Category: Around the World
-
Soundtracks that soothe
In NYC, I’ve found a fair amount of shops and publicly accessible spaces blaring high energy music. To balance out this noise, I usually play more soothing music: Wingspan’s soundtrack (the game is also super soothing) Aesop’s Music for Bathing playlist Headspace’s music is helpful for when construction takes place outside
-
Where you work changes how you work
My first internship was at Virtual Team Builders, a company that helped companies work remotely. I had no idea this was even possible. I would go on to work remotely, or in a hybrid workplace, for most of my career. Working remotely doesn’t necessarily mean working from home. Getting out of the house can feel…
-
20 lessons from 2 years in New York City
Two years ago, I moved to New York City with my wife and our cat. I’d first visited nearly a decade before, and it had always been a dream of mine—one I’d talked myself out of many times. I’m Canadian and I wasn’t sure how I’d figure out a way to stay. Working visas felt…
-
Kowloon Walled City
A couple of years ago, I visited a beautiful park where the Kowloon Walled City used to stand. It was my first time hearing about it. This article breaks down its history. There is also some great information in this infographic. Here was what the Kowloon Walled City looked like before the government tore it…
-
Turner’s practice
When you look at one of Joseph Mallord William Turner’s paintings, you might notice his work with color. Yes—while it is a landscape painting, and landscapes were seen as a relatively low form of art at the time, that Turner took on any way for better commercial prospects—it’s also much more than what even a…
-
Itoya and the charm of stationary
While corporations such as Staples or Office Depot may sell supplies, a retailer like Itoya sells stationary. The difference is stationary comes with a charm just as essential as the equipment—creativity, possibilities, and consideration. If you visit Itoya’s 12-floor flagship store in Ginza, you’ll find all sorts of incredible products. When I went, I saw…
-
A place and its magic
When my partner and I were on our honeymoon in Hawaii earlier this year, a driver told us about how the island had lost its magic to him. After he spent a couple of years there, he naturally stopped noticing the beauty of the island. He felt wistful about this, and while his intention was…
-
Some notes on a return visit to Hong Kong
In late 2021, I moved to Hong Kong for six months. My partner and I enjoyed it so much that we ended up staying nearly a year and a half. We moved to New York City shortly after that, and I started my job at Figma. I always thought I’d document the trip some other…