America is big. Really, really big. Even adjusted for inflation, gasoline is more expensive than at any point in the last 90 years. The western United States is mostly desert, and the desert gets unbearably hot in the months of July and August. My friend Mark and I live AND work together. All of these [...]
I just got back from 10 days in Europe, where me and several happening dudes (Mark, Arpan, Sherwin) visited Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges and Luxembourg City. Outside of Luxem-(Ithaca-the-country)-bourg, the entire trip was a non stop thrill ride of beer, broads and bad decisions.
Even though I fear incriminating myself, Sherwin has an excellent wrap-up of [...]
I’ve had a extremely hard time summarizing Japan, both conversationally and Chaptorally. It could be that the trip was so multifaceted it defied description, or perhaps Japan just stepped outside my comfort zone into a realm of new experience. Maybe I’m just not as good as I think I am.
1. A culture of non-immigrants
I’m used [...]
The first thing you notice when you land in Japan: the place is filled with Japanese people.
Not just filled, overflowing. It sounds like a stupid thing to say, but it is a shock after living in a city as ethno-diverse as Washington, DC. Outside of the airport and certain tourist hotspots, it is 99.5% Asian.
I [...]
It hasn’t been the same since my old roommate Chase left for Japan eight months ago. The local sonic landscape lost a source of pervasive indie-rock. There is one less Maoist messenger bag wandering the streets of Alexandria. Those cold winter nights without sexually ambiguous physical contact leave many in the DC metro area wanting, [...]