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 going to get into that here. Instead, I’m going to share my experiences working in … Read more
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 do an image search for anything on the internet, whatever it is, from chocolate to … Read more
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 this event so I thought it would be nice to get everyone together—selfishly, because I … Read more
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 have surprised me but did nevertheless. I also made me think about all the misunderstanding … Read more
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 sports! How many times has the high pitch Zzzzzzz of a mosquito woken you from … Read more
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 the roof), his bruised thumb (trapped under a plank of wood) and gashed finger (changing … Read more
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 his mother and her side of the family, and her friends. Dad’s cousin and boyhood … Read more
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. She took me at my word and solved the problem for me by calling at … Read more
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 checked luggage, which calls for some very strategic packing. Here are some tips from a … Read more
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 aren’t the most important measurement of a student’s progress, but at this stage of the … Read more