What I Missed In India
When I travel to India with my family...
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Teaching in Zambia
As I departed from the plane, I left all my worries and concerns in my chair. Walking into the beautiful morning in the Africa sun made me realize that I was...
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Black Mountain
Even before my crew of 13 (nine boys and four dads) had arrived at Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico, we’d heard the stories of Black...
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The Tear Shaped Island Near India
Sandwiched between two long flights on Cathay Pacific was a trip in Sri Lanka. It was not quite a vacation; it was a mission. I had founded a club called Books Over Seas to send gently used textbooks...
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Trinidad West Indies
Walking through security, taking of my belt and shoes, I was clear but uneasy entering the...
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Eyes Open to the Caribbean
As the sunset down over horizon and the Carnival Conquest sailed off to the next destination, it all seemed to catch up and crash down on me like an avalanche on Mount Everest. It was over. We were...
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Travel – “Are We There Yet”
Feelings of excitement washed over me as we pulled out of the driveway, our SUV piled with skim boards, towels, sand castle equipment, and bags bursting at the seams. I figured in approximately ten...
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The Children’s Ranch
It was April 2, 2009 and my mission’s team of 12 started out from Detroit Metro Airport. Two flights and seven long hours later, I was in Mazatlan, Mexico, packed into an old, rundown van and...
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Living History
When I walked into my AP U.S. History class the first day of school, I never would have believed that I would have found some use for the knowledge learned in the class. It was May, when we decided...
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Awake in a Dream: Scotland
There is a beauty that is universal. The beauty of eyes opened: cultures explored, and eternity grasped. Someone once asked me, “Of the man waking from a dream, and the man still in one, who...
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Dry Tortugas National Park
Seventy miles off the coast of Key West in the Florida Keys lies an unknown paradise that is rich in history, nature, and architecture. It is called the Dry Tortugas National Park and it is the best...
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A Perfect Tiramisu
As the rain outside slowly dwindled away we walked into a preserved castle, tucked gently away in Italy. Upon entering, the shadows of people danced upon the walls as they talked in hushed voices at...
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An unforgettable Journey
One of the most memorable vacations I’ve had in the recent years was my trip to Yosemite National Park this summer. My family goes to Yosemite each year with Mario, my dad’s friend, and...
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Italian Suprise
Rolling hills and death-defying slopes hinted with lush green grass and the multi-colored buildings. This sight cannot be captured in the United States, but only in the beautiful...
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visiting a concentration camp
I have traveled internationally quite often over my life, but one of the most educational and emotional trips I’ve taken was to Germany...
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Japan Essay
I loved Japan before I visited there-- loved their video games, TV shows, martial arts, and amazing sword fights. But my only...
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Teaching in Taiwan
“Okay, okay,” I answered, obediently following the herd of girls, ages 7 to 11, out of the small classroom and into the sweltering summer heat of Taiwan. Although the...
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China: To the Other Side of the World, and to the Other Side of Me
I’ve always wondered about the possibility of having two real homes, and looking back at that moment, my heart couldn’t have felt happier to...
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Disney World
In my sophomore year, spring 2008, at East Detroit High School, I had an extraordinary opportunity. As a member of our marching band I went to perform at and tour Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Our...
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A TRIP THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET
When I was in the tenth grade a selected few students in my class took a trip to the historical Civil War battle site: Gettysburg. I was 15 at the time, and we stayed at Farnsworth...
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The Great Wall and Beyond
It all started on June 10, 2009. I had just loaded my luggage onto the bus and said goodbye to my family. It was finally time to start on our voyage to a new and unknown world. The...
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Bella Italia
I have dreamed of traveling to Rome, the Eternal City, for years. I always longed to...
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Visiting a Homeland
In December of 2008, my mom and I took a trip halfway around the planet and to an entirely different world. We visited my parent’s home country of Bangladesh after almost...
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Freezing Hands, Warming Spirits: My Experience at the Inauguration of President Barack Obama
Twenty-eight--it seems such an innocent number.That is, unless you were actually there in Washington, D Twenty-eight--it seems...
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Machu Picchu
I held the seat in front of me in a white-knuckle grip as our tour bus negotiated the switchbacks and hairpin turns necessary to ascend from the valley town of Aguas Calientes to our destination in the...
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My Northern Michigan Paintball Trip
In the final weeks before our senior year, my friends (Jon, Phil, Denton, CJ, and Jeffery) and I decided we needed to celebrate the close of summer...
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My Paradise
What do you think of when you hear the word paradise? Do you think of lying on a beach in Hawaii? What about taking a cruise to Jamaica? Before, when I heard it, that’s what I thought about,...
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Bienvenue En Haiti
In February of 2009, I learned several things about my life, through a trip to Haiti. First and foremost, Haiti is a poor country. Over 80% of the people are unemployed, and have...
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