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You’ve been invited to a Chinese New Year celebration. Now what?

Just a few days ago if you told me Chinese New Year was quickly approaching, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. We haven’t been to China or been exposed to Chinese culture in great depth (though not for lack of desire). I particularly didn’t understand the significance of this holiday in Chinese culture;…
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Top 10 Favorite Things About Living in Romania (Part II)

Today we have the privilege of hearing Jake Stimpson’s perspective on Romania. If you missed yesterday’s post where Jake’s wife Jessie shared her top five favorite things about Romania, you can read it here. The Stimpsons blog about their life and work in Romania at It Doesn’t Matter Where. ****************************************************************** Since Jessie already mentioned some…
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Top 10 Favorite Things About Living in Romania (Part I)
Nearly two years ago Jake and Jessie Stimpson moved to Bucharest, Romania with their four children. A year ago they talked about their joys and fears moving to a new culture and a location thousands of miles away from family and friends. You can read that interview here. Now, after many more months of living…
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Brussels Sprouts? Who serves THOSE to guests?

A newly married couple in Germany, recently arrived from California, invited us over for dinner. I knew these people, our new friends, appreciated quality food. I was really looking forward to sharing their table. Then she announced she would be serving Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts? Really? Who eats Brussels sprouts, much less serves them to…
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On Food
God could have created iceberg lettuce and called it good. Instead he created romaine lettuce, kale, collard greens, swiss chard, field greens, mustard greens and spinach – and called it all good. God is the creative mastermind behind all culinary masterpieces. He created the ingredients – the oils, spices, nuts, meats, fruits and vegetables –…
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Turmoil in South Sudan – Interview with American family who calls South Sudan home
On Christmas Day you probably were not thinking about South Sudan. At least not very much. I wasn’t. But, if you are the Faders, you were. They left their home and relationships in South Sudan for a Christmas holiday, not knowing their return would be tenuous. A year ago the Faders were featured on willtravelwithkids,…
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The Ill-Fated Feast – Mom’s perspective
As I recalled the account of a fateful holiday meal, posted yesterday on Communicating Across Boundaries, I asked my mom to recount the event from her perspective: That Thanksgiving is a bit of a blurr. Of course, I wanted it to be perfect. Dad had gone to Malawi, by train, to get our beloved students.…
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The ill-fated holiday feast
Today I have the privilege of writing a guest post for Communicating Across Boundaries. Marilyn Gardner of CAB is a passionate writer who covers a wide range of topics. I appreciate her perspectives on culture and Third Culture Kid (TCK) issues. She spent formative years in Pakistan and has traveled extensively, with a keen eye…
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When Fear is Your Currency [aka ‘Is it Safe?’]
I always appreciate Marilyn Gardner’s perspective on issues. She blogs frequently at Communicating.Across.Boundaries. Today she posted about the concept of safety when traveling or living not only abroad, but even at home. How often I’ve been asked “But is it safe?” when I tell people where I’ve been or where we plan to go with…
