I walked out of the office and down to the street, trying to sort out my emotions. I should have been ecstatic; I should have been flying high with excitement. It was October 26, just one month and one day after I landed back in Chicago after a thirteen month career break that took me […]
Why I Turned Down My Dream Job Read More »
Thinking about the past year leaves me with very mixed emotions. After being back in the United States for over three months now, it sometimes feels like the nine months before that didn’t even happen. Not being settled in a single place and spending all my time job hunting and doing freelance work means I
Reviewing 2012: Did That All Really Happen? Read More »
Staying in the holiday spirit for one more weekend, here’s a shot of a giant Christmas tree in Minsk, Belarus. Even though I spent all of December in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, I encountered some of the most festive decorations when I got to Belarus for the Orthodox Christmas and New Year in January.
Saturday Scenes: Christmas in Minsk Read More »
As 2012 winds down, I thought I would take a look back at some of the most memorable places I visited over the last year. From ancient castles and ruined churches to mountain villages and charming cities, my favorite destinations had a little of everything – and were each unique in their own way. Some
My 12 Favorite Places in 2012 Read More »
I didn’t arrive in Grodno, Belarus until mid-January, but a festive, holiday atmosphere was still apparent. Since most Belarussians celebrate the Orthodox Christmas and New Year, celebrations had just ended days before my visit and lights and decorations still adorned the main square.
Saturday Scenes: Holidays in Grodno Read More »
On a Saturday afternoon in mid-October, I nervously sat down on a black leather chair in a hair salon on the outskirts of Moscow and held my breath. I had been on the road for nearly two months and I was feeling like an ugly duckling in the fashion conscious capital of Russia. When my
The Great Haircut Smackdown: USA vs. the World Read More »
Over a decade ago, I returned to my apartment after a law school class and flipped on the TV to see coverage of a breaking news story taking place in Colorado. Two students had entered a high school called Columbine and started shooting, eventually killing over a dozen people. At the time, pre 9/11, it
Violence in the USA & Questioning Why Read More »
How much does it cost to travel around the world for 13 months? Obviously, this answer will differ for everyone. Costs vary based on where you go, what you do and the level of comfort you seek on the road, so everyone’s travel budget will be different. I chose to spend most of
13 Months in the Former Soviet Union: The Final Budget Breakdown Read More »
During my five day crossing of the Black Sea (a voyage that should have taken half that time), I always looked forward to watching the sun rise. Not only was it different every day – and beautiful – but it gave me hope each morning that it would finally be the day we would dock
Saturday Scenes: Black Sea Sunrise Read More »
I wrote last week about Passports with Purpose and the fact that we are trying to raise $100,000 this year for Water.org to help build clean water wells in Haiti. I also announced that I am partnering with one of my favorite travel companies, Context Travel, to offer a prize of 2 spots on any
7 More Reasons to Donate To Passports with Purpose Read More »
