I am compelled to add my voice to millions of American citizens who are crying out, lamenting, over the refugee families who are turned away at airports, those who have been told at government offices abroad that their application is now on hold. Though I am not an expert in consular affairs, I do know… Read More What Refugees Need Now
Men, women and children serge toward the fence under the watchful eye of border police. Babies nap in weary strollers caked with mud. Lines of people move in a slow shuffle, all that remains of their worldly possessions slung over their shoulder in backpacks that used to carry their university study books. Young professionals, now… Read More Who is on the front line of the refugee crisis?
One Saturday last month we walked down Koenigstrasse – King Street – in Stuttgart, Germany. Koenigstrasse is Stuttgart’s Michigan Avenue or Champs-Élysées of shopping and people watching. We were reliving memories of years gone by, years when we had only one baby. Now we have three children and they each needed a fresh German pretzel… Read More Happening Upon Solidarity – Stuttgart, Germany
We piled into the minivan (or “mini”, as we affectionately call it, dreaming it’s actually a mini Cooper). I couldn’t tell my Burmese friend no. No, I can’t take you to the hospital because your daughter is too large for that infant carseat and I can’t install it properly. When I showed up at their… Read More The luxury of safety
“Passengers sleeping in areas resembling campgrounds, getting by with lunch meats and fruit for food and using red plastic bags and ice buckets as toilets.“ “No power, no toilets, nothing. . . limited food and filthy conditions.“ “. . . No air conditioning, no diapers for babies, the toilets won’t flush and four-hour lines for food.“… Read More Living Carnival Triumph conditions every day
Honestly, at first it was awkward. For several weeks, maybe months, it was awkward. They didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Burmese. I brought my daughters along and committed to visiting them once a week for several months. I’m fairly certain I am their only American friend – at least the kind of friend… Read More We keep going back
As a rule, I only publish one post a week. Just trying to keep expectations low. Fortunately, because it’s my rule, I’m under no moral obligation to keep it. I am breaking my rule so I can bring to your attention an article written by Jon Huckins, someone who has developed lasting relationships with individuals… Read More 10 Things He Learned in the Middle East
Sometimes we pay a lot of money to fly across the globe and immerse ourselves in the culture of a developing country, and perhaps even invest ourselves in some good cause while visiting. Then, we spend a lot of money – again – to fly back home to our cozy house and romanticize the memories… Read More The Global South at my door
