AUGUST 2024

Greetings! This month’s blog has been written from a hotel in the Windy City. SONG INSPIRATION August’s blog is inspired by the summer hit Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter. GOLDSCHMIDT This is my first time attending Goldschmidt – a conference whose praises I’ve heard sung for years. While it would have been nice to attend Goldschmidt […]

JULY 2024

Can’t believe it’s been 4 weeks already – I guess that’s what happens when life is a doozy. SONG INSPIRATION July’s blog is inspired by Megan Thee Station’s viral hit, Mamushi. RECLAIMED SUMMER To quote Representative Maxine Waters, I have reclaimed my time. After 2 weeks and 100+ hours in the Japanese language immersion program, […]

JUNE 2024

Due to severe time constraints, I may shorten the length of the next few blogs. Hopefully that’ll make for quicker reading though. SONG INSPIRATION June’s blog is inspired by Tinashe’s viral hit, Nasty. AN EVOLVING SENSE OF PLACE Earlier this month, I returned to the Southwest to socialize with friends and reconnect with my graduate […]

MAY 2024 – PART II

Rounding out the month with another docket of reflections. Let’s get into it! SONG INSPIRATION The 2nd blog of the month was inspired by Candy by Cameo. THE CASE FOR DO-NOTHING VACATIONS Exploring the world is important to me hence why I travel. I want to explore as much of this planet as I can. […]

MAY 2024 – PART I

There are 5 weeks in May, so you know what that means – double blog month! Here’s part one! SONG INSPIRATION This month’s first blog is inspired by Teena Marie’s, Square Biz. WRAPPING UP SPRING SEMESTER The end of the semester is less than 2 weeks away. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Life […]

APRIL 2024

A rare celestial event approaches – The Great American Solar Eclipse (Monday, April 8th)! If you can, check it out! The next one in the US will be in 2044 CE. SONG INSPIRATION This month’s blog is inspired by Drake’s “Can I” from his album, Care Package. SPRING BREAK We’re over the hump of the […]

MARCH 2024

SONG INSPIRATION This month’s blog is inspired by Nicki Minaj’s Pink Birthday from Pink Friday 2. THE SEMESTER The semester took off at breakneck speed, with interviews, meetings, travel, writing, etc. I’m happy to report that by the start of the semester I was ~95% recovered from my severe burnout. I give major thanks to […]

FEBRUARY 2024

Second blog of 2024 – let’s stay bold. SONG INSPIRATION This month’s blog is inspired by Nicki Minaj’s FTCU from Pink Friday 2. CITIES ON VOLCANOES 12 – ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA This weekend I’m traveling to the 12th Cities on Volcanoes (COV12) conference in Antigua, Guatemala. COV is a conference held every 2 years that’s dedicated […]

JANUARY 2024

Another month. Another year. Rinse. Repeat. Renewal. SONG INSPRATION Ali Bomaye by The Game feat. 2 Chainz & Rick Ross JAPAN 4.0 I completed my 4th adventure in Japan. This was my favorite visit. I finally visited Akihabara, Harajuku, Roppongi, and Ikebukuro in Tokyo. I nerded out in game and anime shops, rode the trains/subways […]

DECEMBER 2023

Fall semester 2023 has ended. It was a rough semester, but now it’s time to recharge and reprioritize. SONG INSPIRATION On My Mama (single) by Victoria Monet END OF THE SEMESTER Despite a difficult semester marred by tragedies near and far, I am forced to reflect on my achievements. This isn’t toxic positivity, but rather […]