When I was a graduate student studying the Holocaust, I came across a story in the archives about someone who escaped the Holocaust by getting permission to leave Germany in the 1930s. The only reason German authorities granted him permission to leave was because he was the receipient of the Iron Cross medal for fighting …
Read more “49 Days – International Holocaust Remembrance Day”
My biggest advice to underachieving students and unhappy people is to read more. It takes time, it is slow, sometimes it is challenging to focus, but it is infinitely rewarding. One can be transported to any place or time and get a deep sense of what anothers experiences are like. I don’t like every book …
At 51 days, I’ve now written for more days than I will have to write until I travel to Japan. So much has happened in the previous 57 days that the challenge I set for myself seems only a small, if important, part of what I am doing everyday. I am not the only person …
I’ve written before about adapting to the local schedule of the place to which you travel. This can be a challenging aspect of travel. Especially if you are like me and enjoy the quietest time of day by waking up early throughout the week. Although it may make travel slightly more complicated, waking up early …
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a major holiday in many East Asian countries, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The holiday marks the first day of the lunar calendar and typically falls between January 21st and February 20th. It is a time for families to come together, …
Every year, I like to celebrate Robert Burns with a Burns Supper. It is a nice way to break up the first few weeks of the year and a chance to listen to some great poetry and music. Robert Burns is a famous Scottish poet and lyricist, also known as the national poet of Scotland. …
Packing light for a long hike such as the Camino de Santiago or the Kumano Kodo can seem daunting, but with a little bit of planning and organization, it can be done easily. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your hike and pack only what you need: By following these tips, you …
A good book is like an old friend. Rereading one is like seeing a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. I remember finding out about Haruki Murakami in college and reading everything he wrote. It has been a while since college, and revisiting Murakami before traveling to Japan has been a treat. Haruki …
The Ten Ox-Herding Pictures, also known as the Ten Bulls or Ten Ox-Herding Poems, is a series of illustrations and accompanying verses that depict the stages of spiritual development in Zen Buddhism. The ten stages are: The Ten Ox-Herding Pictures are primarily associated with Zen Buddhism and the path to enlightenment within that tradition. However, …
One of the best ways to enjoy a visit to a new place and have a local experience is by attending a sporting event. I’ve done this all over the world and often made local friends and had great experiences. It can be tricky to match up dates, but there is almost always some level …