When a burst valve results in a flooded study, author Nancy King is left temporarily book-less and bereft.
All in Personal essay
Expat’s Lament
When American expat Elyn Aviva and her husband relocated to Asturias, Spain, after seven years in Catelonia, the safety net of knowing how to do things and where to go was suddenly gone and their spirits soon matched the region’s dismal winter weather.
Where are you from?
For global nomad, Bhavana Gesota, the question “Where are you from?” is not an easy one to answer. Are people asking, she wonders, where she was born? Where she lives now? Or, are they asking which passport she carries? Is there a single answer to this single question? Read on…
Travels with Rain Man
Kristine Mietzner shares the joys and challenges of travel with a disabled adult, and points toward the truth that everyone benefits from travel.
Finding My Mother in San Miguel de Allende
Only weeks after her mother’s passing, Laurie Gilberg Vander Velde traveled to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, on a previously scheduled vacation. San Miguel was also the place where twenty-four years earlier her mother had sought refuge from grief and Laurie finds memories of her mother everywhere.
Where is the Garbage?
When B.J. Stolbov travels, he sometimes find answers; other times he finds more questions. During a recent trip to Korea, he was struck by the absence of public litter which triggered this essay about what is valuable and important in a culture and for its people.
Lipstick Kisses, Chewing Gum and Terrorism in Paris
For expat Keith Digby, the tragedy of the French terrorist attacks turned unexpectedly personal during a visit to Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris' best-known resting place.
A Round-Trip Ticket to Cancerland
Having beaten breast cancer in 2004, Charmaine Coimbra now finds herself facing the unexpected and unwelcome return of cancer.
Surviving the Sonoma County Fire and How You Can Help
Early Monday morning on October 9, 2017, Katya Miller was roused from bed and evacuated from her Sonoma County home by raging wildfires. She takes you with her on her frightening journey, and tells how you can help.
Miracle On A Mountain
A transformational hike in the mountains results in a profound emotional release for Nancy King, leaving her with a lingering sense of solace and clarity that had previously proved elusive.
Fleeing Catalonia
For Elyn Aviva, an American expat living in Catalonia, the Spanish government's heavy-handed response to the October 1st Catalan independence referendum ignited a complex emotional turbulence and the decision to temporarily flee Catalonia.
Goodbye Hello: Jerry and Santa Cruz
When Jules Older received a Farewell Party invitation from a friend in Santa Cruz, California, he made the trip not only to say goodbye to an extraordinary man but also to discover the hometown that his friend so dearly loves.
A Love Story on a Wall in Toronto
A random encounter on a train to Toronto leads Melanie Kitzan to a bar in Graffiti Alley and the powerful love story of a new friend.
The Mysterious Living Aqueduct in Spain
A visit to a mineral-springs health spa in southern Spain results in a mysterious sense of relaxation and well-being for Elyn Aviva.
Opting Out of Photo Ops
Dorty Nowak has lived part-time in Paris for years, though you wouldn't know it from looking at her photo albums. She'd been too busy enjoying Paris to stop and document her life there. But now, when she thinks of the photos she wished she'd taken, she has regrets.
Never Off Duty
When an elderly woman's stumble turns disastrous on a small-ship cruise in the Galapagos Islands, Sally Moir, a nurse on vacation, suddenly finds the traveler's life in her hands. Fortunately, all ends well, but Sally is left to wonder about the line between adventure and recklessness.
India, Shopping, And The Kindness of Strangers
During a tour of India, Carolyn Handler Miller discovers that she'd accidentally left behind an important purchase. Disappointment is soon transformed to surprise and delight when a feisty stranger steps up to save the day.
Shock and Surprise in the Philippines
For American expat, BJ Stolbov, one of the most interesting and informative things about living in the Philippines is observing cultural norms. In this insightful essay, BJ reflects on Filipino attitudes about looking foolish in public, a topic which he's very familiar with.
Last Train Home
When Melanie Kitzan traveled by train to visit her dying mother, conversations with random passengers had a surprisingly powerful impact.
Journey To The Center Of The Eye
A 10-day recovery period of face-down immobility was a nasty surprise for Thomas Gump when a visit to the ophthalmologist quickly transformed into retinal eye surgery. Suddenly, the unexpected ordeal left him as dependent as a child and wondering what a life without sight might be like.