I read a lot, which is not the same as being worldly. Rather than read the books of global citizens, I decided I’d talk to them directly, which is one less degree of separation. Thus, the Vicarious Globetrotter was born.

These are mid-length pieces, each of which covers a dinner conversation with a Yale international student. So far, I’ve taken secondhand journeys to Australia, Poland, Sweden, Dubai, Ghana, and India (twice). Three of these have been written up; Sweden will soon follow. Enjoy!

Monsoons, crazy mayors, and the Indian intelligentsia: A conversation with Shalmoli Halder of Calcutta

Australian accents, Tall Poppy Syndrome, and the best places to bury bodies: A conversation with Madeleine Barrow of Melbourne

Competitive theater, the Catholic Church, and BDSM jokes: A conversation with Olga Karnas of Bochnia, Poland