For most of my life, my favorite TV show was called, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. In this show, Anthony Bourdain, a chef and world traveler explored and ate food in all parts of the world from India (where my best friend's family is from), to Lewisburg, West Virginia (where my dad’s family lives), to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (where I live today).
Growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I had not seen very much of the world. I knew the snow, and how to play ice hockey, but I also knew from watching Bourdain’s show that the world was much bigger than what I saw outside my front door. So, when I graduated high school, I spent all the money I saved working at our local ice cream shop, booked an 18-hour flight, and spent the next five months traveling on my own through Asia.
I came back to the United States to study history and urban planning (how we build and manage cities) at Occidental College in Los Angeles. I loved learning about cities, their histories, how they're all different, and how people get around. That's what led me to Ho Chi Minh City, a place unlike any other city I've visited. People zip around on motorbikes, noodle soups and dragon fruits are sold on every street corner, and there is always something new to explore. So the opportunity to live, work, and learn here is amazing. I can't wait to share it with you!
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
