I experienced first-hand what it’s like to have Google and FaceBook banned. I was not able to logon to either at the airport in Shanghai, and asked a young Chinese woman working at the airport lounge why I couldn’t access to Google or g-mail. She blushed and in a hushed voice said, "No Google." It felt like my freedom had been taken away, and Continue Reading
What’s Happened to Me? Let The Adventure Begin
What's happened to me? I used to shop at Nordstrom and Brighton Collectibles, and all of a sudden, I find myself spending hours at REI, Patagonia and other outdoor/camping retailers, looking at fast-drying, microfiber towels that fit in my pocket, and waterproof hiking shoes (for the Peace Corps). This is the first time in my life that Continue Reading
I Got My Medical Clearance From the Peace Corps
I GOT MY MEDICAL CLEARANCE FROM THE PEACE CORPS After numerous shots, blood tests, x-rays and doctor visits, I finally got my medical clearance from the Peace Corps. It's only been a year since I first applied to serve, but somehow, it feels like forever. As some of you may have read,my first application was rejected, and then on Continue Reading
Am I Going to Live on Papa in Lesotho?
I'm getting prepared for my 27 months in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, in southern Africa, and it looks like I'm going to live on Papa in Lesotho. Papa even has its own special wooden utensil for mixing. Papa, seems to be the main starch eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's bland, so you can add milk for breakfast or vegetables for Continue Reading
Less Stuff = Freedom + Happiness
I'm a "happy" person so why did I buy a book called, Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, by Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D? Because it explains why I want to go back to Africa, and work with people who have far less than me. Here's why: "While levels of material prosperity are on the rise, so are levels of depression. Even Continue Reading