Sake with Strangers — Cheers to Unexpected Common Ground
Mark thought he was going to be sitting quietly in a corner drinking sake. The locals didn’t let that happen.
Outside Kyoto : A Great Location With a Minor B&B Snafu
Nara was a quieter, less expensive alternative to staying in Kyoto. We just needed to defeat the lock on the B&B.
I Left My Bad Luck Tied to a Tree by the Temple
I didn’t love the fortune I received from the temple. Fortunately, I didn’t have to keep it.
Japanese Fast Food: Conveyor-Belt Sushi
We had some delicious food in Japan, and it was almost always an adventure.
Kamakura, Bird Cookies, and the TV Crew
I stopped in Kamakura to speak to a Japanese camera crew, and now I might be an infomercial star in Japan.
I Asked Permission to Photograph a Stranger in Japan
We took 2,216 photos in Japan. Did we ask permission for any of them? I asked one time.
The Birds Sing Every 8 Seconds in Japan
You don’t have to see to find the escalators or know when the train doors are closing. Just listen to the birds.
Uber Failed Me, Risking the Greatest Sushi Dinner of My Life
I was looking forward to a fantastic dinner. Uber almost ruined my plans.
I Saw a Japanese Man Quietly Laughing At Us
It was subtle and discreet, but he was definitely laughing at us while we tried to figure out the bus signage.
Is It Rude to Ask Strangers in Japan for Their Photo?
It’s difficult enough to ask strangers if I can take their photo. I wonder if it will be even more difficult in Japan.
Back in the U.S. – Where Are All the People?
I can walk for an hour in this Houston suburb and not see another person. I miss French squares filled with people.
5 Things I Learned After 30 Days in Nice
After only 30 days, I’m sure I don’t have a true picture of expat living, but I learned a few things.
I Paid Ten Times More to Visit St Paul de Vence, and I Don’t Regret It
As a frequent traveler and someone who cares about the environment, I knew I should take public transportation. I was irrationally nervous about it.
Flea Markets and “Vide Grenier”: A Non-Shopper Goes Shopping in Nice
It’s difficult to ignore a giant flea market at your front door, even if you’re not a shopper.
Homesickness and Strangers Changing My Mood
Being sick did a number on my frame of mind. While stuck in my apartment, I started to miss American life and I was annoyed at all things French.
What Are They Wearing on the Côte d’Azur?
I always come across articles on “How Not to Dress Like a Tourist.” But the idea of not looking like a tourist is kind of laughable.
An International Story of Trespassing, a Spiky Fence, and a Shaky Escape
"Help me. Help me." I saw a young Asian man yelling and waving his arms. The man sounded desperate.
My Secret: I Visit Europe Because of the Bread
If you’ve ever romanticized the idea of walking to the local market every day, you’re right, there are benefits…and some downsides.
Being an Airhead is Risky When You’re Traveling: You Need a Village
Even in this large French city, I'm beginning to feel like this is my neighborhood and I am getting to know the shopkeepers .
The French Don’t Talk to Strangers, They Say
The man at the next table wanted to know where I was from. He said he only asked because I had coffee with lunch, unusual in France.