Writing
Most of this was written between 2009 and 2011, while I was living in Vietnam and travelling through India. The rest is newer.
Delhi-cious
I have to admit, the 33-hour train ride was actually quite pleasant, except for one little incident midway through.
June 2010Welcome to India (or, This Guy Was No Prabaker)
I’ve had an itch to go to India for several years, the beginnings of which I can trace back to when I read Shantaram for the first time.
June 2010On Leaving Vietnam
I came to Vietnam expecting to be there for just three months before leaving for Thailand, but it wasn’t until 18 months later that I finally said my final goodbyes to a city that
July 2010Hyderabad Part 1: Meeting Two Personal Heroes
I had never heard of Hyderabad before I got to India, though it is India’s 6th largest city with over 4 million residents, and occupies a prominent place in the center of southern
July 2010Hyderabad Part 2: Business and Pleasure
I had expected to leave Hyderabad almost immediately after Seth Godin’s talk, but Mr.
July 2010Thrills Without Spills in Quiet Hampi
During my last day, I decided to rent a motorcycle and tour Hampi’s ruins myself.
December 2009Challenges
It’s easy for people to settle in their comfort zones and cruise through their days without doing new things and expanding their horizons.
February 2010You Know You’ve Been in Vietnam Too Long When…
1. You wear your motorcycle helmet when you aren’t riding your motorbike 2. You say “Oi!” instead of “Oh!” 3. Red lights mean “You can slow down a little, if you want to” 4. You ge
March 200925 Random Things (Jess in Vietnam Edition)
Slate and Salon recently ran pieces about an internet meme called "25 Random Things".
July 2026Two Syllables, Eight Years: The TripLingo Story
A fruit seller in Hanoi, a team formed over one Atlanta weekend, and how a language app changed shape on its way to a 2019 acquisition.
July 2026BLOOD CURLING and the Long Road to My Wall Street Journal Crossword Debut
One broken pun, three rounds of New York Times feedback, a postponed Olympics, and 92 black squares stood between me and publication.
Written 2019, updated 2026How I Moved 20 Houses Into the City of Atlanta
So you want to get annexed into the City of Atlanta?