Thai people might not “blow this out of proportion,” but I will — I was scrolling through my Instagram feed when I came across a video from one of my Thai volleyball idols, Pleumjit Thinkaow, who posted a video forgiving a Serbian volleyball player for something she didn’t mean. Not having context, I continued scrolling, not thinking much of it. …

Being white is a privilege, not a qualification — I’ve heard so many stories of caucasian people going on a post-graduation backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, falling in love with the region, and then deciding to teach English so they can stay. Heck, 90% of the white people on Tinder in Thailand are all English teachers. And we make…

A rational approach to online dating — It was 2019 and I had just moved to a new city. You know what that means — time to explore! And dating just happened to be a way to simultaneously explore the city, and well, date — two birds with one stone. It was the first time I’d really…

5 ways you can be reading better — When people talk about their goals or resolutions, I always hear the mention of reading more. Although I read quite a fair bit already, I was no exception. …

Here’s what I’m doing instead — Over the past few years, I’ve increasingly grown weary of the whole idea of new years resolutions and goals. The data shows that 23% quit in the first week, and only 36% make it past the first month. Why do something you’re likely not to succeed in? Additionally, I’ve found…

They can be hurtful and socially condescending, even when unintended — “Just make sure she’s not a ladyboy.” That was a comment that someone I was dating (let’s call him Joseph) got from one of his friends after telling the friend that I was Thai. After Joseph told me about the comment, I was clearly bothered, but couldn’t place my finger…

It’s time to leave your entitlement at the border — A friend and I were strolling the dusty but homey streets of Göreme, Türkiye when we wandered into a boutique oriental textiles, carpets, and ceramic shop. The shop was colorfully lined with carpets of elaborate and intricate designs, as well as beautiful cushions, ceramics, and other traditional Turkish crafts. As…

Expect to take things slow and enjoy the sun — Welcome back to another installment of things that surprised me when traveling. Having done two of these now (Spain and Singapore), I’m realizing that as much as these pieces are for you, dear reader, they also serve as an important reflection point for me to practice my noticing skills and…

From the practical to the personal — After constantly being on the road on and off for quite some time, I’ve gone through the trials and tribulations of packing too much or too little (let’s be real, usually it’s the former). …