Part 1: Oh, to eat! Dear Minga, May I fill a whole letter speaking exclusively about food? Writing a love letter to the culinary creations that I’ve experienced as I’ve traveled to countries–and continents–new to me? You are my favorite foodie counterpart, dearest love; one I adore adventuring with through plates of deliciousness more than … More Dear Minga, Food, and Lack Of (in two parts)
Dear Betsey, Airline food has a distinctive smell. Do you know it? You probably do, given the fact that you’ve been on a number of long flights—in particular, over the past couple years of traveling for work and retreats. The smell makes me think of vegetables that have been nuked of all their flavor; mushy … More Dear Betsey, Reflections from Almost Home
Dear Yunbo, I’ve been looking forward to writing to you my whole trip, eagerly holding off until visiting Hong Kong, feeling excited to regale you with stories of the region from which you originated. One of the first and most important things I realized when arriving in Hong Kong, however, is that it’s not the … More Dear Yunbo, Unique and Separate, Similar and Same
Dear homes, I write to you from the bed in my 9th floor hotel room in Hong Kong. The place I’m staying is called Butterfly Hotel, and decor is on point: there’s a print with small butterflies stretching across the seat of the (tiny) chair at the (tiny) desk, and the pillows each came with … More Dear Mel, This hurts. It’s also beautiful.
Dear Lyla, The picture I painted of Hong Kong in yesterday’s letter–that of unending forests of high-rises, hills of highways, and seas of people–is only part of the picture. There are also real forests, real hills, real seas, and all within just a crow’s fly mile or two of the busiest urban epicenter! My mom … More Dear Lyla, Scenic Hikes and Urban Hustle
Dear Jackie, Wow. I’m a little bit in love with Hong Kong. And, I think of you! I know you have history with this city and orchestra, and that you’ve played at Jimmy Lin’s Chamber Music Festival (which, coincidentally, starts tomorrow night! I saw a program in City Hall today and crowed with delight. If … More Dear Jackie, Bright Lights, Big City!
Dear Ari, Hi, my brother! Or shall I say “Ayubowan”–that’s the most common Sri Lankan greeting, which translates literally to “long life” or “may you live long.” If this shows up on your computer screen, you’ll be able to see it in all its glory: ආයුඛෝවන් . Many of the past letters in this series … More Dear Ari, A Cautionary Tale
Dear Kendra, Oh, sis! Do I have lots to share with you. First: DO go to Sri Lanka. Go for the culture shock, the colors, the temples, the markets, the food. Go for the sheer pleasure of completely immersing in a land unlike your own. DON’T expect to be treated like a local. Expect to … More Dear Kendra, Culture Shock in Colombo
Dear Jennifer Alyse, Wow! What joy thinking of you. I feel a big internal smile spread, growing and expanding and stretching all the way across the oceans to you. Can you see it? Can you feel it? I hope so. Where to start in sharing with you about this vibrancy? Sister, I can imagine you … More Dear Jennifer Alyse, Lioness Love
Dear Dill, I’ve been faithfully carrying around Women with Moxie cards with me–one of the only things remaining in my purse after I emptied it out in preparation for leaving town. I left only the bare essentials: ID, $60 emergency American cash, a few favorite doTerra oils, vitamins for tummy troubles. And yes, those fabulous … More Dear Dill, Women, We’ve Got Eyes
The Generosity Chronicles 