Note: Anything highlighted in blue is a link to another website – mostly the organizations I’m mentioning in this blog. Last time I came to Guatemala I, like most tourists, headed out of Guatemala City within a couple of days and went to Xela, Antigua and Lago de Atitlán. I had no interest in this busy, dirty, polluted city. This time I came to Guatemala City because of a project called Karen’s Soy Nutrition Project (KSNP), which I have been hearing about for two years. With nothing going on for me in the States, I decided it was a good idea to come see the good works down here. I tagged along with a friend, Chuck, who came here to work on the project. Arrival The first night we arrived, we took a taxi to a ... read more

When I found out that I would have a flight connection in Vienna on my way to Moldova for my new job, I was thrilled. I had lived here in 1981- 82 and had worked here as an au pair girl. I had a pretty good life here and had left with so many good memories. I started making plans to stay a few days and renew good memories. A short history I worked with a family doing housework, taking care of the kids, and being an English speaking influence in the family in exchange for room and board and pocket money. In my free time, I took German lessons at a Volksschule (school) and put a lot of effort into enjoying my life as a young woman here. I met other au pair girls and ... read more

I got up at 5 AM on New Year’s Day to go on a tour to see the Great Wall of China. I can’t say that I jumped out of bed ready to go, but I was excited. I decided to take the tour because I had been having trouble getting moving in the morning and I was afraid that I would miss my opportunity to see the wall if I tried to get out there on my own steam. When I booked the tour the agent said with a concerned, pitying look in her eye that, because I wanted to go on New Year’s, I would be alone on the tour. I was wondering “… And that’s a bad thing?” I chose the Simitai section, which is three hours away but less visited by tourists ... read more

It’s pronounced “she an” with a lightly pronounced n, but don’t ask me where the accent or tone goes… Day one Anyway, Xi'an is wonderful. With a history that dates back 1000 years B.C., it looks just like what I always imagined China to look like. It is a walled city with pagoda-like roofs on larger buildings and smaller buildings have curved roofs. In Korea, the ornate colorful architecture and traditional style buildings are reserved for temples, palaces, and other special places, but here in Xi’an, this is the look on shopping malls, hotels, and other ordinary buildings. It gives the city a wonderfully splendid, exotic feel. You could take pictures here all day, because at every turn there is something interesting to see. The prosperity that tourism has brought to this town shows in ... read more

It’s Christmas morning and I’m lounging in bed considering my day. I have Christmas shopping to do, a temple or other tourist sight to see, and travel arrangements to make. I’m thinking about these things, but I’m not moving much. My room is so cold, I don’t want to get out from under my blankets. Temperatures outside are below freezing and I can hear the wind blowing. I think the Chinese are used to having the room temperature much colder than I’d like it. I’ve discovered that if I use my computer in bed, the charger gets hot and keeps my feet toasty. I know that once I get moving it won’t be so bad, but I really feel like hibernating. Other than lack of heat in the hostel, the place I’m staying in is nice. ... read more