Planning a European city break? I bet you immediately think of London. Or maybe Paris. Or possibly Rome. Maybe your mind drifts to Amsterdam, or perhaps Vienna or Prague or…
Peace Corps Wishlist: The Top 3 Practical Things I Wish I Had as a Volunteer
Pulling water from this well every time I wanted to bathe made me much less likely to want to spend two buckets on washing my hair. Image by Samantha Marangell….
5 Reasons to Train for a Marathon During the Winter
The frosty outdoor run…Â Image from www.sdri.net As winter both attacks and teases Boston, I find myself hibernating like a spoiled Californian. But when I think about it, I was so…
Returning Home: Reverse Culture Shock
Returning from Peace Corps service left Samantha split between two cultures: American and Moldovan. Image from cabincrewdreamer.blogspot.com. I totally underestimated what it would feel like to move back to a…
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…
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…
Some Love for Eastern Europe
I attended the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida annual picnic last weekend. When the group’s president asked for Returned Volunteers (RPCVs) to stand based on the region…
Bathtubs Telling Stories
. . . Bathing is a variable characteristic of any travel experience. From Turkish baths to mud baths, bathing styles (not just the frequency) can both describe a culture and…