Columnists Archives - Page 72 of 86

Healthcare in New Zealand

There’s been a lot in the news lately regarding the Supreme Court of the United States and their recent ruling on President Obama’s healthcare law. I know that healthcare reforms in the US are fraught with political tension. I’m not

Death In The Dominican Republic

I have been to more funerals since I have been here, and seen more dead people here than ever before in my life. There is no stigma against photos of dead bodies in all their gory glory, and if you

Is There A Difference Between Expats Who Blog And Those Who Don’t?

I attended BritMums Live, the parent blogging conference this weekend, and as with last year I organized an expat get together on one of the nights. I knew that a handful of the expat bloggers were only in town for

What’s Under The Abaya?

Recently I wrote a blog post for InCulture Parent magazine that was later republished in the Huffington Post. The article was titled “Raising a Hijab-Wearing Daughter in a World that Doesn’t Understand” It got a number of responses that shouldn’t

The Mosquito Olympics

The forthcoming Olympics in the UK made me wonder if there should be an event dedicated to the pursuit of mosquitoes. The physical dexterity required to hunt them down when they are after your blood rivals many of the traditional

Two Old Fools In The Pink

Hurrah! All the decorating is finished, inside and out. We’ve splashed white paint into every nook and cranny and everything looks fresh and clean. Joe’s bad back is better, although he still complains about his scraped knees (from kneeling on

Mixed Marriages In The Cayman Islands

Mixed marriages in the Cayman Islands are not the same as the mixed marriages of my youth. My parents had a mixed marriage, beginning in 1938 in Dad’s mother’s home town of Toowoomba, Australia. It was always an embarrassment to

You Can EAT That?

I’ve just recently started to go walking in the morning with my new Thai friend, Kanrutai (fondly known as Kan). I was complaining that I didn’t have time for exercise because I had so many writing projects on the go.

Expat packing

Like many expats, when I visit my “homeland” I’m traveling a long way, and staying there for more than the usual week or two. Although we usually have access to laundry facilities, these days we all have severe restrictions on

That Time Of Year

The end of the school year ushers in its own social dynamics. Teachers cram in last minute review sessions and cajole students to focus and study, study and focus. Occasionally an administrator will throw in a heartfelt reminder that grades