From the moment I stepped off the plane in Manama, I was transfixed by Bahrain. I love the sensation of being jolted awake by a place that feels truly exotic, and that’s what my first taste of the Middle East did for me. With just twenty-four hours, I’m in awe of just how much I took…

This year, my mom asked me for some ideas for Christmas gifts, and my resulting list was a red flag that I’m on a slippery slope to boringsville — a hair cut, sunscreen, and even more packing cubes were on the exciting end of the spectrum. (Okay — one watermelon bikini made its way in there…

Ah, New York state in December, how I’ve missed you…. um, mostly. I’m absolutely loving getting into the real holiday spirit, spending some quality time with family and friends, and bustling around my favorite city and my beloved hometown. I’m even handling the cold okay! But, is it possible we could talk to someone about getting…

“The time is currently 9:05pm, and the temperature outside is 108° Fahrenheit. Welcome to Bahrain.”  A shot of static signaled the end of the announcement, and I watched transfixed as the women on my flight transformed. In Athens, they had boarded the plane in high end resort wear, sleeveless designer dresses and tight, trendy jeans. In…

Jaw-dropping. It’s a descriptor I’ve had multiple writing professors warn me against. And I understand why. It’s cliche, and it’s more or less meaningless considering how often it’s used to describe something that barely elicits a jowl droop. But what about those times your mouth actually does fall open in awe at the sight of what…