Summer Postcards
Light Up to Grow Up
I’m not sure whether Italians don’t believe this truth or just ignore the warnings on cigarette packages. Regardless, Italian children, just like American ones, form opinions towards smoking at an early age.
Very Important Person
“But of everything I’ve seen in this last few months, you know my favorite thing of Berlin?” he drawls, savoring the suspense that he’s built for a piece of wisdom we never really asked for.
Good News from an Unlikely Place
New governor Rick Snyder, a former computer executive and venture capitalist, has been working to reform state government at a blistering pace. Signing a balanced budget, enacting greater state control over financially distressed municipalities, and placing a strong emphasis on fostering transparency and accountability in state government, Snyder is changing the way that the state does business. Though highly controversial, he has brought dramatic changes to Lansing at a faster rate than anyone in recent memory.
A Spendthrift Rift
The weekend began in Washington, D.C., where my roommate and I are interning at a software company. Although we earn identical salaries—and even hail from similar socioeconomic backgrounds—he often views my purchases as excessive, while his spending strikes me as ascetic.
Bulging with Bingsu
I pinch my stomach with one hand and quickly jot down some notes with the other: “The shaved ice, made with frozen milk, melted like snow right as it touched the tip of my tongue. The chunky red bean puree wasn’t overly sweet, while the slices of fresh kiwis and crunchy candied walnuts added texture to the otherwise watery bingsu.