Low-Key Kiev

Low-Key Kiev

In my last post, I discussed my recent trip to Moscow. A few weeks later, I had the opportunity to visit Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, as well. I will spell it “Kiev” for the sake of this blog, but as an interesting contextual point, there is political and cultural...
Be a Traveler, Not a Tourist

Be a Traveler, Not a Tourist

Tourists get a bad rap, especially American tourists. Some foreigners seem to have this idea that all American tourists are rude, disrespectful, impatient, and selfish. The word itself has a negative connotation. When you hear the word tourist, you’re probably not...
The Beauty of the Bayou

The Beauty of the Bayou

When you think of a swamp, “beautiful” may not be the first word that comes to mind. Swamps have gotten a negative connotation from folklore and fairytales as being these murky, mysterious bodies of water where dangerous creatures lurk beneath the surface ready to...