life, travel, stories – Join the journey, Love Raven
Dear Reader, If you’ve been following along with my blog, you will know that I am writing to you in isolation as I have recently tested positive for COVID-19 (more here and here). While I was lucky to have my health (no more symptoms!), isolation in the two-room, ground-floor apartment in Bavaria, Germany was not... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, I tested positive for COVID-19 in Germany (more here). Now I am in isolation. Like many who are testing positive in this new of wave of illness, I genuinely did not know — let alone suspect — that I had COVID. I had cold symptoms (more here), no dry cough, no loss of smell or... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, The stereotypes about Europeans are true — they really do like to swim naked. Over two years ago now, I briefly wrote about nakedness, when I confronted a locker room in Iceland that mandated cleansing communal showers without swimsuits before entering the public pool (more here). Today, the showers are not the only... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Do I have a story for you! But first, for all of you who would simply like some practical air travel advice: TL;DR — Never book with a third party and always arrive early. If you would like a little more detail, here is my cautionary tale… When traveling internationally a lot can go... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Do you ever make rules for yourself? After reading the “The Four Tendencies,” (a book about personality types, which literally changed the way that I think about people — more here), I’ve learned that “Upholders”, like me, commonly make up rules to guide one’s own behavior. One rule that I established for myself as... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, This year, I was fortunate enough to spend Thanksgiving in the company of some very interesting people. Growing up, for me Thanksgiving has always been about spending time with family— clearly my upbringing on this front was not unique. However, times change, people move away, and others pass on. Now, as a twenty-something-year-old... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Murder-mystery dinners look a whole lot classier on TV. Not too long ago, I had the great dis-/pleasure of experiencing one of these classic events in person. To understand the mixed feelings that I’m hinting at, allow me to premise with the following. When I hear the term “dinner show,” images of people... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Are you a city person? Although I grew up in the suburbs, when I moved to Boston for grad school, I found my new urban surroundings to be a natural fit. Now, having lived in a city for 5+ years, whenever I go home to visit family, I low-key experience culture shock. There... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, I write this post to you in a mild state of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), as I have just completed my first (and last) half marathon the day before. (See here for part 1 of this post.) If a half marathon is an iceberg, the training is everything beneath the water and... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Do you have any hobbies? More importantly, do you have any that you love? Weirdly, it wasn’t until recently that I discovered how valuable it can be to have an interest that fulfills you. Recently, I have gotten into the art of make believe (i.e. acting). Some gigs have been simple, like the... Continue Reading →
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