the art of returning
There’s something magical about visiting a place for the first time. That first glimpse of the majestic Swiss Alps, the initial whiff of French bakeries brimming with fresh baguettes, the first time my toes dug into the white sand beaches of the South Pacific, the way my heart rate nearly doubled when I first...
staying fit while you travel (no, seriously)
Worried about staying fit while you travel? Here are some ideas: Avoid all macarons, croissants, chai teas, bubble teas, green curries, pork dumplings, roti pratas, pizza margheritas, swiss chocolates, paellas, falafels, scones, gelatos, bakhlavas, wines, champagnes, stouts, etc…. …or get a life.
when is it time to go home?
Archers have a bad rap for being control freaks. Any human who can sustain the mental warfare that is shooting one hundred and twenty seven arrows at the same target could be classified as bonkers. A wrist turn here, extended elbow there—two centimeters of a mistake and your arrow lands in Brazil. It must take...
fifty shades of house hunting
Two months ago, I cried my eyes out at a coffee shop in one of London’s poshest neighborhoods. A few platinum blondes adjusted their Hermes Kelly bags and batted their heavily rimmed eyelashes long enough to confirm that I wasn’t dying, and continued their stroll to whichever Tory Burch was having a sale.
how to be by yourself
I recently joined a mixed martial arts gym where jiu jitsu black belts and UFC champions train five feet from where I self-consciously stretch, fancying myself an incarnation of trainer Brock from Pokemon (a thought that makes me laugh, hence attracting more attention to my terrible hand wraps). In need of some fighter mojo, I...
pastisio, moussaka & other odd dishes: the in’s & outs of eating like a local
RSJ favorite Megan Edmiston has recently come back from a whirlwind tour of Greece and the UK. Her practical advice for eating like a local–and the mouth-watering photos that accompany it–will have you shamelessly reaching for haggis in no time.
the art of coming home
You’re sitting at your desk, but in reality you’re elsewhere. Sunning in Malaysia, luxuriating over tapas in Madrid. While the rest of your friends are planning their Thursday night, you’re still stuck in a foreign port. There is an art to coming home. Rule #1? Be wherever you are right now.
in defense of traveling alone
I recently had drinks at Goldbar in Manhattan with that friend who always shakes his head. I tell him of my most recent exploits, my hopes and dreams, and he gives that quiet smirk as if to say, “you’re out of control.” Though well-meaning, his greatest gripe has always been that I prefer to travel...
somewhere between the andes and the world’s longest coastline
The option of going on student exchange was my ‘get out of heartbreak free’ card when I found myself needing a hiatus from my life. What better way to jumpstart your heart than to throw yourself into the deep end and remember how to swim again?
effective methods for learning italian
Certified Italian teacher & blogger of all things ‘la dolce vita’ Lou Thomas shares some of his fool-proof tips for learning Italian. While you may not be fluent tomorrow, you’ll certainly love singing along with Dean Martin & garnering VIP treatment at your local pizzeria.
how to learn a new city in 24 hours
Exploring a new city can be as complicated as mastering a new language. On a spiritual level, you have to learn how to vibe with a new atmosphere. Logistically speaking, how do you master the metro, geography & perilous winding streets? We have a few suggestions for improving your metropolitan fluency anywhere in the world.
how to sleep on a plane
For anyone who has ever had the terrorizing experience of insomnia on a red eye flight, the notion of sleeping on plane might seem laughable. When your window seat is more like an audition for Cirque du Soleil than a luxurious four-poster bed, call upon our favorite habits and gadgets to ensure that your next...
penny for your thoughts