One of the highlights of the Washington, DC spring season is, of course, the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Many area bars and restaurants celebrate the annual event, adding special cocktails and dishes to their menus. The best of the bunch is the Willard Hotel cherry blossom tea. This exquisite high tea is served in the […]
Destinations
Walking With Dinosaurs at the National Museum of Natural History
Growing up in Virginia, my classmates and I were often taken on field trips into Washington, DC, to explore the variety of cultural riches on offer. My favorite museum was (and still is) the National Museum of Natural History, thanks to its amazing collection of dinosaur fossils. Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum opened […]
The Best Meals We Ate in Shanghai
This post is long overdue, considering that I’ve now been gone from Shanghai for nearly six months. But while I’ve already written about many of the outstanding meals we enjoyed during our tenure in China’s largest city, there are still more worth sharing – and a few worth repeating! Chuanxiang Sichuan Restaurant Chuanxiang was our […]
Becoming a Celebrity in China
What happens when a blonde American with blue eyes and extremely pale skin moves to China? If my experience is any indication, she becomes an instant celebrity! To say that I stood out from the local population is a bit of an understatement. While China has a surprising amount of ethnic diversity, the society is […]
Exploring the Cultural Quirks of Japan
Many countries have things they are widely recognized for, such as tulips in the Netherlands, the Eiffel Tower in France, and Carnival in Brazil. But there are also cultural intangibles that might not be as obvious but can be equally interesting. By way of greetings, Americans exchange hugs while Europeans prefer to kiss on the […]