I agree with you. If the story didn’t define the cab driver, we would assume he was white, because like you said, we (Americans) don’t define the ethnicity of white people. It’s a subtle “othering” that happens, and while it’s not like it’s super racist or anything, it denotes the other person as “different”. We do it…

You’re right to say to prioritize, plan, and to travel on the off-season, but depending on your expenses (health care, rent, student debt, caring for family members, transportation, etc.), it might not be that simple. That’s not to say it’s not good advice, because it is! But being able to put away $100 a month is…

I think that’s a little different, because it isn’t just a picture of a beer! It had a purpose: to tell that neat story :)

I think the best way to do it is to have a purpose for the photo, like you said. Seeing a coffee cup that’s in another country doesn’t make it more interesting than all the other coffee cups on a photo site.

I actually do feel bad about it, because I think it’s sort of passive-aggressive of me. I get a little thrill when I see that they’re disappointed, so I don’t think I’m being that adult about it.

My mom said that she took dictation! That was why. They were just so busy.

I am terrible at beauty stuff. I don’t know how to do hair well, I have next to no experience with makeup or other beautifying routines, I don’t know how to dress fashionably, and the concept of “style” is something I haven’t yet learned to grasp. I’ve never really liked the trappings of “femininity”, and so, there’s…

There are times when I am a terrible turd of a person, and humblebragging is one of those times. I enjoy not reacting to humblebrags when I’m with someone. I don’t know why, and I’m trying to find a better, less bitchy way to react, but there is this satisfaction in someone saying something like that and just going,…

I was so distraught over the Tooth Fairy taking my tooth that my mom wrote me a note about how she knew I wanted to keep it, and that was okay, signed by the Tooth Fairy. I don’t remember why I was so upset about it, but I was!

I love Charo completely unironically.

I went to Siam Reap a few years ago to renew my visa for another country, so I was only there 2 days (it was all I had off work). I decided to hire a tour guide, because I was there for such a short amount of time that I didn’t want to risk getting lost or missing out on something.

Her response is just right. Few would be impressed or interested in who some radio host would like to have sex with. She’s not competing for his affections, so what difference does it make if her clothes please his eye?

I’m not afraid of flying, either, and I was sort of wondering if there’s anything I could do to help other passengers who are. I mean, if they’re quietly scared, then I don’t know, but I can offer a hand or distracting conversation if someone likes. No shame! Some shit is just scary.

I am certainly no expert, but I thought it was sensitive and nuanced in its exploration and I liked it. If you’re not certain, have a look at the Wikipedia entry and see if it’s something you think you’d like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reel_Inju…

I used to live near a few reservations that had unemployment rates as high as 80 percent and 49 percent living under the poverty level. They were very isolated, rural communities. When you have rates that high, what in the world can you do? Few have a car to travel to another place to work and make their lives better.…

You're welcome! School is the way to go, I say! It's how I've gotten around, and it's made it so much easier, because there's a structure, and visas are generally easier to get (in my opinion). If you've got schools picked out, there should be guides for international students about how to get there, what to…

I didn’t have any real trouble when I went through CDG to visit a friend. I had a flight in and a train out, and it was baffling to me. No one was rude to me, and honestly, they were helpful. I don’t speak any French, but I can say “hello” and “do you speak English?” and “I’m sorry”, so that seems to be all right. I…

I've done it three times (twice for school, which is easier, because you have some structure already). I can tell you what worked for me. Do you have a place in mind?

I miss unbaby.me and rather. They were great for all kinds of things! You just fed the keywords you didn’t want to see (for me, they were things like “poop”, “snot”, “doctor who”, “weight”, “gym”, etc.) and it censored them from your feed. So nice! I have not yet found a replacement, as they don’t exist anymore.