天美麻豆

Since 2015

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

I work as a travel writer, cultural adjustment coach, and writing coach (primarily for adults who are fluent in English and want to break into professional writing or improve their writing in general). I teach online and in-person workshops and write for a variety of publications in Asia and North America. I'm currently working on my third book, about daily life among the local residents and street vendors in the Bui Vien Street area.
I came to Vietnam for the first time in 2008, expecting a one-time, one-week vacation. I came because I was working as a tour guide in Europe, was looking for something different, and my frequent flier miles couldn't get me to Samoa on the dates I wanted to travel. Within days in Vietnam, I was already writing in my travel journal about wanting to move here. As clich茅ish as this sounds, I love the easygoing yet industrious mentality of the people here. The scenery, both urban and rural, is mind-blowing. I lived in Singapore for four years before coming here (due to my wife's job) and Saigon is where I would always come when I needed to put my brain in a happier setting.
The bureaucracy is intense and time-consuming at times, but it's part of the adventure.

Jul 2011 - Jun 2015

Singapore, Singapore

I wrote (and still write) freelance articles for several local publications including the Straits Times and SilverKris (Singapore Airlines). Taught travel journaling and travel writing workshops for schools and organizations including the Singapore American School, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and the American Women's Club. Played fiddle in the band Outrageous Modesty. Spent a lot of time plotting my escape to Vietnam.
Freelance travel writer and writing coach
It's cheap and easy to travel all over Southeast Asia. Found vibrant local music and writing communities.
Everything seemed business-driven and transactional. Over time, I found some great local friends but I have never had to work so hard anywhere else to find a local social circle.

Jul 1994 - Oct 1994

Ankara, T眉rkiye

Taught English as a Second Language. Sadly, an evil salad that I ate landed me in the hospital and for medical reasons, I had to return to the US much sooner than I wanted to.
ESL teacher
The hospital. (But the salad was delicious.)

Apr 1994 - Jul 2011

Seattle, Washington, USA

Worked as a website content editor, travel consultant, and tour guide for Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door.

Oct 1993 - Mar 1995

Wisconsin, USA

Recovered from a parasite that had done nasty things to my intestines in Turkey. Worked as an editor for an educational publishing company and as a freelance music reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal.

Feb 1992 - Jul 1994

Wisconsin, USA

News anchor and production assistant for Wisconsin Public Radio, communications assistant for the Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay System.

Aug 1991 - Feb 1992

Oslo, Norway

Studied Norwegian linguistics at the University of Oslo.
Student

Aug 1987 - Aug 1991

Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Majored in journalism and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Student

Aug 1986 - Jul 1987

Drøbak, Norway

Foreign exchange student with the American Scandinavian Student Exchange
Student

Jul 1977 - Jul 1986

Bethesda, Maryland, USA

My year in England changed me. I generally spent the rest of my childhood plotting ways to leave the States and explore the world some more.

Jul 1976 - Jul 1977

London, England

At age eight, I was type-cast for my American accent and given the role of the Gnome Ranger in the school Christmas Pantomime, "Noddy and Big Ears' Adventures in Toyland." I wore a cowboy hat, a cap gun holster, and tights. By the end of the year, I had lost my American accent. (This is one of the many ridiculous stories you will find in my bestselling travel humo(u)r book, "Getting Lost: Mishaps of an Accidental Nomad.") In the same year, I also almost started a riot in Tunisia, even though I was generally a peace-loving kid. (Yeah, that story's in the book too.)
My family traveled all over Europe and Northern Africa that year. It's why I became the travel-obsessed adult that I am.
School lunches ("dinners") were ghastly back then. This was not a cultural difference. Brits my age agree. (Heh... sorry for the shameless self-promotion, but there's a chapter about surviving school dinners in the book as well.)

Oct 1968 - Jul 1977

Bethesda, Maryland, USA