Tag: united states

How to Get/Renew a US Passport Fast

Posted on March 3, 2023October 22, 2023 by Keane Li

I recently went through the nightmare of needing to renew my United States passport before an international trip. If you’re here, you may be in a similar situation in that you need to get or renew a US passport as quickly as possible. I was able to get an in-person appointment at the passport office within a week, but the process was definitely stressful. To save you from some of the pain, allow me to share some tips and tricks on how to get or renew a US passport fast.

Continue reading →

The Bamboo Brothers – A Story of the Chinese Who Connected America

Posted on October 6, 2022May 24, 2024 by Keane Li

Recognize the image below? This famous photograph immortalizes the Golden Spike Ceremony at Promontory Summit, taken shortly after the joining of the first transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. It was perhaps the greatest engineering feat of its time, yet absent from this image are any of the 15,000 Chinese railmen who helped make it possible.

Continue reading →

Photos from the 2019 San Francisco Pride Parade

Posted on July 2, 2019August 29, 2023 by Keane Li

Is there a more beautiful parade than the Pride Parade? Not likely. This celebration of love and inclusiveness brings out friendly people, vibrant color, and, apparently, wonderful weather. Music, dancing and endless amounts of smiling faces make up this parade lasting around six hours or longer.

Continue reading →

Exploring Colonial History in New England and Canada

Posted on September 5, 2018February 15, 2022 by Keane Li

It was likely Esther Forbes’ Johnny Tremain that turned me into a Revolutionary War-era nerd when I was in elementary school. Something about the patriotism and the coming-of-age, call-to-adventure nature of this old-school YA book made this gem of historical fiction resonate with me.

Continue reading “Exploring Colonial History in New England and Canada” →

New Orleans on a Budget – Free Guides, Cheap Eats & Live Music

Posted on June 8, 2017June 9, 2017 by Keane Li

New Orleans is arguably the most unique city in the United States.

Settled by the French, ceded to the Spanish, turned back over to the French and eventually sold by Napoleon to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, one can get a sense of the city’s diverse background from the change in management alone. Add upon this the culture brought over by the enslaved Africans and the influence of the Native Americans and Caribbeans, and you’ve got Creole, a stew of diverse ingredients not unlike the city’s beloved gumbo.

Continue reading “New Orleans on a Budget – Free Guides, Cheap Eats & Live Music” →