I’ve finally finished. It feels strange stepping out of one life and into another. I’ve had to reconnect with a former self I’d left behind. I know the places and people, but it’s covered by fog.

It was definitely time to leave. The financial woes, the less than ideal work and living conditions, the constant moving. It all takes a toll. Now that I’ve returned to a NEET life as full time child, I simply go about my day. There are worries and troubles, but it comforting to know what to expect and to rest. People around me are caught up in such different lives than what I’m used to. Out on the trail, you wake up, make a friend visit a historical site, eat strange foods and drink the night away with strangers. Here everyone is stuck in their business. They are unhappy with the world, relationships and work. People are desperate for something to distract them. I remember a French girl I met in Bangkok telling me that she didn’t want to talk about real life when I asked her about what she did for work. At that time, I was stepping out of teaching and back into backpacking, but I understood it. The weight of it all doesn’t always crush but it’s there. I still have the mindset of traveling. I look at the city and people with fresh eyes. I admire the architecture and generosity. I’ve continued grounding myself and reflecting during this transition. The job hunt is disgusting. Then the 9-5 is grueling. No one knows what we do it for. My dream is to live a life I enjoy and look forward to. I deserve that. It’s enough.

Stray dogs

Why don't they sing for us?
Why don't they laugh with us?
We are safe
We are taken care of
We are healthy
We are strong
We are friendly
Aren't we good enough?

Rainstorms
Solar heat
We lay down to rest
We bark and bite
Longing for more 
Wishing to be loved

The old person
burdened by
a heavy weight
stopping to rest

The rats scurrying, 
frightened
bloody 
splattered

The girl overdressed
walking quickly through 
an indifferent,
watchful crowd

The worker worn 
from endless labor

The eyes open
straining to rest

The body 
convulsing
in the void

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1. San Francisco

2. Santa Barbara

3. Los Angeles

4. Pasedena

5. San Diego

   1. Coronado

   2. North Park

   3. Balboa Park

   4. Hillcrest

   5. Point Loma

   6. Mission Beach

   7. Pacific Beach

   8. La Jolla

   9. Torrey Pines

   10. Del Mar

San Francisco

I’ve been to SF 3 times, each with different people and for a different purpose. The first time I went with my mom to tour the UC Berkeley campus. I liked the green and classic campus with the iconic entrance gate and campanile. We did touristy things like see the wharf, eat chocolate at Ghiradeli square and walk around Union square. The second time I went with my close childhood friend to tour the Stanford campus. Also a very open campus with lots of brick and nice fountains. We enjoyed some pizza, but stayed around Menlo park which is quite far from the city. We fell asleep on the Caltrain and barely woke up in time for our last stop. The third time I went to SF was in university with my housemates. We did a road trip to visit one of our previous housemates and another one of my friends, but it was Covid so most of the city was shut down. We ate some food around Berkeley, ate at SF Boudin and drank wine in our Airbnb.

Santa Barbara

I went to SB for a lacrosse tournament. The beach, college town and Isla Vista are all beautiful. Freebirds burritos are famous.

Los Angeles

I grew up in the South Bay, and often visited Downtown LA for conventions or exploration. For those visiting, I recommend renting a car as Ubers are expensive and LA is big with a poor public transportation system. There’s a lot of homeless people, as in any US city. Parking and traffic are horrendous. I love the Hermosa Beach boardwalk, with it’s white sandy beach and local fusion restaurants. I also spent a lot of time in Little Tokyo, which is more compact and inviting than KTown. I enjoy the ramen at Daikokuya Little Tokyo, but there’s always a line of course it’s LA. I also enjoy walking around the area and shopping at the boutiques. On Friday evenings there’s karaoke in the main square and sometimes the elderly grocery store worker would impress the crowd. Similarly, Sawtelle near UCLA and Westwood has Japanese influence and less expensive dining options. KTown is famous for BCD Tofu and I love a good Paris Baguette. I’ve heard that WeHo is the spot for a silly night out with the girls and the gays and theys. One day I’ll experience it for myself.

Famous museums like the Broad and MOCA are great for some AC, insta pics and to explore the contemporary art scene. I really enjoy The Getty Museum, which has a great classical collection, cafe/restaurant and a peaceful grassy knoll. The museum is free but the parking is $15. In Malibu there is the Getty Villa, which is an Italian style museum/vineyard. The summer months have interesting events. Once I made perfume from oils! The Hollywood Sign and the Griffith Observatory are great places to observe some LA history and science. Universal Studios is a great attraction. I really enjoyed the Simpsons ride, the Mummy and the Transformers ride. Disneyland is actually a bit further away, maybe 30-60 min drive in Anaheim, with long lines and a high price tag. Dole whip is famous and some local people just hang out in Downtown Disney, the outside shopping area.

Santa Monica pier and Venice beach are well known areas to stroll and admire the souvenir shops. On SaMo boardwalk, there’s performers, like buskers and artists, and an arcade. There’s also Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. It’s famous so the line is long, but the food is decent. Venice Beach, also known as muscle beach, smells of weed and has a large skate park. I enjoy Abbot Kinney’s upscale coffee shop selection.

Pasedena

I’ve spent much time in Pasedena, visiting the Rose Bowl for various events, hiking Eaton Canyon Falls, touring the Norton Simon Museum and exploring the Caltech Campus.

San Diego

In San Diego (Dayyygooo babeyyyy), I went to University and enjoyed the vibrant nightlife. Downtown San Diego is so interesting with a diverse selection of clubs, bars, cafes, restaurants. A main attraction is Petco Park, where the Padres play baseball. I enjoy The Invigatorium for an eclectic vibe and a refreshing Aeperol Spritz. If the vibe is hip hop it’s American Junkie, if it’s edm then it’s Nova. People can be pretty combative in Downtown, so just watch yourself and stay away from creeps.

Coronado

I love Coronado. It’s such a serene place. I even love the drive on the bride over the bay. The famous, possibly haunted Coronado Hotel is a main attraction, but I really enjoy the area and restaurants around Centennial Park, from which one can witness the city across the bay. Tartine is great for French pastries, and Rosemary Trattoria is a lovely Italian spot.

North Park

North Park is a great place for a coffee study sesh. I’ve spent hours researching and writing at Communal Cafe, Lestat’s on Park(open 24hr for insanity) and Holsem Cafe. If you enjoy a nice bookshop, Verbatim Books has a wide selection and affordable. I’ve run through hail to see Japanese Breakfast at the Observatory. At night, The Office, Redwing and Coin-Op are good for some silliness.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is the place to be! I mainly come here to walk around in the vastness, admire flore and architecture and people watch. El Prado is a beautiful structure at one of the entrances to the park, with a lovely restaurant of the same name. Many people jog or scooter across the El Prado path. I recommend CUCINA Urbana if you are exiting the park towards downtown. They have a great wine and pasta selection. I enjoyed the stuffed fried squash blossoms. The San Diego Museum of art has a wonderful, expansive international collection of classic and modern art in various mediums. The Mingei International Museum is very cool. Full of art from around the world such as ornate doors or colorful masks. Timken and the Botanical garden were undergoing renovations for some time, but if they’re open they’re free and a wonderful experience! Many people enjoy the Japanese Friendship Garden, although they’ve never been open while I’m there. Residents are free on certain days for certain museums, so check the website. I believe it was Thursday that resdidents can enter Mingei and SDMOA for free. Parking is difficult!

Hillcrest

Hillcrest is SD’s gay district. The Whole foods is good and there’s good healthcare facilities here. Mainly, I go here to party at Gossip Girl(lesbian bar), Flicks (Gay bar that becomes a club) and Rich’s(Gay club). On Welfare Wednesdays, make sure to bring cash to tip the drag queens at 12am! Recently, with all the immature college kids and frat bros the vibes have been less fun and more pushy, hopefully they will respect the space in the future.

Point Loma

I used to work in a Chinese restaurant in Point Loma. I think of it as a cute place. It’s not too far from Pechanga Casino. Cabrillo National Monument overlooks the ocean from a great vantage point. It costs maybe $15 to enter the park. Liberty Station is a great area. Originally a military base, it has been transformed into a community hub with an open market full of cultural diverse cuisines, traditional grocery stores and restaurants, open green spaces, art studios and cafes. I really like the Peruvian-Chinese seafood rice in Liberty Public Market. Ikiru sushi has great nigiri and warm sake. I practically moved into Moniker General. A spacious café/shop with snacks, great chai lattes, indoor and outdoor seating and wifi! I also enjoy pigment which is a chain with another location in north park.

Mission Beach

Mission beach is known for being where Seaworld is. There is also Dog beach and camping areas. It’s an interesting area to drive around and stop to admire the bay.

Pacific Beach

PB is a wild jungle. During the day have a picnic at Kate Sessions (K8D8). At the beach beach for camp out, drink, smoke and listen to chill music. At night make sure to bar hop. Once popular Mavericks and Backyard are full of creeps. The new wave is firehouse to waterbar. Everything is in rotation youll just have to follow the sounds of pitbull and dua lipa. Lights go up at 130am so make sure you’re out of there and have a plan home.

La Jolla

The gem of SD. Truly an idyllic beach city. La Jolla shores is a beautiful beach for families and people of all ages. There is also a grass area for barbequing. It is very packed so go on weekdays or early in the morning to secure a spot. Downtown La jolla has great cafes, restaurants, boutiques, galleries and services. I enjoy the Living Room café, Pannikin(but it was shut down I heard and the Parakeet Café. Duke’s La Jolla is famous. I also like the view of the cove from Cody’s, which has a great menu and signature cocktails. At the cove, walk around and admire the coastline from the topof the cliffs. There are some street vendors selling snacks, crafts and art. At the end of the walk right above the mini beach, there are the famous sea lions. They are stinky and loud but very cute. Watching them makes me relaxed. In spring you can see their pups! If you’re a UCSD student you’ll frequent La Jolla Village square. Cava and Poke 1 ½ are popular places. Don’t miss the Whole Foods Mac N Cheese. Lastly Westfield UTC is the mall to end malls. Beautiful on the outside with so many food options, practical on the inside with a family friendly ice skating rink. I miss the wushiland and going into high end stores just to look around.

Torrey Pines

It’s a scenic drive, especially during the sunset. The beach is small and rocky. I prefer just stopping by and finding somewhere to sit in the car while watching the sky turn fuschia and amber.

Del Mar

A cute little beach town, famous for the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The farmers market on Saturday from 12-4 is full of fresh, local foods. I always buy the baguettes and the jams. For the best sandwiches, go to Board and Brew. I get the Baja Beef with extra sauce. Then enjoy the quiet white sand beach. Beeside Balcony has a pretty view and a great vibe for mother’s day or other special occasions.

I would also recommend going to the San Diego Safari further out in Encinitas. There are many safari animals wandering around large grounds. Depending on the season, the Carlsbad fields become flower fields or strawberry fields.

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1. Bangkok

2. Travel Tips

3. Survival Phrases

4. Ayutthaya

5. Chiang Mai

6. Phuket

7. Koh Phangan

8. Ao Nang

9. Krabi

10. Koh Lanta

11. Hat Yai

Bangkok

From the time I studied abroad, and even more so during my time in graduate school, I wanted to go to Southeast Asia after uni. After sending out job applications and receiving no good news, I had to make a move. During the last finals week of my college career, my friend and I sat in the library looking at Google maps, imaging life elsewhere. She helped me decide to teach English in Thailand. First, I bought the plane ticket, then I applied and was accepted as a teacher at an agency. I got a torturous restaurant job and waited until my lease ended. Then I was off.

Travel Tips

I suggest getting an AIS sim card. If you will use the metro often, purchase a rabbit metro card. I only had the blue MRT card, which meant I could reload for MRT but not for BTS. Download Grab. I recommend to stay away from water, including ice or soups. If you’re taking a short trip you may even want to have Vitamin C and prebiotics in your system before hitting the ground running. Carry tissues or wipes with you. Wear waterproof sandals, light quick-dry clothes and carry a compact umbrella. Muji has a great selection of basic fashion that is weather appropriate. I liked the 711 skincare for quick fixes, but Lotus or Watson’s are also good. Rojukiss face masks are fantastic! So is Garnier’s glycolic mask and their vitamin C serum.

Survival Phrases

Thai food is very spicy always ask for no spice/mai ped or if you are strong a little spicy/ped nitnoy. I learned 1-10/neung-sawng-sam-si-ha-hok-jep-bep-gaew-sip, but I think it’s more important to know I want this/ow an ni and point. They’ll always ask you again for confirmation. Where is the toilet/Hongnam Baitaangnai is an essential phrase because you will take time to adjust to the food. Tourists always get charged more than locals. If you bow with your hands together and say sawatdeeka/hello/goodbye and kopkhunka/thank you they may treat you better.

The flight from the US to Thailand is long, and I booked the cheapest flight with many long layovers. I got really sick. I was staying in an Airbnb in Sathon, the business district, a nice area. I didn’t know that the buses were unreliable. After waiting, walking away and watching the bus zoom by the bus stop, I cried and walked all the way to my Airbnb. The nearby Lumphini MRT station was across the street from Lumphini Park, a large park with a well maintained track, lakes, monitor lizards and sometimes night markets and festivals. Once I was caught in torrential rain with some men and some cats in the park’s police station for an hour. We did not speak the entire time, watching and waiting for the storm to pass. Great rooftop bars overlook the park are The Cassette Sky Bar and HI -SO @ SO/ Bangkok, which are cheaper than Banyan Tree. I also liked the sky bar/pool at Novotel. Via Emilia Italian, Smalls, Plu, Holey Bakery Suan Phlu and The Commons SalaDaeng are all great places to grab some food or a drink. Weed is legal in Thailand and I enjoyed Leaf Cannabis Café’s tasty yet strong brownies. Closer to Silom MRT/SalaDaeng BTS stations are Silom Complex and Silom Edge, two great small malls for food and drinks. I frequented Buddha’s kush street, which charges 500-800THB per preroll. Near Thaniya shopping mall is Thaniya Road, a small food walking street that is Japanese inspired. I really liked drawing at Everyday kmkm Silom café, the intimate space at Tomato Noodle and Ringer Hut.

I booked a cooking class in Hua Lamphong on Airbnb. It was fun! We saw the local market and made curry, padthai and mango sticky rice all before 12pm. Make sure to get a widely available Thai Massage. If your masseuse is of the opposite gender it may end up sexual.

Most people visit the sites near the river including Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew, the Grand Palace and KhaoSan Road. Remember to dress in loose, light but appropriate clothing that covers your shoulders and legs. The best places to party in KhaoSan are The Club and Brick Bar. The crowd here in this area is gross and seedy. The men get in your face and grab or slap you. The girls are also kinda gross and creepy. Sex tourism is really in your face in SEA and especially in Thailand. If you’re a solo Asian woman like me, try to go out in big groups with a few trustworthy men. Never go alone. The best area is Sukhumvit’s soi 11. People enjoy Sugar Club, but I prefer Havana. Havana’s cover is 500baht, which includes a drink. Their mojito is really good and the Saturday DJ loves me and always plays my song requests. I met a very beautiful Iraqi chef on Halloween, but later on I was not vibing. Close to the river is Chinatown, which is not worth it. It’s too crowded and stressful. I do recommend Asiatique the Riverfront and riding on the ferris wheel.

Whenever my friends visit, I take them on a mall tour!!! I love malls and their many options for food and shopping, their fun designs and clean bathrooms. Get off at National Stadium BTS and walk around (1) MBK Center. MBK is ideal for the regular shopper with every electronic gadget in existence, Japanese and Korean restuarants, Don Quijote and Maneki Neko karaoke. Exit the mall. Wander along the skywalk, which in itself is fun as you can look down at the traffic or around at the large decorative buildings, to (2) Siam Discovery which connects to (3) Siam Center. These are artsy, high end, creative malls, often full of pop up stands, interactive activities and even live band performances. Continue to (4) Siam Paragon, truly the mall of malls. Inside there is a massive department store, well known luxury brands, SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World and a large international food court. Continue on the skywalk to (5) centralwOrld, also a nice mall, but I mainly enjoy the events outdoors. For Christmas they had a large Christmas tree and displays. Outside they have bars and restaurants with live music that almost seem to be in a battle with one another on which is the loudest. Continue on the skywalk to (6) Erawan Shrine, a beautiful, shiny Hindu shrine, and take a rest because it’s exhausting being a mall connoisseur!

I lived and taught in Bang Khun Tian, an area on the far outskirts of Bangkok near Lotus Rama II and Central Rama II. Not much to do here but I humbly enjoyed my time with my friends and students. I would walk to the nearby night markets or to Familymart for dinner, since my thai was not sufficient. It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely an experience.

Ayutthaya

I booked private Ayutthaya tour on Airbnb. Ayutthaya was nice but hot. It is a 2 hour drive from BKK. My tour guide was very nice and informative, driving me around the ancient city ruins including Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Wat Maha That and Wat Na Phra Meru Rachikaram.

Chiang Mai

I loved Chiang Mai! I stayed in a hostel just outside the central square, The city is small and easy to walk around. Flights from BKK are cheap and frequent. It’s not as hot as BKK, so it was nice to just wander and look at sights including Wat Lok Moli, Tha Phae Gate and other random wats. I booked a grab driver for 3 hours to drive me up to Doi Suthep, a magnificent golden temple at the top of a mountain. I shook and pulled sticks, and as usual I received a good fortune. I loved Deaf Shop and Zoe in Yellow. The expats here are very friendly and welcoming. My friend and I danced really hard and I fought with some guys who were annoying and yelling at me! Khao Soi is a must try!!!!

Phuket

Phuket was great. I stayed at Poshtel in Kata Beach. Everyday I’d go to the beach alongside the Russian and Chinese families. Unfortunately, the Russian dads and I got beyond sunburnt. Aloe vera is sold in many stores for this reason. I’d smoke, read and enjoy the peace. No responsibilities. Just sun and waves. At the hostel, I shared a dorm with some nice and fun fellow solo female travelers. We made each other laugh and got breakfast together. Together we went up to The Big Budda where we saw monkeys, a gorgeous view of the city below and a cloudy sunset. At night, a group drinking outside the hostel caught me on a late night food run to 711 and convinced me to stay. It was an interesting albeit messy group and adventurers. Later, I journeyed to Old Town Phuket by bus. The buses were only at specific times, but the timetable is at the stop.

Koh Phangan

Like many others before me, I embarked on the Full Moon Party excursion in Koh Phangan. The backpacker lifestyle is spontaneous and last minute, but to get a bed on the island on the night of the party you must book far in advance and for a 3-4 nights. I booked a bed in Koh Tao, but on the way, I realized I wasn’t going to make the last ferry there. I did my makeup on the ferry to Koh Phangan. I ate at a Korean restaurant called Seoul Vibe Korean and they kindly let me store my luggage there for the night.

I bought two large cans of Chang beer and waited for the tuktuk driver to gather enough people for the ride from the Thong Sala area to Haad Rin Beach, where the festival was. Since I was solo, he moved me up to the front alongside a Thai woman who was working the event. She was really kind and, once we finished the ride, lead me directly towards to beach, bypassing the regular entrance where I would have had to buy a ticket. She gave me some tips like don’t go in the water and don’t drink too much and set me free. The entire beach was covered in drunk people, bars blaring music and fire performances. It was such a fantastic sight under the stars and moon right on the water. I walked up and down the beach, dancing here and there at different bars. I bought a preroll and met a cute German boy who later bought a preroll that we shared. I had nowhere to sleep so just loitered on the sand and slept in a chair on the second story deck of a restaurant. Some random girl woke me up and was joking about me sleeping which was annoying. Like that was the plan?!?!.

I left her and got a taxi back to Thong Sala. I was not able to buy a ferry out of Koh Phangan since they were all fully booked. I had to stay an extra night on the island and tragically paid too much for a rundown hostel. I slept on the beach waiting for the Korean restaurant to open up so I could retrieve my luggage. The people on the island were all very beautiful and happy. I enjoyed a fruit shake and granola fruit yogurt at Nira’s Home Bakery, eggs benedict and oj at A’s Famous. If you walk towards the end of this road towards Lopmrayah Ticket Office at night, you’ll find a crowded bar with many people smoking outside and innovative dj sets inside. There is AC, large plants and velvet curtains. The DJ set played ethereal house accompanied by a live violinist and interesting vaporwave visuals.

Ao Nang

In Ao Nang, I stayed at Nomads, a well-known, comfortable party hostel with a pool and brunch menu. It was near Nopharat Thara Beach, which made me sentimental for one of my lovely students of the same name, but I was a new being now. I was a dirty, party backpacker…or was I? During the day, I’d smoke a preroll and read “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coehlo by the pool, staying out of the pool and sun as I’d not yet recovered from my sunburn. The pub crawl is legendary and nightly. The hostel would start off the night with buckets, musical bangers and beer pong. Then we would taxi (or walk if you’re smart and cheap) to the pub crawl where people would pour liquor directly down your throat. The girls would dance on tables and the young British lads would get into fights. Typical scene. I always ended up with Thai people by the end of the night, even if I’d started with the farang travelers at the beginning. Good fun, but it is tiring and not as fulfilling as one might think. Also… everyone can hear people hooking up in the bathroom.

Krabi

I was officially broke in Krabi. I rotted in my hostel Play Poshtel Krabi. It was an ideal place to partake in this activity except the AC was too cold and made me sick. I was waiting for one of the online tutoring websites I applied to while still teaching in Bangkok to work out. I looked around and applied for work on Upwork or Freelancer. I looked for remote work on Indeed and Linkedin. NO SUCCESS! I fought hard to get my tax return which was a huge break, but I missed a credit card payment. 4 years of good credit down the drain.

I tried walking around the “business district” street but it was sparse, uninteresting and hot. Krabi Walking Street and Krabi Night Market are worth a visit. Good food and live music performances. There was a spring event happening on the pier. Singers, fire performers and old ladies doing taichi showed off their skills. I enjoyed the Mud Crabs Sculpture and walking along the water admiring the mangrove forest. I lovedthe khao soi, dry salad and drinks at Homlinda Café & Bistro. I had the best stoner experience at STUDIOWEEDS, a real hole in the wall. The owner and his brother told me about their lives and their business ventures while smoking me out. They gave me water and free prerolls. They offered a cocktail that’s famously strong in Thailand, but I was at a good level already so I politely declined. I even got to smoke out of a bamboo bong for the first time. The brother of the owner walked me the 200 meter walk to my hostel to make sure I was safe. Great people!

Koh Lanta

I vibed super hard in Koh Lanta and met some fun people that made me laugh. I stayed at Hub of Joys Hostel, which was a weird place because it was split into two separate buildings but nice because they provided free breakfast. I met many people there, including a nice Swiss girl that I partied with. You can buy a preroll at Flower Café which is between the two buildings of the hostel. The owner is really brainless, but his wife is really sweet! Pra- Ae Beach is really relaxing and not crowded. There are many restaurants on the beach and around the hostel that accept QR payment. I ate at Thai Cat, N and N and Malina’s Kitchen. I loved walking along the beach at night and chasing after crabs. There was a fire show outside SeaSky Restaurant. I danced at Pangea Beach Bar and Mushroom Bar. Both had cool décor and vibes. Mushroom had better music for dancing, and they had body paint. I met a French dude who was so my type and accidentally abandoned my friend. SORRY! The 12go van that was supposed to pick me up from my hostel and take me to Hat Yai didn’t call for me or come into the hostel to get me. He left without me so I had to take one van to another van and cross a freeway to get to my correct van. I started booking with Easybook after this.

Hat Yai

I mainly stayed in Hat Yai so I could bring my time in Thailand to a close officially. I closed my Kasikorn Thai bank account and canceled my AIS sim card. I think it’s a shopping haven for tourists and expats from China or Malaysia. There’s a mall Central Festival and many local night markets. I met a nice girl at my hostel, Khok Samet Chun Hostel and Caffe, who was Malaysian and we ate dinner and walked around. She gave me encouragement to continue on to Malaysia and say goodbye to Thailand after such a long stay.

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Paris, France

1. Travel Tips

2. Survival Phrases

My first time in Paris was on my tour of Europe in the summer of 2013. It was hot and my mom was tired. I liked the busy, beautiful city streets. We stayed in the Marriott near Montmartre and the Moulin Rouge. I was afraid of the burlesque dancers there, since it was the first time I saw people dressed in provocative outfits. We shopped on the Champs Elysees and admired the view of the city from atop the Galleries Lafayette. We ate hamburgers and sandwiches from Pret a Manger. My mom fell asleep under the statue of Nike in the Louvre, while I wandered around in awe of the magnificent statues and paintings. Afterwards, we sat on the floor and ate giant macarons.

After my Tokyo abroad in fall of 2020, I was due in Paris for winter quarter 2021. After some poor planning and time management skills causing me to miss my flight and my mom stepping in to save the day, I ended up in the study center just after the orientation. I didn’t mind. I dislike orientations. But I missed some initial vibe checks. I was stuck living with a group that was disliked by the entire program including the professors. We got along at first, but I saw how they treated and excluded others. Many people in the program told me their negative feelings towards them. It made living difficult. I mainly stayed in the Centre Pompidou library(bibliotheque), doing the heavy readings assigned each night.

Travel Tips

It helped that I knew some French with regards to treatment from locals. I’ve heard horror stories of mistreatment of tourists by Parisians, but people were generally kind and supportive of me. I think if you try a little and dress with style Paris people appreciate it.

Men are really aggressive and creepy. Once coming home late at night in a brightly light area close to my home, I was surrounded my a group of men. One of them got in my face and kissed me. I continued on my way home and they trailed behind. I’ve also had “Chinois chez moi” (Chinese my house!) yelled at me. I was once physically picked up in a bar. Paris is also dirty with poop on the ground so don’t ruin your nice boots!

Survival Phrases

Hello/Bonjour, Goodbye/Bonne Journee/Bonne soiree, I want/Je veux, I’ll take/Je prends, thank you/merci.

It’s a beautiful city! If you have one, take advantage of the museum pass for EU youths and go to as many as you can. Of course the Louvre is nice(also free on Friday nights). I suggest seeing Musee d’Orsay, Musee de la Vie Romantique, Musee Rodin, street art around Belleville and Palais Garnier. I loved strolling along the Seine, especially after the rain. At night, on the hour la Tour Eiffel sparkles!

The Catacombs were also a very cool experience

I wasn’t raised with lots of meat, so the heavy traditional French cuisine were never appealing to me. I do like crepes, baguettes and pastries like croissants. I cooked at home, often with friends, to save money. There’s good Asian food actually. I had ramen and pho! I lived near Chatelet/Les Halles which is bustling area with a mall, metro station, cafes, shops and restaurants. I have to plug Café Joyeux at 23 Rue Saint Augustin. A cute café with nice coffee that supports and hires people with disabilities. Another nice cafe/bookstore is the famous Shakespeare & Co. Around Montmartre are Mur d’amour and Sacre Coeur. Enjoy a bottle of champagne in the evening while local people play music and sing.

For a night out, favorite place was the gay club FreeDJ in Le Marais, introduced to me by a Dutch friend who studied abroad at my home uni. They have coat check and girly pop mixes. The drinks are expensive so I suggest you pregame. La Bastille and Latin Quartier were either a hit or a miss. There’s also an big club near the Champs Elysees.

Also check out my Youtube video on Studying abroad in Japan

Japan

1. Tokyo

2. Travel Tips

3. Survival Phrases

4. Yokohama

5. Kyoto

6. Hakone

Tokyo

Traveling from China to Japan gave me culture shock like whiplash. Japan is rule oriented, quiet and polite. You must respect the street signals. You say sorry or excuse me all the time. You shouldn’t speak on the metro. But it didn’t stop the party. I went to International Christian University in Mitaka. It was far away from the city center but very serene and peaceful in a natural setting. The students were very kind and welcoming, but friends from other universities have not received the same treatment from local students. I joined the lacrosse and acapella clubs! I bonded with the younger lacrosse girls, giving lackluster practice drills and coaching speeches. I performed in the Chainsmokers medley at the club fair in front of the school. My solo was “This Feeling”. If I went to class, I slept peacefully. I also was in an internship where I met a good friend. We drank a lot together and had good laughs. I also made great friends in my abroad program. We did karaoke on weekends, explored the city and went on trips. My roommate was a nice girl from UCLA who had studied abroad in India previously. She always hyped me up and even lent me money once. She would talk a lot and I would fall asleep, but it worked out well for both of us! Our dorms were really nice and clean. We had the heat up high since we were sensitive to the cold. As usual, there was some initial drama in the program but once the dust settles you find yourself amongst your genuine soul tribe.

My working/class schedule was: M: class from 9am to 1pm; Tu: commute 8-9am, internship 9-5, commute home 5-6pm; W: class 9am-9pm; Th: commute 8-9am, internship 9-5, commute home 5-6pm; Fri: No class exploration time!

I was doing an internship part time, and I had to take a minimum amount of credits to qualify for enrollment, so I had long days. I did not go to the morning classes, intensely slept in the afternoon class, went on long walks during the evening class and passed with As and Bs. They required us to submit an attendance form so we would stock up and just turn them in as everyone else was leaving. The internship was empty and directionless. I just would drink a lot of water to pass the time. Every so often we’d get to go on a little field trip to The National Museum or to the Japanese National Diet, where Congress sits. Those trips were interesting!

Travel Tips

Buy a reloadable Suica metro card. If you plan to travel a lot around Japan I’ve heard the JR pass is worth it. I found data sim cards to be expensive and not have a lot of data, so I chose to forego sim cards and would just connect to combini(convenience store) wifi at lawsons, 7/11 or famima(family mart).

My favorite foods that can be found anywhere are: sushi(hamazushi is cheap), udon, ramen, omurice, okonomiyaki, taiyaki, tamagoyaki, mochi, daifuku. As a broke student, I have a fondness for 711 spaghetti and onigiri

Halloween in Shinjuku is absolutely insane. I started the night with my abroad friends, and after they decided to go home I met my coworker for an unhinged night. Club Ageha also has a big Halloween crowd. I jumped into a pool and got handcuffed to a girl that gave me champagne.

Of course, we also enjoyed the touristy areas. Looking at all the anime merch in Akihabara, going to Teamlabs Borderless, wandering The Imperial Palace grounds, going to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka(you have to buy a ticket at 711 in advance!), admiring fashion in Harajuku and getting our fortunes at the Meiji temple. We also enjoyed less touristy places, like Kichijouji or just around MusashiSakai.

I only knew Japanese from growing up with Japanese friends and watching anime. Luckily we had some translators in our group.

Survival Phrases

Sorry/sumimasen, thank you/aritgatou, I don’t know Japanese/nihongoga wakarimasen, I am (American)/watashi wa (amerika) jin desu, Can you speak English?/eigo ga hanasamasuka? and where is the toilet/toire wa doko desu ka are important phrases.

Style is very put together and uniform here. There is a common style of simple light makeup, bangs and skirts with coats. Make sure to use a rain umbrella.

After the quarter ended, I spent some of my winter days and Christmas with a lovely friend who studied abroad at my home university. We went to the Aoyama Flower Cafe, which was beautiful and had delicious food. She gave me a cute gift and we watched a light show for the new Aladdin movie. We enjoyed the KFC Christmas box, which is so popular that there was a long line outside of the KFC!

Yokohama

As with many group trips, I was not in charge. The more fluent people of the group handled buying the Yokohama pass which included transportation tickets and a dimsum buffet in Chinatown. We took the rail from Tokyo to Yokohama. It is a nice, beach city that was a breath of fresh air compared to the bustling city of Tokyo. We went to the Cup Noodles Museum to make our own instant noodles and decorate our styrofoam cup noodle container. We ate a lot of dimsum and rode on the Cosmo Clock 21 ferris wheel, which light up with many colors in the dark night.

Kyoto

From Tokyo, we took an uncomfortable overnight bus and waited for our Airbnb host to let us drop our bags off. We headed to Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine at 6am. There were no people. We wandered around Kinkaku-ji, Ryoanji, Hanamikoji Street, the Imperial Palace, Gyoen National Garden, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and ate warabi mochi at the Togetsukyo Bridge. Kyoto was a really beautiful and peaceful place with an abundance of traditional architecture. I lost my debit card and I didn’t have any money. My friend spotted me which was nice but stressful. During my crisis, I walked around the old streets and enjoyed the beautiful temples, shrines and peaceful sounds of running water. We ate at the famous KichiKichi Omurice, as seen in Buzzfeed’s “Worth It” series. We stayed in a traditional style Japanese house listed on Airbnb. We all laid on the floor and laughed when someone was crazy in their sleep.

Hakone

From Tokyo, we took the Odakyu Line. We stayed in an old man’s Airbnb house up a tall mountain that overlooked the valley and ocean. He was really sweet and had a parrot named Peter. He took pics of us with the mascots of the Japan Olympics that never happened. The main goal was the onsen, or hot spring public baths. The one we went to was sooo hot and it felt good on the body and skin. This one also allowed tattoos. We also toured the Hakone Open Air Museum, which had a Picasso exhibit. We took suspension line trolley over the Owakudani site as yellow sulfurous gas billowed up. I ate one of the black eggs. It was good, but salty. We took a boat across Lake Ashi and saw Heiwa no Torii, a famous shrine on the lake. We hiked up Mt Kintoki. From the top we saw Fuji-san and the orange autumn trees below. We were almost stranded as day settled to dusk, but we managed to make the last bus.

I teach English and valuable skills. I create lifestyle content and livestream. I am a writer. I save the world with sustainable development work. Success is every breath. Being alive is a testament to divinity and ancestral support.

Transferable soft skills. The value of a degree. Who matters. Win-win-lose-lose. Let’s get back to basics. People want to skip beginner levels and then they bottom out. Complete societal and global financial collapse… for the last few decades. What do I do? Tell me! Nothing. I cannot control the weather or geopolitics or the stock market. More than ever it is who you know. We are all connected more than we realize.

The fog rolls in, covering the lush mountains. I peer out the window at the ground below. We are hungry so we eat. How do we get our food and water? How can we achieve our dreams? There are levels to this. The catastrophizing is not beneficial or productive. There is already enough man-made horror and suffering on planet Earth.

It is our time to actively construct our reality. There is spiritual warfare for humanity’s soul. The best way to win a war is to not engage. Settle before court. Meditate on the favorable conditions at the peak of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, while expanding the experience at the base levels.

I cannot foresee life after the AI bubble bursts or global credit collapses or revolution. Herstory imbues knowledge that people carried on. And if humans have nothing and humanity ceases to exist, the Earth will breathe a sigh of relief and begin again. Now is always the time to do what you want. Carpe Diem. Caution to the wind. The more unusual and revolutionary the better. So much has been done before. Each individual has an energetic imprint to offer to the whole. Water fits into unknowable gaps. We aren’t meant to know everything. It’s a grand surprise!

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The Asian malls are centers of life. In AC, you can use a clean toilet, go shopping, eat, drink and get a good workout. I have never been a brand name girl. I’ve never seen the point and they seem so tacky and classless sometimes. I need products with character and a positive impact. I’ve been pondering expansion. Should I get a bigger suitcase? Should I buy a pair of walking shoes? Should I get a nice shirt? I would be adding to my baggage. I would be spending money. How to balance needs and desires?

My next chapter will be interesting. Who knows what it will bring. Definitely more love, peace, joy and abundance. I remember my past lives and my prophetic dreams. I observe cultures and lifestyles. What do we devote ourselves to? So many people are empty or struggling on the spectrum of human experience. Pain and pleasure guide towards the middle path. Striving. Boredom. Judgement. Ignorance. The pendulum swings.

If I had no worries about money… what would I do? Sometimes the hardships create us. I’ve seen many stories where people find life too easy and they abandon everything to live radically and authentically. Then what? They are annoying and entitled on an island? They die doing some completely avoidable adrenaline adventure? I am grateful for my journey as there is stress that pushes me to see what I can accomplish. Pressure for diamonds. If I had a surplus of money, I would elevate my experiences. I would stay in nice accommodations (I already do but I must deal with others). I would be free to buy what I wanted. I would be able to experience many cool things without worrying. I could jetski. I could enjoy a luxurious spa day. I wouldn’t have to worry about “making it”. I would visit more places more easily. One day, perhaps I won’t cling to work for survival. In fact, I think that is the transition from young adulthood to mature adulthood.

The 20s are the jungle. Breaking out of the institution and the expectations and facing the “real” world. Beyond the 9-5, beyond traditional milestones and outside of comfort. Who doesn’t want to be rich.. “If I were a wealthy girl”~ “I am a rich [woman]”. I want to get to a point where money is not my biggest concern and what I must always take into account. I want options. I deserve peace, joy and comfort. I feel like I cannot even relate to people who aren’t on their grind. I can’t let bums get their germs on me. I am not in a position to waste my time, energy and resources. I feel I am in a loop of spending on necessities, accruing debt, working and paying off debt. When I see bs about the stock market or valuations it makes me so upset that I simply ignore it. This sick and twisted world has created an impossible cycle. I see others are not doing well. I am grateful for where I am at and then the anxiety and fears creep back in. If housing, food, fuel and education are out of reach for us Poors, what are we supposed to do? Die of course, that’s what the Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerbergs desire. I despise them. Them first. They steal and hoard like goblins. They shouldn’t exist. They aren’t even good or happy. They are miserable and they have everything and access to anything. I am lucky I am not them.

Who breaks free? Perhaps, I have AND it is a challenge. I am my own boss. I make my own money and decisions. The weight of the world rests on my shoulders. I survive. I lose my mind. I withdraw. I put myself out there. I seek. I am still. I am lonely. Interactions drain me. It IS worth it. At what cost? To what end? I did this. I chose this. So, let’s go.

Everyone is talking all the time. I feel for the girls. Child stars never had a chance. They grew up in a twisted and evil industry that abused and exploited them. They continued to live through horrible relationships and events in adulthood. Bodies are always monitored and controlled.

I know the mindset - who doesn’t? If I am fat, everyone will hate me. Beauty and desirability is value and worth. I must be skinny to be beautiful and loved. I cannot be a certain size or number on the scale or else people will make fun of me and I will have no one. These are just thoughts. They are not reality or truth. I had this mindset and my fears were never true. Who cares if superficial people are mean. They radiate ugliness. Why give into the narrative of evil as its goal is to make you weaker and weaker?

I think Ariana needs a gentle 3rd party intervention. She is a global superstar that everyone in the world pays attention to. Her impact and her image affects everyone, especially the young girls that look up to her. She seems soulless and empty these days. She does not know who she is. That is ok. It is best to slow down and be still during these periods. She is coming off of the Wicked movies and touring, which is incredibly draining! The music industry is not a sacred place. It is corrupt and steals lives and energies. They are draining her and all who participate in this. She is so talented and beautiful. This is such a scary time to watch a public figure wither away. It’s happening in the kpop industry as well. The skeletal, malnourished girls are fainting on stage and mindless followers are defending the mistreatment of these young female slaves. The people around them benefit from their destruction and exploitation. It is devastating.

We must love ourselves unconditionally. There is nothing else. We must love and support each other as well because that is how humans survived this long. We must rest and be kind to ourselves. We show gratitude to our bodies as every cell works so hard for us. Let’s be healthy because it is all we need. We can envision, create and support a world where beauty is not pain, rather it simply is. Now that’s sexy!

It may be that people who are insufferable don’t know and are doomed to repeat their patterns. People cannot stand being around people like this unless they too have something off. And so there is no evolution and the cycle is reinforced. It is not my job to raise you. I am not getting paid for that.

My dream is to stay in a peaceful and comfortable place in a convenient, quiet location! I prefer to stay alone. If I must share the space the people must be considerate and agreeable. It is easy.

This year will be filled with more love, joy, peace, prosperity and abundance. As society screeches it’s death cry, the strange and wild will remain. What a time to be alive. I hold myself closely. These lines, these bumps, these bruises - I touch them lightly, healing gracefully.

I am the lead, the center of the universe as the cosmic energies swirl around me. It’s better, the best! No need to waste breath on what is not meant for me. What is meant to be will be. The flashbacks and flash-forwards bring clarity. 1000s of lives I’ve lived here and there. We dance as the planets shine and align.

New smells and an endless sea of faces,
that can be overwhelming.
Different culture, different life.
Isn’t it strange?
To think, when you are asleep at night 
someone somewhere is awake during the day.
I want to see all of our beautiful home.
Take me to places as far and as bright as the Sun.
Ancient civilization, modern metropolis, please,
teach me new…

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School is the institute that says it will help me fly then it pushes me down
We are put in boxes and are told to try harder
When our minds are already stretched across universes
Work is brought to us on a silver platter and shoved down our throats

Skinny legs, flowing hair, a pretty face, collar bones
I look in the mirror and I am disgusted
The person …

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My dear, my dear
So sweet, don’t fear.
How nice, you entice
all around you.

A beautiful feather, whose colors reflect
the inner beauty as well.
When you float by,
you leave streams of aurora borealis.

People may hurt you,
but I will protect you.
I will be the armor,
forever protecting that precious life of yours.

People may love you,
but never as muc…

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Everyone has a cherry in their life.
Some have more than one.
Sweet and cute,
never boring.
That cherry is always by your side.
If not, then in the back of your mind.
When cherries come in a pair,
it’s difficult to tear them apart, 
and when you do,
they are in despair.
A cherry is what is the best part to dessert,
and your cherry is the best part of yo…

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It’s you who puts a smile on my face,
when I feel depressed and overburdened.
It’s you who wakes me up in the morning,
and kisses me goodnight.
It’s you who makes me happy when I’m not 
and calms me down when I’m upset.
It’s you who makes my heart hurt
in the best way possible.
It’s you whom I dream about
both during the night and the day.
It’s you who'…

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