The colors danced in the sky as the morning clouds passed through, constantly changing the reflection of light from the rising sun. At the forefront of the golden, pink, and orange show were the five unmistakable lotus-shaped towers of Angkor Wat. After nearly a week of grappling with the history of death and destruction that … Continue reading Experiencing the Awe and Awfulness of History in Cambodia →

The juxtaposition between the two destinations during our final week in Vietnam was noteworthy. Our experiences in the rural region of Hoa Binh and then flying south to Ho Chi Minh City were both exceptional despite the vastly different settings. We spent the first half of the week living in large group homestays in a … Continue reading Rural Exploration and Western Commercialization →

As I referenced in my last post, leading a gap semester is a very different experience than joining one as a student. These first few weeks on the program have certainly reinforced that reality. Taya and I ran into our first problem to solve even before getting to Vietnam — one of our students was … Continue reading Hitting the Ground Running →

To be perfectly honest, it was a little bit eerie. Nearly five years ago to the day I was sitting in the same terminal at LAX, getting ready to board my flight to Guatemala City and begin my gap semester with Carpe Diem. Now, here I am again, this time rearing up to begin a … Continue reading Familiar Feelings with Different Horizons →

As I sat down to write this entry, I was surprised as to how difficult I found it to accurately describe the month I spent in Alaska. Despite all my travels this year, from Central America to the center of Wyoming to the South Pacific, I never had such a challenge writing about my experience. … Continue reading Save the Best for Last →

Some might say that seeing five countries in nine days is a little ambitious. I would disagree. Leaving Scotland behind, I flew to Copenhagen where shortly afterward I was greeted by my great friend Brennan as I stepped of the train and onto the platform. Brennan and I shared more than a decade at school … Continue reading A Race Around Scandinavia →

Just five days after entering this beautiful country, I’m back at the airport, getting ready to depart. It feels as though I blinked, and like that, my time in Scotland flashed before me. Despite jam packed days full of amazing sights, time continues to speed by. Here’s how I filled my days in the land … Continue reading So Long Scotland →

A part of me is still processing. Somehow, I really did just say my last goodbye to the Food of Course Cookery School. It wasn’t just a goodnight or parting ways for the weekend, it was an actual goodbye, until who knows when. It’s strange to be back on my own, and a little sad … Continue reading The Last Supper →

The lovely tune of the iPhone “Illuminate” ringtone resonates in my ears as I am pulled away from the comforts of sleep. My first thought is one of annoyance, my body wishing it didn’t have to get out of bed at 7:30, but then reality sets in and I remember it’s another day at the … Continue reading Better Than Bangers and Mash →