“Why?”
“All you Americans ask ‘why’ all the time.” Assem’s simple comment caught me by surprise. And it taught me a lot. I began to notice the many times I did indeed ask “why?” But, more than … Read More
Gift Giving
Here’s another of my many Deleted Scenes (they are growing weekly, as I continue to fine tune my manuscript). This one features two of my colleagues, Gulzhahan and Gulzhan. Their names are so similar, my readers often get confused. … Read More
How Different Cultures View Intellectual Struggle
In honor of a new school year starting, I wanted to share this recent audio post from NPR. This “Your Health” segment first aired on November 12, 2012, but was replayed this year on Labor Day Monday. It’s … Read More
Recipe: Mother-in-law tongue
My friend Abby once suggested that I add recipes from my time in Kazakhstan to my blog. “Everyone loves recipes,” she told me. A popular potluck dish has been on my mind lately, perhaps because the omnipresent eggplant has … Read More
“Ya hachoo Pasha”
Embarrassing moments. How they make us laugh — eventually. Such was the following scene that happened during my first few months in Kazakhstan, long before the language took root. This story — written for my memoir, At Home On the … Read More
Disappointment
“Wherever we go,” I’d declared to Woody at the start of our Peace Corps application process, “I want a nice beach, friendly bugs, and a good mattress.” I figured I could make friends for America without having to suffer. … Read More
My Gutsy Story Guest Post
Just a quick note to let you know I’ve got a guest blog out on Sonia Marsh’s Gutsy Living website http://soniamarsh.com/home/blog Called, Leaving A Life I Loved: When the Peace Corps Beckoned, it gives a bit more … Read More
My Bubble Bath
Survey results are in and most respondents want more deleted scenes from my book, At Home On the Kazakh Steppe. Many also want more substantive information on Kazakhstan. A few mentioned photos, and one suggested I post more regularly. Thanks … Read More