You Never Forget How To Ride A Bike

So there I was, lying on the street, clutching my left knee in pain on a busy intersection on one of Maastricht’s main bridges, trying not to feel flustered or helpless. But that was easier said than done. My hair was an utter mess. Sweat had begun to make its way down my back. We…

Amsterdam, I Was Wrong About You

I have to be very honest here: I had been trash-talking Amsterdam for the better part of the past five years. Whenever I was asked to give my opinion on the city, I would always reply that it didn’t captivate me quite as much as Maastricht or Den Haag. I would always claim that the…

The Amazing Mini-Eurotrip Race

“You know what looks really beautiful?” Ahmad yelled across the house. “What?” I yelled back from the kitchen. “Amsterdam. I’ve been seeing a lot of pictures and it seems like the kind of place we’d enjoy visiting.” “You don’t say!” I replied, rolling my eyes, as I made my way to the living room where…

Kalimera, Crete (Or How One Bad Morning Led To A Great Holiday)

It’s funny how I can recall the exact moment I fell in love with Crete and decided it would be a destination I would want to visit again and again and again- but I realize now it did not come easily. Earlier in the day, we’d gotten into the rental and were trying to manage…

When In Greece, Planning Is An Afterthought

When we found out we couldn’t legally enter Portugal for our spring trip, Ahmad and I needed to think quickly. To not go on holiday was unthinkable. We’d already began our countdown. We’d also, stupidly, disregarded all the travel advice including that of the embassy and booked non-refundable tickets. In my defense, they were a…

Healthy, Happy Me

It’s hard to believe but it’s true: it’s been almost one year since one ill-fated date night caused me to snap and come to the realization that I needed to do something about my weight. None of my clothes fit like they used to before. My confidence had severely dwindled to the point that the…

Everybody’s Changing- And I’m Still The Same

On the eve of my 20th birthday, I jokingly told a friend who had messaged me with good wishes that this was going to be the “no pressure but you have to hit all the milestones decade.” By my 30th birthday, I went on, and according to the prevalent standards and expectations of what I…

A More Adventurous Eater: My Very First Sushi Experience

I realize that to a lot of people, going out to have sushi doesn’t require much thought. They get together with their friends and/or significant other and just head to dinner (or order in) much like I would think about going for Italian or steaks.  But in fact, until this very weekend, I hadn’t so…

Hello Again

I never know where to start when I’m getting back to the blog after a long and unexplained hiatus. Should I begin by telling you why I pulled off yet another disappearing act when just the last time I promised it wouldn’t happen again? Should I explain how every time I thought about logging in,…

On Grieving

Mourning sucks- but not because you’ve lost a loved one. It’s what comes after that is infinitely more difficult. That damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation you find yourself in. Two weeks ago, a dear uncle of mine passed away after a year long battle with cancer. From his diagnosis to his death,…