The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day was #BeBoldForChange. I think it’s an amazing thing to instigate change, but let’s be honest: most people can’t be bothered. It’s much…
When Talk Is Cheap: How Travelers Can Fight Hate
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness…. — Mark Twain I’ve seen this quote everywhere, but it has never felt very convincing to me. As most of the West…
Breaking with Etiquette: How to Talk Politics While Travelling
Don’t be scared; discuss! Image courtesy of Delia Harrington. Polite society says we shouldn’t talk about religion, politics, or money. As someone who is fascinated by all three topics, I…
The Women’s Rights Movement in 2015: New Year, New Agenda?
Will 2015 be a year of celebration for the women’s rights movement? Image from Pixabay. It’s the beginning of a new year for many people around the world, and the…
Guinea-Bissau: a Country Profile
It is going on a week now (two by the time this goes live) that I have been living in Guinea-Bissau. Between inspiration, amazement, loneliness and excitement, I believe I…
Heard ‘Round the World
In the Peace Corps, we are not supposed to discuss politics. Not local ones, not ones back home. In the most neutral of times at my site in Barranquilla, Colombia,…
You Don’t Get to Tell Me How I Feel
The same-sex marriage/civil union/domestic partnership kerfluffle that’s been rocking the U.S. lately has been dredging up the good, the bad, and the ugly in a lot of social discourse. President…
Politics, Politics, Politics
Dia ar sábháil! Since my article a few weeks back about vaginal protests and politicians attempting to legislate idiocy, very few things have changed. We have some victories- such as…
What to bring away from Kony2012
It’s been roughly two weeks since Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 campaign and video went viral. The video has sparked a flurry of status updates, tweets, articles, and video responses. (see see here,…
In Flux
As the last beads clattered to the sidewalks in New Orleans in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, millions of Catholics woke up and began their forty-day celebration of Lent….
New Year’s in Beograd
Belgrade is a smoker’s paradise. The first thing you notice when you touch down in the Nikola Tesla airport is the smell of stale cigarette smoke. In shops, a pack…
Learning the Contrasts of Italy
For much of this past month, I have been living the clichés of la dolce vita: waking up late, practicing Italian when the spirit moves me, seconds and thirds of…
Changing
A Go Girl wants to travel, is traveling, has traveled. A Go Girl wants to see different places, is and has. And a Go Girl wants to see change. I…
In and Out of Place
Things to know about me: I love eating outside. I used to row in high school and college and miss it dearly. My favorite color is yellow. Ice cream is…
Your Boyfriend's Calling
By Beth It’s 10pm on a Saturday night in São Tomé and I get a phone call. I don’t recognize the number but I think it might be my boyfriend,…