When I first moved to Bangkok, Thailand, I had an amazing teacher – Mr. Westgate. He was a positive influence who provided me with the insight and acceptance to be confident and proud of who I am - a third culture kid (TCK). 

In Bangkok I was privileged to attend an International School where there were students from 62 different countries.  For the first time, I felt like I “fit” in and realized that I was different and that it was okay to be different in a number of ways: skin color, accent, language, nationality and experience. Mr. Westgate was instrumental in making me and other students proud of the fact we were different.  

The one question that many TCKs find difficult to answer and sometimes dread being asked is “Where are you from?” Most of the time, the answer to that question is a long one. I start answering the question by explaining that I am first a Canadian and from a place that celebrates multiculturalism. My family heritage is Indian, Portuguese, Irish, Scottish, Italian, French Canadian with some other ethnicities mixed in.  I was born in Calgary, where I spoke French and then we moved to Bangkok, Thailand where I spent many of my formative years. This provides me with several different “Faces”: Indian, Italian, French and Portuguese.

Anytime there is free flow champagne or mimosa's, I am there! At the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, the Overlook Grill has just that.  Bubbles and Brunch has free flow champagne or mimosa's.  

I wish I could relive this meal right now.  When we were in Vegas at the end of June, we had a wonderful experience with truly exceptional service.  Our server went above and beyond to ensure that our meal was everything we were hoping for it to be and more.  I thought that Bubbles and Brunch stated at 11am, when it actually started at 12pm.  It wasn't an issue because the chef and staff offered for us to still order off of the brunch menu! We were so thankful that they did, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to try the wonderful brunch menu.  

I had mixed feelings about what the reality of Vegas was going to be because of what I heard from friends and family, and of course, what I have seen in movies.  I can say that I was surprised to have enjoyed my time there so much.  The over indulgent, crazy, fake, and over the top place, I imagined, was all those things...but the perfect dose of each, making it the perfect place for a vacation for Sid and I. 

I can't wait to for my Vegas trip!  Sid and I are heading there soon and are looking for advice of the best things to do, see, eat, shop and eat!  

Here are a few things on my list but would love suggestions: 
- In-N-Out Burger 
- Valley of Fire 
- Neon Museum 

Those are the main things I have right now.   

Leave a comment with suggestions and I will share my FIRST experience in Vegas as it happens!  

Best, 

MJ 

I love farmers' markets.  There is a great energy with a variety of vendors and shoppers. Since 2009, I have been going to the Kapiolani Community College (KCC) Saturday morning farmers' market.  

I definitely have my go to foods that I look forward to but there are a lot of new food vendors that I am looking forward to trying.  My two favorite things to eat are served on a stick – sausage and corn.  

I attended the 12th Annual Waikiki SPAM Jam for the first time.  All I knew to expect was a lot of SPAM.  It was exciting to see that there were 20 restaurants and several food trucks participating in this year’s event and celebrating something that is an essential element of living in Hawaii, SPAM. It was a revelation to see what creative and spam-tastic dishes they were serving.  There were over 60 SPAM inspired dishes served.  Definitely something for everyone to indulge in.  

The SPAM Jam started around 4pm and Kalakaua Ave. was already filling with people at 3:30pm.  There was this great energy with people dressed in their SPAM gear.

What is home?

Since this is the Nomad Perspective…let’s talk about what makes home, home. 

If you asked me when I was 11 where home was, I very confidently would have replied, Calgary and more importantly, my house on Chatham Place.  At that time there was no doubt in my mind that I would live there until university.  So, when my family and I moved to the other side of the world, to a strange, unfamiliar place, Bangkok, Thailand, I started to question where home was.  Could Calgary still be my home even though I didn’t live on Chatham Place? 

Well, now that I am older (no need to specify how much older), I can say that I feel that I have many homes.  Can we have more than one home?  Is the only place we can call home, the place where our permanent address is?

There is that saying, “Home is where the heart is”.  Well based on that, my heart is in many different places.  I have family that live all over the world and I feel that my heart is also with them.  Parents in one time zone, a brother in another and then other family members scattered about.  I feel at home at my parents place in Thailand.  I feel at home in my hometown, Calgary, Alberta, and I feel at home in Honolulu, HI.  I also feel at home in Hilo, HI. 

I have moved houses, cities and countries many times.  Moved houses in the same city more than three times, in 5 years!  

I have learned how to not become attached to “things”, instead to focus on the intangibles, what I cannot see and touch, the things that I can feel and remember.  “Things” unfortunately get lost when you move around so much and a lot of the time there isn’t enough space to take all of the “things” with you, but that is not what is important.  This is not to say that I do not have “things” or don’t like “things” because I very much like “things” (shoes, bags, books) but it is much easier for me to part with them. 

At the end of the day, I feel that home is a place/environment where I have a connection with the place, with the people, with the culture – including food and history, and is where I feel comfortable and happy!  This sense of home, at this point in my life, is not associated with a specific structure but rather with the emotions and the memories created. 

What is your definition of home? 

Best, 

MJ

When a man loves a woman, he builds a magnificent building in memory of her! If there has ever to be any symbol of love, the Taj Mahal is it.  (Sorry to all the men out there, nothing will prove love quite like this!) 

The second I arrived in Delhi, I started to feel overwhelmed with the history and culture (and smells) of India.  As a mixed up, I mean of mixed heritage (Canadian, Indian, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Scottish), going to India, seeing where my mom grew up was very exciting and helped me better understand all of her wonderful stories.

This was my brother's and my first trip to India.  We had to go see the Taj Mahal.  So from Delhi we took a van to Agra, a ride that was definitely intriguing with dancing bears and some close calls with other vehicles along the way.   

Once we arrived at the Taj Mahal site, it was busy with people and vehicles.  The moment when I walked up to threshold (the main, southern gate), where I caught my first glimpse of the absolutely magnificent structure, everything went silent. I was mesmerized by its sheer beauty and size.  I had seen pictures, however, the scale of the white marble mausoleum was breath taking. 

As if it wasn't enough to just be able to admire the Taj Mahal from afar, but to touch and feel the cold white marble transported me into a dream where this would be my palace!  Up close the workmanship was perfection.