I am a very sentimental person, so this post is about to be pretty sappy, and maybe a little long. In addition to being sentimental, I can also get pretty anxious. In the past, I have found it difficult to do things that push me outside of my comfort zone, and the thought of traveling … Continue reading Why am I crying in the club right now: a reflection →

Despite my disappointment that we didn't get free beer, I still loved our visit to ABInBev. The company culture was incredibly unique and their commitment to sustainability was admirable. The weather was absolutely spectacular, and I loved being at the French market with the employees. A personal highlight for everyone on the blue bus must … Continue reading The day I bought my second Gucci belt →

The weather today was as beautiful as I could have ever hoped for, and climbing around Tiger Hill was a gift. I loved the opportunity to be surrounded by both nature and culture, which have been my 2 favorite parts of this trip. I kept trying to take those fun pictures where you stand in … Continue reading Move over Pisa, we’ve got a new leaning tower in town →

Today was the only time I’ve ever been to a UNESCO world heritage site, and it did not disappoint! The lion garden was amazing to visit, as it reminded me of a natural playground. I would love to run through there even though it would definitely be very dangerous. I still managed to have a … Continue reading One big, rocky playground →

It’s funny how once you’ve been on a 13.5 hour flight, a 2.5 hour one seems like nothing. If anything, I thought it was too short because I wanted to take a longer nap. Alas, I had to soldier on without my nap. The McDonald’s having waffle fries was a real highlight and got me … Continue reading Water you talking about? →

After accidentally falling asleep in all my clothes at 9pm last night, I was ready to rock and roll today. The milk factory we visited reminded me of the cows we have back home in Champaign, and the yogurt drink was surprisingly tasty so the day started out pretty great. As an avid environmentalist, the … Continue reading Next stop after this post: the spa →

I have said this during many days of my life, but I’ll say it again: today was the best it’s ever been. This may be a bit dramatic, but this is the only time that I’ve ever seen a wonder of the world! Microsoft was a fantastic visit, but I believe it may have been … Continue reading from a civil engineer’s perspective: the Great Wall is not structurally so great →

My body clock has never been this disoriented. Waking up this morning at 3 am to watch the flag raising at Tiananmen Square, combined with my jetlag and overall hunger, has tested my membership in the wellness committee because I feel unwell. Nevertheless, I will persevere. I will wait to write the rest of this … Continue reading the most work I’ve ever done for 30 seconds of the Chinese national anthem and a raised flag →