Why ‘Best Friends’ Don’t Have to Talk Every Day
Kalina and I met our first year of middle school, when I may have well as been Regina George. Not just because I was blonde,…
Faking It: On Pretending to Be a Grown-Up
I halt my chair-swiveling when one of my students — a big-shot Korean businessman — walks in. I stand up, and I give my best…
5 Ways to Say, ‘I’m Sorry,’ to Your S.O. That Are Better Than Flowers
My first argument with a boy was in first grade. His name was Adam, and he was my best friend. He wore wireframe rounded spectacles,…
Why Taking a Gap Year Is the Best Way to Challenge Yourself
Taking a gap year after college doesn’t always mean frolicking with baby elephants in Thailand or tanning in Bali. Sometimes it means getting utterly lost…
Dating and Diets: What Happens When a Vegan Dates a Carnivore?
If oysters are a love potion, veggie burgers are fighting fuel. Since going vegan about eight years ago, I’ve been around enough veggie burgers —…
The Life-Changing Magic of Doing What Works for Me
In college, I was a clutter queen. I didn’t have a lot of extra money to decorate my dull new room, so I started buying…
Why You Need to Travel With Your S.O. Before Getting Serious
The elevator doors opened, and my boyfriend, Adam, and I were greeted by fireworks and a team of Japanese men waving enthusiastically. One of the…
The Best Way to Help a Friend With a Terminally Ill Parent
“Mommy has cancer.” I looked back, blankly. I already knew, at age 6, that “cancer” is supposed to be scary, but so was the sound…
5 Apps to Help You Reach Your New Year’s Goals
It’s 1 a.m., but my loft is bathed in brilliant bluish screen-light. The fifth episode in a row of “Master of None” is auto-playing on…
4 Ways to Revamp Your Resume This Summer
After leaving my English teaching job in Seoul, I started frantically applying for jobs back in my home state of Florida. Two weeks later, and…