Follow me into a travel movie! Image by Flickr user Leo Hidalgo. I spent most of my teens living vicariously through travel movies. So when I did finally graduate to…
Diary of a Sushi Virgin
As fresh as the sea. Image by Sruthi Vijayan. If queues were measured on an amphibian scale — from plankton to blue whale — the line outside Sushi Dai is…
An Introvert Abroad: 5 Signs It’s Time to Socialize
Alone can be lonely. Image by Flickr user Marco Alioli. Even the most introverted of introverts needs to be social to be happy. I spend a lot of time developing…
Top 5 Things I Miss About Peace Corps
Few bonds are as great as those between fellow Peace Corps Volunteers. Image courtesy of Samantha Marangell. People often ask if I would do Peace Corps service again. What they really…
An Introvert Abroad: What Is Travel Friendship?
The friends we made on our trek tour into the hills surrounding Chiang Mai. Photo courtesy of Sarah Poekert. Introverts tend to prefer a small, intense social circle. This is…
The Go Girls Guide to the Grand Canyon – Budget Edition!
After the winter we’ve all slogged through, it feels like warm weather and summer road trips can’t come fast enough. One popular destination? Grand Canyon National Park. This iconic natural…
One-by-One or Two-by-Two: 5 Pros and Cons of Traveling with a Partner
Hannah’s friend Adrienne infinitely improved her western America road trip. Photo courtesy of Hannah Harrison. So you’re planning your next big trip, and it’s time to decide: Do I go…
Photo Essay: A Second Chance at First Impressions of Iqaluit
About two weeks ago one of my dearest friends arrived in Iqaluit wearing brand new boots and a look of anticipation. Her name is Danica Kwong, and I met her…
An Introvert Abroad: 3 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Travel Companion
Finding the right travel companion is worth it. Image by Kayti Burt. Traveling can bring the best and the worst out of people. It can also bring the best and…
Close of Service: Goodbye, Peace Corps Colombia!
On Dec 6, 2013, I rang the bell marking the “Close of Service,” or COS, of my Peace Corps Service in Colombia. My service, like most things anticipated since forever,…
5 Practical (and Unexpected) Lessons I Learned from Online Dating
The Internet world will astound you. Image from womenshealthmag.com via iStockPhoto/Thinkstock. Online dating websites are not the best places to meet friends. This might seem obvious, but when moving to…
Sammy in Sydney: Top 10 Thoughts After 1 Week
Follow Samantha through the decorated streets of Sydney! The Newtown area is particularly special. After spending my first week in Sydney, here are my top ten thoughts: 1. Sydney is…
My truck is my home
Travelling is my passion. As soon as I am in a place for longer than a month I feel this urge to move on. I get bored and I feel…
Home Without Walls
“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” – Maya Angelou Making friends has never been difficult for me. I tend to gravitate…
Strangers in a Strange Land
It seems to be a universally acknowledged truth that young women traveling alone are always, in some way, in need of assistance. Of course this is based solely on my…