It is an indisputable fact that multilingualism gets my juices flowing. Forgive the naughtiness, but one of the ultimate pleasures of travel is upping the chances that I’ll run into…
Living with (More) Surprises
Do you ever feel that you’ve had to learn the same lessons repeatedly? I learn the don’t-make-promises-before-you-know-what-you’re-getting-into lesson over and over again. When it happens every time, it shouldn’t be…
Using the Wrong Accent
As I try to develop a new accent for an upcoming theater performance, I find myself in all sorts of philosophical conversations with myself about the connotation of an accent,…
Let’s Get Naked, Grandma!
Have you ever been scrubbed down by a Korean grandma–someone else’s Korean grandma? I have, and it was delightful. Perfectly painful, yet peaceful at the same time. Of course, the…
Keeping in Touch or Keeping Your Distance?
When you leave a travel destination, do you intend to stay in touch with those you’ve met while traveling? I speak not only to fellow Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), but…
Ghosts of Birthdays Past
Celebrating birthdays in a new place can lead to a host of emotions—enthusiasm, joy, freedom, anxiety, or even nostalgia. This year, it was yet another reminder of how much can…
The Posh Potty
Funny how a couple years back in America has completely altered my concept of an acceptable toilet. I’d rather utilize a hole in the ground than a mud-smothered, though tiled,…
Remembering Fall: Many Words and Miniskirts
The Florida air has chilled. While it may feel like winter elsewhere–and with devastating consequences due to two powerful storms–it is now autumn in Florida. As a California girl, fall…
Tropical “To Do” List
I may have come to terms with my temporary pause in plans to move, relocate, or travel long-term, but I still feel the need to justify the change of heart….
Can Wanderlust be Stationary?
Merriam Webster defines wanderlust as “strong longing for or impulse toward wandering.” I had long assumed that wanderlust naturally implied travel to far distances, but does it necessitate a physical…
Like I’ve Never Done Laundry Before
I started reading Shiloh with a ten-year-old who was amused that it would take Ma all day to do the laundry “back in the day.” I found this entertaining, considering…
The Slip-N-Slide Week: Bucket Bathing in the Winter
Based on an entry from winter 2007, this is one of my favorite stories from my Peace Corps service in Moldova. In conversation this week, the idea was expressed that…
Adjustments and Outhouses
As I reflect on my adaptation to Florida and how much I’ve grown this year, I know I have my Peace Corps training to thank for my flexibility. Thus, here…
Save Me, San Francisco
“Wait, are these actually hills?” my calves screamed in excitement. Why, yes, they are! San Francisco is more than just a hill-ridden city. It’s one of my favorite cities. Granted,…
Starving in Solidarity: Ramadan Fasting for Newbies
“Have you converted?” they asked me? No, ma’am. “So why are you celebrating Ramadan?” I was doing a solidarity fast in honor of Ramadan (and my own innate curiosity in…