Colombia’s Lost City: A Test of Strength and a Reward for the Soul
In a moment of weakness (or perhaps sheer boldness or stupidity?), I signed up for a five-day trek through Colombia’s Sierra Nevada mountains to visit…
From Visa Lines to Voting Booths: My Full-Circle Journey as an Immigrant in America
Two weeks ago, I voted in a U.S. presidential election for the first time, after nearly 25 years of living in the U.S. It was…
Unstoppable at 80: How My Friend Inspires a Vibrant and Empowered Life
My friend “C” just celebrated his 80th birthday last week. Growing up in my home country, I always thought of 80 as “old”—well beyond the…
Discovering Joy in Freedom: Reflections from My Classroom ‘TED Talks’ and Life Experiences
During my lectures, I sometimes take a few minutes to share life advice with my students. One of them affectionately dubbed these moments “TED Talks”…
Learn Spanish in Nicaragua: Affordable Immersion Experience and Travel Tips for El Salvador
I tried learning Spanish as my third language using apps in the past couple of years, and that didn’t work out at all. So, I…
My First Solo International Trip as a New U.S. Citizen: Exploring Panama on a Budget with Points and Miles
Those who have a passport from a developing nation would understand how difficult and frustrating it was to travel with my passport from my home…
Time Waits For No One
A few months ago a student in one of my classes told me that he was going through chemotherapy. He was a rising senior, a…
A Life Free of Guilt
I used to be afraid to go to the dentist for decades. I believe this became a fear when I broke a few front teeth…
The Cost of Unconditional Love
I tracked the annual expenses for my dog in the past two years, and in both, it was around 2% of my gross income. I…
Where Did My Money Go?
When I was employed as a postdoctoral researcher, I started writing down every monthly expense I had in a spreadsheet. I loved seeing ‘where my…