Rubbing two sticks together to make a fire. It's a familiar cliché from kids' movies and melodramatic survival stories. It's also a skill I've come close to perfecting. Specifically, making a fire by "bowdrilling," which involves a piece of parachute chord, a heavy, curved stick, two more pieces of wood and a lot of skill. I learned to bowdrill in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, surrounded by trees and people I love. While it's unlikely I'll be in a...

I grew up in New York City and have met people from all around the world here. I have also spent a lot of time away at school and whenever I'm home I am always awed by the simple exchanges that take place on the city streets. I'm thrilled when a tourist approaches me for directions and I recognize a French or Israeli accent and have a chance to practice my linguistic skills and offer help in his or her...