Cultural Journeys

  • The Unknown Pilgrimage

    What started out as a post-orientation field trip ended up being so much more. Continue reading

    The Unknown Pilgrimage
  • A Moment of Reflection

    One of my heroes, Rick Steves, offered some insight several years ago that I think is relevant today: “It’s good style to get to know people before you bomb them.” In light of recent events in the Middle East and… Continue reading

    A Moment of Reflection
  • Cultural Orientation: Muay Thai

    Hello everyone. Thank you for patiently waiting. I’ve had a lot going on in the background, which has made it hard to sit down to write. However, most of the bumps have been smoothed out. Posts should start flowing a… Continue reading

    Cultural Orientation: Muay Thai
  • Earthquake Update

    Hello everyone, thank you for following along. I apologize for my irregular posts lately. To catch you up, many things have happened: the earthquake, moving from Don Mueang to Ayutthaya, dealing with Bangkok Belly, and a visa run. I’ve had… Continue reading

    Earthquake Update
  • Earthquake!

    A massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit SE Asia today around 1:30 PM local time. The epicenter was in nearby Myanmar, but it was felt at least as far away as Bangkok. One building that looked like it was under construction… Continue reading

  • Coming Soon

    Hello everyone. I want to apologize for not keeping up with my posts. My goal has been to consistently post twice a week until everyone is caught up to my present-day activities and whereabouts. Since arriving in Thailand, I have… Continue reading

    Coming Soon
  • Cultural Orientation: Buddhism is Everywhere

    I don’t know much about Buddhism. It’s not that I can’t read books on the subject. I have read plenty. It’s not that I can’t understand the core tenets of the faith; I get it. The problem is that spirituality,… Continue reading

    Cultural Orientation: Buddhism is Everywhere
  • Cultural Orientation: Cooking

    If there’s an art that I excel at above all else, then it has to be cooking. I love to cook. It brings me great pleasure to be in the kitchen. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a pot of bean… Continue reading

    Cultural Orientation: Cooking
  • Cultural Orientation: Going to the Market

    Going to an open-air market off the beaten path offers a glimpse into daily life that few people see as tourists. Continue reading

    Cultural Orientation: Going to the Market
  • Cultural Orientation: Language Barriers

    Whether I am okay with it or not, I’m 48 years old. There are many advantages to doing this sort of thing later in life. You have wisdom, you’re more comfortable in your own skin, making mistakes, so on and… Continue reading

    Cultural Orientation: Language Barriers