Memoir Bits
Three Critical Cautions for Newbie International Volunteers—Part III
Excitement reigns as you work through the checklist for that first overseas assignment. You learned a few phrases in the tribal language, trying to absorb everything about the new culture found in the mission brochure. To prevent some incredibly stressful moments that first year, I’m sharing these three critical cautions for newbie international volunteers—Part III. […]
What’s a Christmas in the Jungle Look Like?
As a young person spending my first Christmas in the jungle, I reckoned I could bring my American traditions to blend in with those of my new African friends. After all, everyone expressed a desire to go to the States. I wondered, what’s a Christmas in the jungle look like? Nothing could have prepared me […]
What’d a Fifties Thanksgiving Look Like?
Kids today can’t imagine life without a microwave, instant mashed potatoes and packets of turkey dressing. It’s possible to purchase a fully-cooked turkey from the store and just reheat. If going the cook-it-yourself route today, most turkeys are sealed in a bag so the cook need not pull the turkey out to baste the bird. […]
One Summer Day for African Kids
In 2007, the doors of the Samaritan House Children’s Center opened, changing the lives of dozens of underprivileged kids forever. These small gangs of preschoolers no longer roam the dirt streets in our African city, playing with detritus such as broken razor blades. For the past eight years, they and their older siblings have gone […]
Four Countries with Unforgettable Pizza Memories
Searching for the familiar when living far from home can uncover a world of gastronomic adventure. Wherever Americans and their cross-cultural friends gather for a celebratory meal, a steamy, cheese-laden pizza pie can’t be far away. The following are stories from just four countries with unforgettable pizza memories.