Un Poquito de Todo (Argentina)

The Totally Random Let's kick off this post with random observations I've had while in Argentina. People here love to clap. Put a few Argentinians together in a group and they will find something to applaud. I appreciate being somewhere air conditioning is used to a normal level and not to turn indoors into winter. … Continue reading Un Poquito de Todo (Argentina)

Un Poquito de Todo (Ecuador)

Now that I've been in Argentina for a few weeks, it's time to wrap up the Ecuador posts with a few last thoughts and impressions. People People in Ecuador are so, so, so friendly. It's kind of impossible not to feel good in this country when everyone around you is so nice all the time. … Continue reading Un Poquito de Todo (Ecuador)

Sixteen Things for Sixteen Years

Did you know that Montenegro (tied with Serbia) is the world's third most recent sovereign nation? Montenegro split off by a referendum in which 55.5 percent of people voted for independence. The threshold to approve was 55 percent. As you might imagine, people still hold many strong feelings about this decision on both sides of … Continue reading Sixteen Things for Sixteen Years

Being Dog’s Best Friend

When I was 21, I spent five months living in India. It was only the second foreign country I had ever been to, and the first was Australia, which didn't really prepare me for what I was about to encounter. The conditions people existed in—both their own physical bodies and the environment around them—were horrific. … Continue reading Being Dog’s Best Friend

Struggles of the Wannabe Grammar Police

On my neighborhood Nextdoor site, I recently saw a post about a lost dog that was found. In response, one person wrote, "Glad this tale/tail has a happy ending." I started to roll my eyes at her seemingly unnecessary decision to clarify that she was making a pun, but then I stopped. The truth is, I … Continue reading Struggles of the Wannabe Grammar Police

Sanctuary 2.0: It’s Never Too Late

I could have called this post Christmas miracles, but that would be hyperbolic and hokey. I mean, it's not like I found a Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun under my non-existent Christmas tree this morning. However, two unexpected events at the Little House on the Prairie have really made this month even lovelier than planned. … Continue reading Sanctuary 2.0: It’s Never Too Late

Say What? Edition 4: Thoughts From Italy

A collection of random linguistically-related thoughts that popped into my head while in Italy four weeks ago. ******************** Language can provide anonymity in a crowd. One of my biggest linguistic pleasures when in Europe is hearing half a dozen languages spoken around me at any one time. I enjoy it partly because you feel a … Continue reading Say What? Edition 4: Thoughts From Italy