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Category Archives: Parenting
ICELAND’S MOST POPULAR THINGS: Going to Feed Ducks
A guest blog by my daughter, R, age 6 1/2 I was with my mom and we walked to the ducks and we found lots of interesting things. And in this story, you’ll find lots of them. And if you … Continue reading
A PUSSY RIOT: Gay Pride in Iceland
I’ve tried to keep this blog clean—this is not the place for me to talk about politics or show photos of my children. My husband works for the US government and we’ve been posted to countries where they scrutinize every … Continue reading
BLUEBERRIES IN A LAVA FIELD: Early Impressions of Iceland
First I notice the earth—black boulders and small rough pebbles, volcanoes, a conical mountain, and the enormous expanse of tall, brown barren land that lays slumbering across the bay. In Iceland, the land rises and falls sharply, exposing tectonic plates, … Continue reading
Posted in expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Iceland, Motherhood, moving, Parenting, Travel
Tagged Culture Night, expat, expatriate, foreign service, Hofsos, Iceland, Iceland with children, kids, Motherhood, Parenting, Reykjavik, Sigulfjordur, travel, travel with children, Vatnses
7 Comments
HOME LEAVE
From inside the lake house I hear small waves crash against the shore and the soft patter of a light rain. My sister-in-law’s donkey, Zack, is tucked into his stable and on the counter behind me sits an over-sized bucket … Continue reading
Posted in expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Home Leave, ice, Motherhood, moving, Parenting, Summer, trailing spouse, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged career, expat, expatriate, foreign service, home leave, Iceland, kids, Lair of the Bear, Los Angeles, Michael Lewis, Motherhood, New Yorker, Parenting, Summer, trailing spouse, travel, Upper Peninsula, Vanity Fair
4 Comments
READING CHEKOV IN ANTALYA
“Both our children have scarlet fever,” I told my husband. As the sentence escaped, I too felt light-headed, as if a wind blew in beneath my feet and I were hovering a few inches above the Bukhara carpet in the … Continue reading
Posted in expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Moscow, Motherhood, moving, Parenting, Russia, snow, Spring, Travel, turkey, Winter
1 Comment
THIS ISN’T SEX IN THE BIG CITY, THIS IS LOVE IN A SMALL ROOM (ALMOST)
The ballroom of the United States ambassador’s grand residence in Moscow was dark. On the ceiling, above the ornate crown molding and the arched windows, yellow and blue geometric patterns swirled and then faded in their weak attempt at a … Continue reading
Posted in expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, snow, Spaso House, Teeth, trailing spouse, Travel, Vice President of the United States, VIP Visits, Winter
Tagged Antalya, career, dentistry, Dr. Jill Biden, expat, expatriate, foreign service, hip hop, Joe Biden, John Forte, kids, morning routine, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, snow, Spaso House, teeth, The Fugees, trailing spouse, travel, Turkey, Vice President, Winter, writing
2 Comments
DENTAL-EVAC
I know my overseas life is crazy. But needing to travel to another country simply to visit the dentist confirms that my situation has entered the realm of the absurd. The back of my mouth is killing me. Pain shoots … Continue reading
Posted in Airport, creative writing, dentistry, expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, snow, Teeth, Terrorism, trailing spouse, Winter
Tagged bomb, dentistry, domodedevo, expat, expatriate, foreign service, kids, Russia, snow, teeth, terrorism, travel, Winter
1 Comment
My Life With Monkeys
I am convinced that I live with monkeys. Take today, for example: Me: M, please sit down and eat your breakfast. M: Ooh, oohh. Aahh. Ahh. Seconds later M is standing and jumping and running up the stairs. All the … Continue reading
Posted in creative writing, expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, monkeys, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, snow, trailing spouse, Travel, Winter
Tagged expat, expatriate, foreign service, ice, kids, monkeys, morning routine, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, snow, travel, Winter
1 Comment
HOUSEWIFERY
I’ve spent the last few weeks channeling January Jones. Like the blonde bombshell on Mad Men, I donned attractive frocks, carefully placed the crudités on the coffee table and, drink in hand, presided over receptions for my husband’s colleagues and … Continue reading
Posted in creative writing, expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, trailing spouse, Travel, Winter
Tagged career, expat, expatriate, foreign service, holiday, kids, Moscow, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, trailing spouse, travel, Winter, writing
5 Comments
All About Me
My days begin with pitch-dark, five am wakeups from bright-eyed little people. Stumbling downstairs, I find our living room littered with crayons and Mr. Potato Head parts, headless Barbies, and wooden train tracks. The little people and Mr. G require … Continue reading
Posted in creative writing, expat, expatriate, Foreign Service, literary, Motherhood, Parenting, prague, Travel
Tagged career, expat, expatriate, foreign service, kids, Motherhood, Parenting, prague, travel, writing
4 Comments
