Day 1: As my body flew and crashed into the pavement, my immediate response was simply to get up as quickly as possible—there was a train to catch. There’s always a train to catch, places to be, and people to see. I’m wondering when I’ll stop running. For now, the benefits still outweigh the costs …
Day 1: Hello world. I don’t typically put my thoughts down like this when traveling but I figured this was an opportunity to try something new. Usually, my own physical journal is the only place I share my daily thoughts, and it’s obviously a little more mundane and personal than what I’d like to put …
I took a train from Toronto to Ottawa. I sat down next to a young person headed to see a lover they met on Reddit. This would be the second time they would be seeing each other “in real life.” I use quotes there because it feels like the past few years have blurred the …
Have you ever felt like a city could somehow give you a hug? That is what it felt like as I hopped off a tiny plane into Toronto, on an uncharacteristically warm, winter day. Sadly, the weather the rest of my time in the city was not as kind, with so many layers being worn …
As I stared at my computer, something yet unnamed took hold of me. It was the feeling of having everything and nothing to do. My eyes glazed over, doing my best to assess the four windows open on the screen. Three were Google Chrome and one was Safari. I have found my preference for Chrome …
The heat of Cartagena welcomed us well before anyone else did. As soon as we stepped off the plane, I could feel the sweat beginning to cling to my shirt, only slightly tempered by a much-needed breeze. My large tote bag, carrying the entirety of my possessions for this trip, dug into my shoulder as …
As I close the chapter of my undergraduate studies at American University, I also say farewell to a city truly like no other. My first introduction to Washington, D.C. was not a school trip filled with monuments, museums, and obnoxious tour buses, but as a bright-eyed fanatic of horses. In third grade, my father surprised …
The idea of belonging is so often conflated with inconspicuousness. It’s believed that belonging is the same as not standing out. So many young Black bodies wish nothing more than to be invisible, finally free of scrutiny and denigration. Peers can change their hair, clothes, and even way of speaking as a means to stand …
One of my favorite things about spring is the arrival of cherry blossoms. Though I have yet to see them in all their glory in Japan, I have been fortunate to witness festivals in both DC and Berlin. Berlin, in particular, stands out in that spring takes on a new meaning in a city that …
Seeing Cherry Blossoms in Berlin at TV-Asahi-Kirschblütenallee Read More »
It’s hard to believe, but three years ago my friends and I packed up my car and rolled off to Montréal for Spring Break. This year, like so many things, Spring Break, our coveted pause in the semester, looks rather different. At American University, we had Wellness Week instead, which essentially amounted to a week …
Why You Should Go to Montréal For Your (Future) Spring Break Read More »