Deluxe Printed Edition! More Pages, More pictures, More Stories than the E-Book!
From Bhutan’s silent temple walls to Kathmandu’s vibrant, mural-covered streets—this book is a journey into one of Asia’s most dynamic urban art scenes.
For over two decades, I have wandered cities around the world, camera in hand, listening to the stories painted on their walls. After a year in Bhutan, where murals are sacred and hidden from lenses, I moved to Kathmandu for the summer of 2025—a city alive with color, protest, and imagination.
Kathmandu (Street Art) Calling: From Prayer Flags to Spray Cans is both visual archive and personal travelogue. Through authentic photography and immersive storytelling, my new book explores:
The evolution of Nepal’s street art from political protest to contemporary expression
Mural-rich neighborhoods like Patan, Thamel, Bouddha, and Lazimpat
Themes of spirituality, feminism, social justice, mythology, and migration
The techniques, textures, and impermanence of Kathmandu’s living walls
My raw process of ethical, unstaged street art documentation
Featuring dozens of original photographs taken in public spaces—with deep respect for both named and anonymous artists—this book captures a fleeting moment in Kathmandu’s visual history.
More than a guide or photo collection, Kathmandu (Street Art) Calling is a love letter to urban art and its ability to transcend borders, amplify unheard voices, and remind us that the walls of every city are already speaking.
I wanted to take a moment to share something meaningful that’s been quietly unfolding over the past year. Before coming to Bhutan, I made a personal commitment to write more—seriously, purposefully, and with intention. That commitment has grown into something larger than I ever imagined: a 6-book series on ethical, practical, and inspiring uses of AI in education.
The topic itself didn’t fully take shape until about ten months ago, when a clear need revealed itself—on both sides of the classroom. Students were using AI with little guidance. Teachers were unsure how to respond, or how to integrate these new tools meaningfully. What emerged was a shared need for honest, practical, and hopeful education about AI—something that could empower rather than overwhelm.
Here’s the full series, in the order it’s been written: 1. Using AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch: A Practical Guide for Students and Teachers 2. Teaching Prompting for Generative AI: A Practical Guide for Students and Teachers 3. Beyond the Basics: Embedding AI Across the Curriculum 4. Students Who Think for Themselves: Cultivating Independent Thought in an AI World 5. The AI-Ready Teacher: A Professional Growth Guide 6. The Human Side of the Screen: Reclaiming Connection in the Age of AI
Book One is getting a lot of attention, and I’m incredibly grateful for the warm reception it’s received so far. Your support and encouragement have meant a lot—and it’s reminded me how powerful it can be when we work together to navigate new terrain with thoughtfulness, care, and creativity.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Warmly, Jackie
✍️ from Thimphu, 🇧🇹 soon to be ✈️ 🧳 🎒 to🇳🇵 Spring 2025 ☮️ 🙏
Back in 1982, I wanted a pair of Nike Cortez more than almost anything. They were $23 at the time ($76 in 2025, with inflation) —just out of reach. My mom couldn’t afford them, no matter how much I hinted or stared at them in the store window. And I understood. We didn’t have extra. We had enough, barely. But not for shoes that cost that much, not when there were more important things to cover. Still, it stung.
At that age, not getting something like that doesn’t just feel like disappointment—it feels like a verdict. Like proof that you’re poor. That you’re different. That maybe life isn’t going to offer you the same chances.
And now? I have them. I finally bought myself a pair. Not to show off. Not because I needed them. But because I wanted to reach back and take that 1982 version of me by the hand. To tell that kid: You kept going. And look where you are now.
Those shoes are more than sneakers. They’re a quiet celebration. A full-circle moment. A symbol of how far I’ve come.
But I’m not done. I’ll never be done. I’ve still got a long way to go. And every time I lace them up, I remember where I started—and how hard the road was just to get here.
Writing from Thimphu, Bhutan, currently serving as a writing professor at the local college.
New Book Release: Using AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
Why I Wrote It, Who It’s For, and What Comes Next
I’m excited (and a little awed) to announce the release of my new book: Using AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch: A Practical Guide for Students and Teachers.
This book didn’t come from a trend. It came from a classroom. From conversations with students who were both fascinated and overwhelmed by the possibilities of generative AI. From fellow teachers asking: How do we keep integrity alive in the age of ChatGPT? From countless moments where I saw potential—but also pitfalls—in how AI was being used in education.
The Journey
This began as a few notes for my students and colleagues here in Bhutan. A practical guide to using ChatGPT responsibly. But as the weeks went on, those notes grew into something bigger: a framework, a toolkit, a manifesto of sorts.
I’ve always believed education is a shared space—dynamic, curious, ethical. And like any new tool, AI can either enrich that space… or flatten it. The difference lies in how we use it. That’s the heart of this book.
The Why
Because we need more than rules. We need reflection. We need resources that don’t shame or restrict, but guide and empower.
Too often, AI is framed as something to fear or ban in the classroom. But that’s a short-sighted approach. What students and teachers really need is a philosophy of use—how to wield this tool with curiosity, clarity, and care. That’s what this book offers.
The What
Inside, you’ll find:
Clear chapters for students and teachers alike
Practical prompts, templates, and classroom ideas
Guidance on ethical use, academic honesty, and critical thinking
Chapters on how to write with AI, revise with AI, and teach prompting as a literacy
Reflections on metacognition, bias, and responsible collaboration
It’s built for real classrooms and real people—not just policy makers or tech insiders. Whether you’re a student trying to improve your essay-writing process, or a teacher looking to integrate AI meaningfully into lessons, this book has something for you.
The What For
This book is part of a larger conversation. One that says: AI is here. Let’s teach with it. Let’s learn with it. But let’s not lose ourselves to it.
Let’s remind ourselves—and our students—that thinking still matters. Creativity still matters. Human judgment, human voice, human curiosity… still matter.
That’s why it’s not called Using AI Instead of Thinking. It’s Using AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch.
Where to Find It
The book is now available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0N9D0ra . If you’re interested in teaching it, hosting a workshop, or just want to share your thoughts, reach out. I’d love to connect.
And if you’ve read it already—thank you. Your feedback means the world. This journey isn’t over. In fact, it’s just the beginning.
— Here’s to a future where tools make us better thinkers, not lazier ones. Here’s to teaching, learning, and adapting—with integrity.
16JULY24 – If I didn’t think there could be a worse experience than at JFK on the 13th, when I was kicked out of the boarding line due to American Airlines’ staff not communicating effectively, I was fooling myself. It could get worse. People could get worse.
On Monday the 15th, I was finally able to fly out of JFK at 8:45pm. This would put me in New Delhi at 9:00pm on Tuesday the 16th. Upon arriving at the transfer desk in Delhi, I could see various issues arising with other passengers from other flights that just arrived. I’m not the only one with transfer/visa issues. In times like those, misery really does love company. You feel less alone and it does something to one’s spirit when one realizes “my problem isn’t that bad.” It’s a survival instinct, I guess. So, I was helping to give advice to others about some things I had learned about transit visas needed in New Delhi. It made me feel better.
When my turn finally came with a lady, maybe her name was ‘Diwandali,’ or something. I’m sure it’s spelled wrong. She explained that the airline I am flying, Bhutan Airlines, will not have staff available to issue boarding passes for my connecting flight to Paro, Bhutan that evening, that I’d have to wait until the next morning at around 7am for the staff to arrive to check me in. There’s only one flight a day at 10:55am, so that made sense. I have never had any problems sleeping in an airport. So, I thanked her and went to the transfer area. I sat down and fiddled around with my bag and then out of nowhere, a lady in an orange blazer came up to me and asked “Bhutan Air?” A little confused, I replied, “Yes.” She says, “Bhutan Air staff are coming in 30 minutes to check you in, you can go.” “But, I was told they won’t be here until tomorrow morning, so I’m supposed to hang out here.” “No. You can go.” So, I got up, more confused, and returned to the transfer desk. I saw ‘Diwandali’ and I asked her “Is Bhutan Air really coming tonight?” She replies “No! I told you not until tomorrow!” I back up a bit and say, “I’m not asking for me, I’m asking because some woman in an orange blazer told me they were coming! I didn’t think it sounded right, but what was I supposed to do? That’s why I’m asking you now for clarification.” “No, they are not coming.” “Great, then I wonder why she said such a thing.” Then I saw her from afar, and I said “That’s her! Ask her!” So, a male staff member came with me and he went up to her and asked her and she denied ever seeing me, ever saying that (it was surreal!) and so he came back to me and said “My colleague said she didn’t say that.” “Ok, but I’m telling you she did. Why would I make this up? Seriously, tell me. Is this cultural? Is there something about wanting to make people feel better or something, so you lie to them and give them false hope?” “I don’t know anything about that cultural characteristic, ma’am.” “Ok. This is insane. Never mind.” Shaking my head in disbelief until it’s about to fall off.
I go back to the transfer area and try to get comfortable for the long night. Then (!) a man with a goatee comes up to me and says “Ma’am, Bhutan Air is coming tonight, in about a half an hour to check you in and then you can go to the gates where you will be more comfortable.” “But, I was already told that they won’t be coming until tomorrow morning, which I’m fine with.” “No, ma’am, you will be more comfortable,” and he walked me out of the transfer area to specifically point to a woman whom he said had called them and they are coming in 30 minutes. Really confused now, I guess I have to listen to staff, so I go back to the transfer desk, start taking my bags apart because security needs a lot of stuff to be put in trays. Then I see ‘Diwandali’ again and tell her what is happening and again, she said “No, they are not coming!” So, I see the guy and he’s coming our way and I say “That’s him! Ask him!” They ask him and I shit you not, he says, right in front of me, “When was this Ma’am?” “What do you mean when was this?” “Ma’am, I never said anything to you, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Oh my God, are you joking? What is happening?! Why are you denying this?! You came up to me and told me all of that and you know you did! This is INSANE!” “Ma’am, if I came to you…” “Stop with the IF! You KNOW you did! Why are you lying and denying? What is going on?! Seriously, this is sick!” “Ma’am, I’m sorry, I never spoke to you.” “Oh my God, WHY are you doing this?! This is insane!” He kept trying to talk and I said “Stop! I don’t want to hear your lies, you’ve got something seriously wrong with you!” Then I asked everyone, “Do you have security cameras in that area? I’m sure you do. Let’s check them and you can all see that they BOTH came up to me! Freaking denying they’ve ever seen me?! This is insane! What is wrong with you?!” So, he left, and I asked them, “Who is the head of security? Who can I talk to for the camera footage?” They told me to go to the soldiers in the transfer area. One was the woman who had been snickering with the lady in the orange blazer earlier, so I know she saw both interactions. She acted stupid, had the grossest shit-eating grin on her face, and pretended to listen to me, but I could tell she was never going to help me. She eventually said “Sit down over there, I will call someone.” So, I sat down and waited and then it was like 3:30am by that time, so I went over to one of the lounge chairs to have a nap. When I woke up, I went back to the woman and asked if anyone was coming. She replied, “No one is coming.” Of course, I wasn’t surprised. Another lie from New Delhi staff, a staff of which was clearly in kahoots with each other. It was a no-win situation and basically I realized those three are just horrible people and their lives must be miserable in and out of work, so I handed it over to karma. It will get them. Of that, I have no doubt. Horrible people.
Feeling so gaslit and frustrated, and sad, really for how awful humans can be…I went over to charge my phone and a woman sitting down asked me how I was doing. I sat down and talked to her and before we knew it, it was time for me to go back to the transfer desk. It was already that time in the morning. She is Bangladeshi and she was literally a godsend at the time. Exactly what I needed in order to feel good about humanity once again. She invited me to visit her in Bangladesh any time. So, I made a friend for life in those twilight hours. Knowing that I was heading to Bhutan, inshallah, she said “Don’t worry. Once you get to Bhutan, you will instantly forget about New Delhi.”
And, she was right.
Photograph taken of “Buddha Point” from a taxi window. 18July24
The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Get to Bhutan
All stoked to head out into my next great adventure – leaving New York City for Thimphu, Bhutan, to live for at least a year to be a Professor of Creative and Prose Writing and Language at Royal Thimphu College.
I thought I had all of my ducks in a row, I’ve been traveling hardcore as a nomad for 21 years, there is rarely something that pops up that I haven’t encountered before. Then. New Delhi comes up. I was flying out of JFK, stopping over in New Delhi, India, and then venturing forward to Paro, Bhutan. Supposed to be doing all of that. Instead, I get to the airport at 12:30pm for an 8:45pm flight. Yes. I like an easy check- in and security check, and, to be there if any complications should arise. First complication came fast and furiously. American Airlines asked for my visa to India. “I’m not going to India. I just have a layover there and then I am heading to Paro, Bhutan.” “You need a visa for your layover in India.” “I don’t have one. Here is my Bhutanese 1-year Work Visa.” “That doesn’t mean anything to us. You need an Indian visa to fly.”
You see, I paid for the first leg to Delhi and then the College paid for the second leg from Delhi to Paro. Difficulties arise when you have two separate tickets with different airlines for one trip. I have learned that the hard way. So, my heart began to sink slowly, as I sat on the floor and tried to apply for a visa for India. The whole time, feeling that India is riDICulous for making people do this. It was Saturday the 13th, the first thing I read on my first attempt was that the earliest I could get a visa would be on Wednesday the 17th. This meant I would certainly miss the connection to Bhutan on Monday July 15th. Freaking out, already messaging a friend to be on standby for a potential airport pickup.
Then I went over to staff and begged for assistance. “Has anyone encountered this before and can you help?” The first staff member tried to help me navigate another attempt at a visa, now learning of something called a transit visa. No luck. He then went and got another staff member who was good with computers and we made a third attempt by that point, to get a visa online. Had to upload a photo, everything…didn’t work. Tried again…had to fill out ALL of the information all over again, and then it said I had to set up a meeting with an office. The staff member was flummoxed, he had never heard of that before, and we tried yet again. Starting from scratch and doing it all over again, it still didn’t work. FIVE times. To no avail. I did have to honestly state that I had been in Pakistan in recent years and I was learning very quickly that that could be a potential problem. Maybe that is why the applications wouldn’t go through. After this fifth and final time, the staff member said “Let me go see what I can do.” He comes back and says “I’m very sorry but you have been given the wrong information from our staff. I can check you in and authorize you to travel without a visa, I just need to see your Bhutan work visa.” I felt instant relief, and as always, I had been feeling like there had to be some way that this could be worked out. He then takes my bag, checks me in, and says “You’re all set.” I was basically gliding on air with happiness, as I went through security to my gate.
Then. I got a message from my friend who is an emergency contact. His message says “American Airlines just called me and said you need to return to the ticket counter.” My initial reaction was, “Is this a prank?” He said “No, this isn’t a prank.” So I went back to the ticket counter and the staff says “Sorry, you need a visa if you check your bag in, but if you carry a bag on, you don’t need a visa. We’re very sorry, we were just reading the fine print and that’s what we have learned.” So, they gave me my suitcase back, and a staff member went with me to buy a duffel bag (an expense I didn’t need!) AND they were taking my suitcase. My beloved suitcase, peppered with stickers from the various places I have been in my life. It was really gutting and I was feeling a heavy loss from it, even though generally, I do not dwell on my possessions. My body and mind’s reaction to this surprised even me. I was sad and on the verge of tears. BUT. If this could get me to and through Delhi without a visa, I had to let it go.
So, I get the duffel, it is huge and unwieldy, so oversized, that there is extra room in it after I’ve transferred my things into it, and making it really uncomfortable to carry. So, then the staff member takes me back to security, the front of the line, and sends me back on my way to my gate. Phew. All done. Taken care of. Now, I can go. I trust the professionals.
Now, it’s time to board, I’ll be in Group 4, premium economy, so I’ll be able to carry my bag onto this overbooked, sold out flight. To get on the plane, they are doing biometrics, so you need to get your picture taken. I step up to the camera, it beeps, and a message flashes to see an agent at the counter. I go over to the counter, they are busy with so many other people, and then they finally look at me. I show them my boarding pass and let them know that I was sent over here, asking what’s going on. “How did you get this?” she asks, holding up my boarding pass. “From the ticket counter.” “You don’t have a visa. You need a visa for India.” “No, no. It all got taken care of at the ticket counter and that is why I have a carry-on now. I was told I don’t need a visa with a carry-on. Your staff has told me all of this.” “No, I am sorry, you cannot go without a visa.” “But, your staff said I can!” She passes my passport to her colleague, he looks at the boarding pass and says “This seat isn’t even available anymore.” They were so unhelpful, uncaring, and unwilling to listen to me or to even call their colleagues at the ticket counter to confirm all of this and they would not let me get on the plane. This now means that I cannot connect to that Bhutan flight scheduled for Monday July 15th and I am in so many ways screwed. Without one ounce of sympathy from the staff. They were much more interested in getting people on standby, seats. One of which, was clearly mine.
Dejected, gobsmacked, on the verge of tears, I took the walk of shame back to the ticket counter where the staff who helped me, asked “What are you doing here?” “They wouldn’t let me fly.” “Why not? You have a boarding pass. You are allowed to fly. Everything we said to you, is the rule. They were not supposed to do that.” Well, that doesn’t help me now, does it? What is going on? Staff apologized and issued me a new itinerary to try to fly out the next night, but only on the condition that I get a new Bhutan ticket as proof of final destination from Delhi…well, with a 10-hour time difference and confusion on their end as to what happened, I could not get a new ticket, so I couldn’t fly on the Sunday the 14th, either. Today, the morning of the 14th, I took an LIRR train from Ronkonkoma to Jamaica, caught the Air Train, and then saw the staff again to let them know that Bhutan did not give me a new ticket yet, can we try again for tomorrow night, Monday the 15th? This is all after I was on the phone with an unhelpful American Airlines from 8:01am – 9:58am… so that’s why physically I had to trek all the way back to the airport to try to sort the situation out. Now, they have re-issued a new itinerary for Monday the 15th departure, again, as long as I can get Bhutan to issue me a new connecting flight for Wednesday the 17th from Delhi to Paro.
So, here I wait in New York, feeling exhausted and semi-defeated, with a tightening jaw…for Bhutan, with its 10-hour time difference, to get me a new ticket by this evening, or tomorrow morning, or else I cannot fly out yet again, tomorrow night. And I can only wonder how many times American Airlines will allow me to push this non-refundable ticket to the next day and the next day…even though this is ALL of their fault. They were supposed to, by law, allow me to fly to Delhi on my original ticket on Saturday, July 13th.
Hoping for a good conclusion to this tempestuous saga…the clock is ticking.
There’s something uniquely comforting about a canned coffee for me. My appreciation for it began back in Japan in 2003, where I first encountered the iconic hot and cold cans from Boss, Georgia, and Fire. Each sip of coffee in a can now takes me back to either the chaotic motion of Tokyo or the early, still mornings of Kobe. Or, to a friend and our road trip in Moldova a lifetime ago. I went on a road trip through Moldova with one of my best friends, who is Ukrainian. We stopped at a gas station on our way to Transnistria and I remember our mutual giddiness when we came upon a couple of canned coffees in the fridge. It’s the simple things in life. Yes, I do get excited, really excited, for things in life which may seem small and valueless to others, but are priceless to me. We both excitedly started telling each other our “canned coffee origin stories.” For me, today, I’m struck at how a simple coffee in a can is able to transport me across the world and back in time. All the while sitting on a balcony under the sun in Florida in 2024. I mean, I can see us laughing in the gas station. I can see myself stopping at one of the many vending machines around Ebisu or at the one I would stop at when I was living and working in Kobe. It feels as though I am reliving those moments right now. In this chair. Is this maybe why there’s no going back? That there’s no reason to go back to a place? Instead, make the memories that will stay with you forever. If you can recall a memory so vividly, why go back?
Do you have a favorite nostalgic drink that brings back memories? Or do you have thoughts on staying in the present and not revisiting the past? Share your thoughts and stories below! ☕️💭
My entire life. Has been amazing. I sit here with absolutely nothing though, at the moment, but flashbacks. Of this life. Of Tokyo 2003, in particular. The emotion was physical. Felt the meaning of it within. A tightening. Did you know how great it was, then? How deep their smiles were? How open their hearts were? – excerpt from my future book
Graffiti is existential ~ and nostalgic ~ and can hit you in your most vulnerable spots:
Taken on a recent train trip from NYC to WPK, FL 1may2024 – Taken through a window while the train was movingLower East Side, NYC in March 2024Downtown Social, NYC, March 2024NYC, March 2024
I love a New York City (spring) evening from around 7pm onwards. The sun’s still out, the temp cools down a tad, a cool breeze hits my atmosphere and the cacophony outside decreases in frequency. The cars steadily pass my open window, the construction workers across the street wind down their days and bid farewell with all of the assurances that they’ll see each other tomorrow. Clumps of ‘chatter’ pass by intermittently on the sidewalk below. Ah, engines revving and purring in unison…
Banksy’s newest piece uses a quote from the movie, “Gladiator.” I definitely think this piece is directed towards the taggers, bombers, and haters of his residency thus far. You have a guy wiping away the paint, besmirching the image. And the line reads as something quite karmic, if you ask me. Banksy’s telling these guys (and all Banksy haters) that their destructive ways will manifest for eternity. What’s in your soul now, will be in your soul forever.
