Recent Blog Posts
A new beginning, part 2: Old news
on Jul 31, 2007 in news expatriate Mbeki Vietnam "a new beginning" Troi Oi, Mr President! 25 May 2007 HCM CITY, VIETNAM – President of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki, made a brief and disappointing visit to the southern city on Friday to speak at a business forum of expatriate South Africans and Vietnamese business...
Alas Poor Fido, We Ate Him Well Horatio!!!
on Dec 10, 2007 in embarrassment dog meat exchange student Keithy MacTeethy expatriate expat cultural exchange guide survival Do you remember the first time you went to the grocery store / market of your host country? I remember thinking, "dang, so this is what starvation is going to be like", and resigning myself night after night to pizza deliveries and the ubiquitous Mic...
Critical Linguistics for the Habitually Misplaced
on Dec 10, 2007 in exchange student linguistics expatriate expat cultural exchange guide survival After living here for a year, my Spanish is finally to the point where I can call myself at least semi-fluent. Dr. Girlfriend still laughs whenever I say certain words, but I no longer just assume the fetal position and weep anymore when trying to or...
Survival Tips Chapter 1: Poop Hitting the Fan
on Dec 10, 2007 in What to do exchange student Poop hitting fan expatriate expat cultural exchange guide survival Beneath the same sky we share a view of the stars, and there is so much going on up there now I don't know if you've had a view of this comet since it's arrival, but it has lit up the sky down here to where there is a very real science fictiony look...
La Migra Station of the Damned
on Dec 17, 2007 in Costa Rica expatriate expat cultural exchange "It was much pleasanter at home, when one wasn't always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about by mice and rabbits."AliceAnd how, sister! Have you ever wondered if there was a government agency in your host country that was specifically...