Early in the trip, I found my heart aching for the lost fishing village in Hong Kong. Although I understand the adage, “things change,” it seemed like a remarkable loss. Small villages and communities are the backbone of any nation, and diversity is strength. Relishing the vibrancy of the industrial section of Mongkok and its main market, I realized that this Hong Kong history also appeared fragile. Many shop owners and vendors were elderly, and seemed to struggle. Most areas of Hong Kong were filled with young people, completely glued to their phones.

With this series, we re-introduce our Soulful Travel Guide, Becky Burns. It’s been awhile since her words have tickled our pages, but she’s back! Becky retired in 2017, lives in Florida, and continues to travel widely. Join her on this insightful and heartfelt review of a trip to Asia. You’ll love it!

Featuring first-person stories of people finding themselves in the middle of a culture that is foreign to them; each week, 22.33 will deliver interesting tales from people who share how they were able to create mutual understanding through cultural exchange. 

Season 1, Episode 7

22.33’s first monthly mash-up of unique, scary, strange, and sometimes delicious food stories from around the world.

Featuring first-person stories of people finding themselves in the middle of a culture that is foreign to them; each week, 22.33 will deliver interesting tales from people who share how they were able to create mutual understanding through cultural exchange. 

Season 1, episode 1:

Our Home Sweet Hostel
Excerpt from Only in India: Adventures of an International Educator - FREE on Amazon Kindle until 1/24/19!

When we first set eyes on the Celebrity Equinox Cruise Ship, the only words I could think to say were, “Holy crap!  This ship is freaking huge.” It was like a small city floating on water.  The adults had all traveled by cruise ship before, but this was by far the largest ship any of us had been on.

OO ROO, ULURU
The Australian saying "see ya later" is often "Oo Roo."

My hair looks different, my backpack is always open, and I have a medium brown complexion. I'm sun-kissed. I am kissed by the sun. Now, if you live in Boston or in Medford, where I go to Tufts, and you saw me walking down the street, you'd probably make nothing of it. 

I was waiting for the ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires with my friends a few weeks ago. A long way from Boston. I was charging my phone when a kid walked up to me and asked in Spanish "Why are you brown?"

"You're brown all over. You look like soil."

In this world of continual distractions, those with the ability to be present enough to notice things have an unfair advantage. My drive from Utah to Minnesota has taught me that I can have that advantage, too. All I have to do is remember to breathe, pause, and focus on one thing at a time. A long road trip is the perfect place to practice this sort of thinking.