How do I use this toilet? Where’s the peanut butter? And what the heck are they saying about me?A book review of Ni Howdy! by Desi Downey I think all expats ask these questions in the beginning.  In Belize, I had an outhouse, the worst toilet I’ve ever had. Even European toilets have their weird [...]

Overlooked Ways to Learn or Practice a Foreign LanguageI’ve always been interested in languages, but in my travels (specifically Belize, France, and Germany) I’ve had to learn some basic Spanish, French, and German to just go to the store and to do the everyday things like take the bus or order a pizza. I’m not [...]

The Chicken Burrito Incident or Which One Of These Does Not Belong In Canada?I knew better.  I really did.  And I thought he knew better.  So when my husband asked me to put his half-eaten chicken burrito hot pocket thing in my backpack on our Air Canada flight just before we got off, I gave [...]

10 Reasons To Be Thankful You’re An ExpatIf you’re an American expat, and away from the extended family you’re used to celebrating the holidays with, this time of the year, through Christmas, can really be a bummer.  In some countries you may not be able to find the foods and decorations you’re used to.  And [...]

Memories of ArkansasSome of my best memories are in the backdrop of the natural beauty of Arkansas, especially its parks: Lake Dardanelle, the lodge at Mount Magazine, taking every single out-of-state visitor up Mount Nebo, the little local park at Piney Bay, near where we used to live.  Hours and hours of fishing, family picnics, [...]

The Trans-Canadian Adventure: Or Three Broke Wannabes in a Greyhound BusAlmost two years ago, I was sitting in the basement of my mother-in-law’s house in Germany, discussing with my husband which country we should try next. US – can’t go there (that’s why we were in Germany) Belize – too hot. And other issues. Stay [...]

Setting Down Your RootsHappy Garifuna Settlement Day!  What is that, you ask?  Well, if you’re in Belize around this time of year you’ll be hearing all about it.  Especially if you’re in an area with lots of Garifuna people, one of the major ethnic groups in Belize.  Garifunas are also known as Black Caribs, and [...]

What Country Are We In?I haven’t written anything in the last few days (bad me, I know), because our ship finally came in and I got to go shopping. Woo hoo! Not clothes shopping, or shoe shopping. Just good old grocery shopping. But that’s a blessed thing, because we were mighty low on everything. And [...]

10 Things I Miss About Arkansas1. Stores being open 24/7 so I can miss the rush and go out at 2 AM to buy groceries and go Christmas shopping 2. Cheetos – France has a peanut version and some decent cheese puff things but nothing like Cheetos puffs. 3. Cheap peanut butter!  There are walls [...]

15 Things I Love About WWOOFing!1. Free rent! 2. Being able to support organic farming and the little guy 3. Meeting new friends around the world 4. Eating grass fed beef, organic heritage apples, free range eggs, and fresh garden vegetables for free 5. Knowing I have a place to stay in an emergency 6. [...]