International Flights: Some Tips

Having suffered through a painful trans-Pacific flight two weeks ago and then successfully making it through a significantly less painful trans-Pacific flight today, I feel qualified to share some tips: 1. Don’t sit in the middle. This seems obvious, but it has to be said. Especially if you’re like me and get stressed out by […]

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Reconnection

I have a bit of a fear of social awkwardness. I’m one of those people who ducks and hides when she sees former acquaintances on the street. I tend to avoid unnecessary conversations in which I’m not sure I’ll know what to say. It’s nothing against those people. It’s just awkward. So it only took me five […]

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One of Those Moments

Tonight my nine-year-old sister said to me, “You’re awesome, you know that?” I was about to play dodgeball with her and our younger brother in the basement, which she had been wanting to do all evening. I suppose that’s what triggered the comment, but whatever the motivation, I have to say, it warmed me up inside. Nothing […]

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Teacher Life: Are You Flirting With Me?

Recently, a student came up to me before class. It was Daniel, the student I made cry last month by encouraging him to externally process his feelings. “Do you need something?” I asked with a frown, distracted as I usually am during break time…

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When Your House Becomes One Giant Refrigerator

My roommate and I can literally see our breath while standing in our living room. It’s become somewhat of an evening pastime, watching each other blow streams of steam from our mouths. We each have space heaters in our rooms, but why heat the living room when it will cost us an arm and a […]

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Hibernation

This winter I seem to constantly be wrestling with some level of sickness or other, and I’ve come to the logical conclusion that winter is meant for hibernation. We’re simply not designed to have to leave our houses in winter. We’re supposed to stay snuggled in our beds, conserving energy and resting our bodies until spring. I’m […]

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The Unsolved Mystery of the Unclaimed Stool (Not the Kind You Sit On)

Disney World The other night, a friend mentioned Disney World, and I said that I had visited as a child. I must have been about eight. “Someone pooped in our bathtub,” I said, slurping up some late night ramen. “That’s my most distinct memory.” My friend said they really didn’t want to hear the rest of the story, […]

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Novel Writing: Still Climbing

Just over two years ago, I decided to attempt to write a novel. I had this sudden thought that this thing that had seemed impossible to me before might actually be a learnable feat. I started reading tons of books about writing, plotting, and character development. I began reading more novels, studying the structure of movies, […]

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