would think that I could have rolled with all of this massive change in my life a bit better, but alas…I am human. […]