Story
The Dark Side of Voluntourism
Before our bags were packed our egos were boosted. Our air was shrouded in arrogance. Friends, family and strangers fuelled our vanity: what we were doing was “inspirational” and “selfless”.…
What It’s Like to Work at a Hospital in Peru
It’s 8am in Cusco, Peru. I’m starting my shift at the general health clinic in San Sebastian, a suburb that’s a 20-minute bus ride from the centre. Yesterday was a…
The Taxi Driver of Podgorica
Touch down in Podgorica Airport. The chill of Eastern European air encourages the hairs on my arm to stand in formation. Small pools of sweat slowly form underneath my black…
My Moment with a Mexican Moses
For the first time on this trip, the cocaine looks unappealing. “I think I’m over it. I’ll just drink.” My mood is low — mind and heart somewhere else, with…
They Say You Never Forget How to Ride a Bike, But I Had to Learn Three Times
On training wheels, my older sister used to race me. If she won, she would get an orange-flavoured Chupa Chup. If I won, we would both get an orange-flavoured Chupa…
The Highlight of My Eurotrip Was The Night I Got Spiked
It was 9:30pm and happy hour had well and truly begun on Mlini – the loud and jovial boat I was allocated on my Sail Croatia tour. Like a stale…
Reluctantly Dancing on Space Cakes
“The game is called Presidents,” one of the French girls is saying, gesturing excitedly the way people explaining card games do, her words coming to me through a haze of…
I Lived Next to a Slaughterhouse for a Month
I put a drop of soap into my menstrual cup and use my hands to spread the soap around the silicon. There is something grotesque about washing a menstrual cup…
A Universal Language
Stickiness glues every inch of my clothes to me. Blaring sun blinds me from all directions. Wine fumes leave no room for fresh air on this street. A bead of…
Lessons from Japanese Love Dolls
Hi, I’m interested in your collection. *Delete Delete Delete* Hello, I would like to come and see your dolls. *Delete Delete Delete* Maybe I should write this in Japanese. Wait,…
The Problem with Assimilation
“The problem with Muslims is that they don’t assimilate,” announced the Australian owner of a Balinese sports bar. The red-nosed sexagenarian was drunk on his own stock and the admiration…
Sleepless in Seattle
Sleepless in Seattle – that’s the old movie with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, right? I have some vague recollection of watching it on TV years ago. One of those…