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Moving Across the Country (2): Mess with Texas

May 11, 2019May 11, 2019 First Person ForeignBlank Slate

Driving across East Texas mile marker after mile marker and being hosted by friendly strangers

Moving Across the Country (1) | Atlanta to Marshall, Texas

May 8, 2019May 8, 2019 First Person ForeignBlank Slate

Since yesterday I’ve been nervous. A pit in my stomach and a glob of feelings in my throat. On my last official day in Atlanta, I had to get my tires rotated, finish packing my[…]

TOURING GUATEMALA: Night Bus to Flores, I’m an RPCV and I’ll cry if I want to

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

NIGHT BUS TO FLORES: When Amanda and I left on the night bus, we grabbed some street beans “amoebeans” we called them, and myself with chao mein on styrofoam plates. Local AF. I couldn’t believe[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): Despedida Lunch and Hiking a Volcano Through The Night (Never Again)

April 8, 2019April 8, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

I moved out of site on Wednesday. The last hour was the most horrible, a weeping host family, heavy bags and an honorable Lic. Enrique (the educational superintendent) who picked me up in his red[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): Saturday is for San Marcos, Sleuth Shopping and Sleepovers

March 4, 2019March 4, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

Listen, I’m proud to say, I’ve never been to San Marcos La Laguna. I’ve heard it’s a hippie nightmare (not a nightmare for hippies, a nightmare of hippies) and, if I had gone there looking[…]

Hi-Lo 10: Project Framework & Shift

January 16, 2019January 16, 2019 First Person ForeignAbuelita

This week marks an exciting undertaking which is the PROJECT FRAMEWORK REVISION for Youth in Development. Basically, each Peace Corps project has a ‘logic project framework’ or in Spanish marco de trabajo that defines our project goals and[…]

My Weekend with Brócoli

October 17, 2018October 17, 2018 First Person ForeignBlank Slate

On this quiet Sunday afternoon, I was sandwiched squarely between an older, sleeping man and a younger woman in bright coral and pink traje with plastic beading shouting across the neckline. I don’t love this[…]

Maestra de Inglés

September 15, 2018September 15, 2018 First Person ForeignBeauty

Maestra de Inglés, English teacher. I’ve always wondered if the word Maestra and Master are related. Either way, I’ve never had such a title. When I gave a diplomado in early 2018, I wanted to[…]

First Time Back | A Peace Corps’ Brain on Fire

August 12, 2017August 27, 2017 First Person ForeignBlank Slate

On July 1, my cousin got married. After 9 months outside the US of A, I was returning for 5 days. In late March I bit the bullet and bought the ticket from Guatemala to[…]

High Fives! Six Month Anniversary in Peace Corps

June 10, 2017June 10, 2017 First Person ForeignBeauty

HIGH FIVES WE DID IT. You and me, 6 months! You know the moment in School of Rock when Jack Black high fives all his students and runs out of the school before they’ve even[…]