After a fascinating weekend in Erbil, Iraq and Riga, Latvia last weekend, I did not think this weekend could top it–but so far it has, by leaps and bounds. I am in Jordan for the weekend with a colleague...
Return to London
Hello from London. My parents have finally flown across the Pond for a visit and my brother is still in town, so we decided to meet up in London this weekend. This is my second trip to London this...
Weekend in Hamburg
One of the great things about living in Frankfurt is the ability to easily journey to another city or country by air, rail, or car. I have taken full advantage of that this year and my travels have taken...
Ten Years Later: Critically Examining 9/11
I tell you, freedom and human rights in America are doomed. The U.S. government will lead the American people in — and the West in general — into an unbearable hell and a choking life. -Osama Bin Laden, December...
My Travel Season Draws to a Close
After traveling almost non-stop (at least one trip per week) since February, it is going to be a bit strange not to leave Germany for the next six weeks. The last few months have been amazing in terms of...
Don’t Blame Delta for Saudi Foreign Policy
The Rabbi Jason Miller is not happy with Delta Air Lines. In a poorly-written article published in the Huffington Post, Miller bemoans that Saudi Arabian Airlines will soon be a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, the airline group that...
Why Soldiers Should Not Board First on United Airlines
It is Memorial Day today in the United States, a day in which America honors those soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of their country. What started out as Decoration Day in 1865, when freed...
On the Matter of Flight Attendant Professionalism
I utilize public transportation to get to and from work at Frankfurt International Airport and run into a LOT of uniformed airline personnel, particularly from Lufthansa and United. United has a crew base in Frankfurt and therefore has a lot...
The Time to Visit Japan is Now
I had a wonderful, albeit brief, stay in Japan and feel the obligation to provide the following observation: Above all else, my trip to Japan demonstrated that the media shamelessly blows stories out of proportion. Remember all the talk about...
Buddha Spoils My Trip to the DMZ!
Don’t you just hate it when plans go awry? I arrived in Seoul last night and had set up a tour to visit the DMZ and Panmunjom (North/South Korea border) today, a relic of the Cold War and primary...
College Newspaper Defends TSA…and Fails Miserably
In some ways, I miss college life. I earned my undergraduate degree at UCLA and relished the three years of intellectual stimulation while studying history and political science. As a political junkie, I was an avid reader of the...
The "Injustice" of Economy Class
Patrick Smith, a writer for Salon.com, attempts to combine humor with common sense in his latest column, entitled "The Injustice of Economy Class." I think he fails. Three questions drive the piece: First, would it really be too much trouble to engineer...
Your Laptop is NOT Secure or Private at U.S. Borders
I am training to be a lawyer, afterall, so let’s take a break from frequent flyer news today and focus on a recent court decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the confiscation of personal computers...
"Terrorists" Force Diversion of a United Flight
Readers of my blog know that I have very little tolerance for irrationality. Such irrationality is often manifested in the actions of the TSA, but sometimes passengers or flight crews are to blame, like when a flight attendant overreacts to...
Trip to Japan Postponed – I’m Coming Home!
When disaster struck Japan, I waivered over whether to take my planned trip to Tokyo next week. Despite dire warnings of radiation contamination, empty shelves at grocery stores, and rolling blackouts, I determined that media reports were overblown (to...
My Japan Dilemma – To Go or Not to Go?
To be clear, compared to what the Japanese people are going through right now, my dilemma is quite unsubstantial, but because this is my travel blog, I trust you won’t find it in poor taste to speculate about my...
*Sigh* Another Rail Strike in Germany
The sun is not even up and I am already preparing to leave for work. I don’t have to report to the office for another three hours, but the trains aren’t running this morning throughout much of Germany, including...
Seize the Moment: Travel While You Can
When the opportunity arises for travel, take it. Life on this earth is too short too sit on the sidelines and reason with yourself that you will do it sometime in the future. Next summer. After graduation. For my...
A Flight Attendant’s Duty to Calm a Screaming Baby
Does a flight attendant have a duty to at least attempt to quiet a screaming baby? I say yes. Last night I was on a intra-Europe Lufthansa flight where a baby two rows behind me screamed for nearly every moment...
Cultural Adjustments in Germany
I’ve been in Germany for almost a month and overall, I am adjusting well to the new surroundings and work environment. As someone who has always chosen public transportation over owning a car, I love the ease of getting...
