My decision to make a lifestyle change is usually the result of a slow but steady buildup of knowledge through reading and talking to...

The trickiest question of all is what people should do while they’re in Mumbai, because it’s not a tourist hub. It’s no wonder that the...

Close to Mumbai there are a number of popular tourist destinations within 1-3 hours by car, train, or ferry. Unlike most travel...

If you’re curious about exploring India and need some travel tips, you could simply open up a Lonely Planet. But wait, did you know the...

Six weeks ago I received an email from the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. I wasn’t surprised, because during the preceding...

It’s official: we’re moving to Banjul next year! Where?! Banjul is the capital of The Gambia, and The Gambia is a tiny country inside...

I just went to Tajikistan—a country I never imagined visiting. I couldn’t even locate it on a map—the “stans” have always been a bit of a...

Uh-oh, it’s almost time to move on again! As much as I enjoy living in Mumbai, every Foreign Service tour meets its inevitable end. We...

Need a random city trip recommendation? How about Bucharest! Having confused Bucharest with Budapest and Belgrade all my life, Romania’s...

So, I’m a manager now! I’m still posted in Mumbai for another year, but my job here has changed dramatically. Bottom line: no more visa...

BLUF: this was the best five-day vacation ever! Though the Maldives were never on my list of must-see destinations. There was something...

Dressing for work has become somewhat of a hobby. My bright blazers rarely go unnoticed by my colleagues and I’ve been asked more than...

Final installment! Here are Part 1 and Part 2. Race Day The NN Rotterdam marathon 2024 started at 10:00 AM for elite runners, and at...

While consistent and thorough training obviously matters, a big part of running long distance is getting into the right mental state of...

Oops, I did it again! My second full marathon is officially on the books. It felt like a mission impossible, but I managed. This is a...

We just spent our spring family vacation in Sri Lanka: nine days of beach, hills, and cities. Our first stop after landing in Colombo was...

Last week I took a week long trip with my family to Sri Lanka. We stayed in several places (Colombo, Unawatuna beach, Ella, Kandy) but my...

To celebrate 15 years of running, completing 3 half marathons in 2024 so far, and not having knee pain anymore, I’m making a list of my...

I recently started intermittent fasting. It’s partially an experiment (my husband is really into health and nutrition) and partially due...

Mumbai has one of the biggest U.S. consular sections in the world and is referred to as a “visa mill” among officers. So far, I’ve...