Here Goes Something

Week Five: A Clearing

November 6, 2016November 7, 2016 First Person ForeignBeauty

It takes five weeks for an embryo to look like this: Yep, that’s right, a weird ass octopus the size of a sesame seed. At five weeks “You may notice some pregnancy-related discomforts already. Many[…]

The Beginning: Week One In Guatemala

October 16, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

Genesis 1:1: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. In the beginning (anew), I moved to Guatemala. I remember when I started my big Euroventure and I also had no idea what[…]

Language Class, 7th day in Guatemala

October 5, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignBlank Slate

My first week in Guatemala! Bailamos! I stood over the pila tonight, brushing my teeth and wondering about my 20s and how I got to 30. It’s the stuff you shouldn’t think about when you’re[…]

Sick. 6th Day in Guaté, 7th Day in Peace Corps

October 5, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignBlank Slate

Well it wasn’t before long that I was in the infirmary, laying on a bed of Guatemalan textiles, crying. I had my first in-country cry, and that was about Nana. This was my first in-country-WTF-cry*.[…]

My First Night with the Host Family: Day 5 of Peace Corps

October 2, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

The courtyard was vibrant with mid-morning sun. The hydrangeas/hortensias were calm, but every other living thing was excited, nervous, on edge. Maybe even scared. Our group entered the courtyard of Peace Corps Headquarters, anxiously scanning[…]

Rehydration Salts: Day Three in Country, Day Four in Peace Corps

October 2, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

We started the day with our first language lessons. All the language teachers lined up to call out our names at the front of Salon Quetzal. A friendly man named Eduardo called my name and we[…]

Bienvenidos, Day Two: Training

October 1, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

We get to the lobby at 3:30am and get on the bus at 4. We arrive to the airport by 5. Apparently the driver got lost and Gladys had to tell him where to go.. It[…]

WATCHING, WRINKLED | Day One: Staging

September 30, 2016 First Person ForeignChanges

WATCHING AND WRINKLED. 10:32pm That Night: At the end of Day One in the Peace Corps AKA Staging, I ironed my teal shirt. In real life I don’t iron. But It’s my last night in America.[…]

“Alaska, You’re the Best Kind of Breaking My Heart!”

September 28, 2016September 28, 2016 First Person ForeignAlaska

I’m going to tell you something about Ketchikan that no one knows: the clouds are drippy faucets in clever marshmallow costumes. A few years ago I fell in love with John Green. He writes Youth[…]

Preparing to Go, How I Leave Ketchikan.

September 27, 2016September 27, 2016 First Person ForeignAlaska

Guess what I learned? You can’t be sad about leaving a place you love while you’re still there loving it. Try as you might. That don’t make no sense. My Last Day, Sunday September 18[…]