Songs about recovering from depression

Updated: March 21, 2013 Though I’ve heard mixed reviews about London, for me it was nothing short of a very drizzly heaven. After months of feeling like I have no personality (my poor French reduces me to a shy but sweet, whimpering version of myself), it was such a blessing to socialize in my native language. Escaping from France aside, there was so much to love about London, and I spent three days pocketing little moments of joy across the city. Here are a few of those moments. Table of Contents Generously sized coffeeLunch at Borough MarketCatching some rays on the ThamesWelcoming in spring at Hyde ParkStumbling upon the Camden Lock’s Global KitchenEncountering Street ArtAntique Shopping on Portobello RoadBreak Dancing in Trafalgar SquareEnjoying some much needed time at the pubEnjoyed this post? Subscribe here! Generously sized coffee La Belle France. I have no idea why it has a good reputation.) Lunch at Borough Market Spit roast pork sandwiches, chocolate chip … [Read more...] about My Favorite London Moments

Updated: February 14, 2014 On my first backpacking trip through Europe when I was 17, my travel partner and I spent a few days at a hostel villa in Tuscany. After a few weeks of city-to-city backpacking all I wanted to do was breathe, so I plucked a VHS of Serendipity from the hostel library and spent a few happy hours watching a bad 90’s chick flick. “You really shouldn’t spend the day doing something you can do at home,” my travel partner said. “But I’m so tired!” I’m sure I whined. That moment taught me an important lesson about travel- living your life to the fullest at every moment quickly becomes exhausting. So on my first full day in Istanbul, I did absolutely nothing. And it was wonderful. My cousin Suzy and her boyfriend, Serkan, showed me around their beloved neighborhood of Taksim. Taksim is a neighborhood located on the Asian side of Istanbul- the side known for being residential, upscale and largely tourist-free. I … [Read more...] about The Beauty of Doing Nothing When Traveling

Updated: September 12, 2019 So you want to learn a second language? Good. In my humble opinion, everyone should learn another language. But let me first say- it’s not easy. In fact, it’s really hard. But, it’s also incredibly satisfying, fun and rewarding. And not to mention useful. Table of Contents What is fluency?1. Learn as much as possible before you go abroad.2. Immerse yourself.3. Live with a host family.4. Carry around a notebook and pocket dictionary.5. Absorb media in your target language. 6. Try a language exchange.7. Make a serious effort to remember every word.8. Get a boyfriend or girlfriend who speaks your target language.9.  Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.10. Don’t be afraid to be pushy when necessary.And most importantly, don’t give up. You can do this.What didn’t work for me:Apps that can help you learn:Books that can help:So what makes me an expert anyway?Enjoyed this post? Subscribe here! What is fluency? Fluent … [Read more...] about 10 Tips for Becoming Fluent in a Second (or Third!) Language

CHERNIVTSI, Ukraine — Tucked in the southwest corner of Ukraine, Chernivtsi is a cheerful city that graciously marries the glories and sorrows of centuries past with vibrant Eastern European urban life today. It's at the heart of a geographical and historical region with a name that almost sounds whimsical: Bukovina. Fiercely proud Bukovina, whose name means beechwood in Romanian, spans Romania and Ukraine and straddles the Carpathian Mountains. Bukovina has witnessed a long succession of rulers and influences, including Huns, Ottomans sultans and Austro-Hungarian emperors. A flourishing Jewish population in Bukovina was uprooted and largely exterminated during World War II, but there are traces of it if you look. Early this summer, joined by my daughter, I spent 10 days in Chernivtsi. Every day I grew more charmed by the city. One of the oldest towns in Ukraine, Chernivtsi brims with young people, drawn by a renowned university with such impressive, 19th-century architecture … [Read more...] about Ukraine’s Chernivtsi a charming city of architectural gems

San Diego Musical Theatre’s “Man of La Mancha” is a moving tale of dreams, heartbreak and the realities of Spanish life circa 1594 as two stories unfold on the Horton Grand Theatre stage through Oct. 27.The first is of a man named Don Miguel de Cervantes (Broadway veteran Robert J. Townsend), an unsuccessful poet, soldier and actor who has turned to tax collecting as a means of survival. Unfortunately for him, he foreclosed on a monastery and — as a consequence — is imprisoned in Seville, Spain and is awaiting trial for heresy since the show takes place in the midst of the Spanish Inquisition.(The Inquisition was a 355-year effort by Catholic monarchs to identify heretics and bring them to justice.)His fellow detainees have their own hierarchy in the prison, as Cervantes and his also imprisoned servant Sancho (Broadway veteran Jeffrey Landman) quickly find out. To save his meager possessions — mostly costumes, but especially a manuscript for a play … [Read more...] about REVIEW: SDMT puts on a compelling ‘Man of La Mancha’