Category: Personal Stories
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Warsaw Photo Gallery
One of my favorite ways to explore Europe is on foot, and Warsaw was no exception — I definitely got my steps in! Here’s a series of photos, organized by neighborhood, that capture the city’s charm. Old Town & Castle Square Churches Palaces & Museums Skyline & Modern Architecture
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12 Cities in 16 Days: My First Euro Backpacking Adventure at 23
When I was 23, I went on my first big Euro backpacking trip—a total whirlwind. I hit 12 cities in just 16 days, hopping from trains to planes to buses, sleeping in hostels, and squeezing in every city I could. It was chaotic, exhausting, and unforgettable.
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Rio de Janeiro: Feeling at Home and Feeling Foreign
Brazil was the 73rd country I’ve visited. I was coming directly from Lima, Peru, which has a higher population than Rio. But, somehow I felt like I had been dropped from a quiet Kansas backroad, to New York City at rush hour: full of noise and motion, and what felt…
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How I Ended Up in England for University
I didn’t have a particularly impressive high school record. I was involved in clubs, varsity sports, and held leadership positions, but my grades weren’t exceptional. I didn’t have limitless options. I applied early decision to Spelman with about a 3.4 GPA—and got in. For a moment, my path seemed set.…
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Asia Is Missing From My Blog — Even Though It’s Where Everything Began
You may have noticed that Asia is completely missing from my blog — which is ironic, because this is where most of my travel story actually began. I haven’t been back to Asia since 2019. And while I could sit down and try to reconstruct detailed guides, restaurant lists, and…
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My First Time in the Motherland — and My First Murder
My first visit to Africa was Nairobi, Kenya in 2013. Nearly 14 years later, I’ve returned to Kenya, where I’m writing this plog post. Aw. This first trip came months after the 2013 Westgate Mall terrorist attack in Nairobi, when the city was still carrying collective grief. Four Al-Shabab gunmen…
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10 Best Cafés in Nairobi with Good WiFi
I love café culture deeply. My digital nomad routine revolves around finding cafés; where I can work, read, write, and occasionally converse with strangers. Nairobi has no shortage of coffee spots, but these are the ones I’d genuinely return to. Below are my favorite cafés and work-friendly spaces around Nairobi…
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Albania Is About to Blow Up: Cost of Living, Culture & Why I’d Move to the Albanian Riviera
First Impressions of Albania I used to think that countries that have endured great hardship somehow produce kinder people. I’m not sure why I believed that—it’s clearly not a universal truth. But in Albania… maybe there’s some truth to it? In parts of the Balkans, I find people emotionally closed…
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Lima, Peru: From Layover to Destination: My Five Weeks Immersed in Lima
Why I Chose Lima I started a trip around the world, and my first destination was Lima, Peru. In 2016, I went on a very epic girls’ trip to Peru.We saw Machu Picchu. Rainbow Mountain + a long bus ride to Bolivia to see the Uyuni Salt flats. On that…
