Catch Your Sunrise

Catch Your Sunrise

Trudging though a Nicaraguan downpour. Driving across the country multiple times. Getting stuck in the middle of a Parisian taxi strike. All these unexpected travel adventures presented me with moments to regret certain travel methods. But no matter how many...
À la Carte Restaurants

À la Carte Restaurants

“You have to taste a culture to understand it,” according to travel writer Deborah Cater, and she’s quite right. After all, what is travel without experiencing new tantalizing tastes? What is a visit to Philadelphia without a Philly cheesesteak? Or to Maryland without...
Watch Your Step! The Effect of Tourism

Watch Your Step! The Effect of Tourism

A vacation is often a step outside a traveler’s frame of reference. However, the footsteps of tourists often remain in the countries they visit, even after they go home. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced that over 1.2 billion people traveled abroad in...
The Kimono: An Icon for the Ages

The Kimono: An Icon for the Ages

Kimonos are the ultimate icon of Japanese culture. From the Asian-inspired tops at the trendy clothing chain Forever 21 to Madonna’s vibrant red garb in her 2009 music video and even to Van Gogh’s works inspired by the Land of the Rising Sun, it’s no secret: kimonos...
History of Voluntourism

History of Voluntourism

Maybe you’ve never heard of voluntourism, but you’ve probably seen it portrayed in a myriad of ways: a newly married couple building houses in Belize; families taking care of elephants in Thailand; recent college graduates teaching math to young students in South...
Toothy Traditions

Toothy Traditions

Losing a tooth is a highly anticipated milestone for young kids. Not only does it mean that they are growing, but the event may also involve an exciting cultural tradition. Traditions related to losing baby teeth have been circulating since the Middle Ages, when...