When the government lifts its ban on going out in one short week, there will still be many barriers to navigate. The sun may be shining, but the world may look just as uninviting to some as a windy Saturday may look to a runner. We may continue to hunker down, stay at home, and wait. Just as I’m learning to face down the wind, we’ll learn to live with our barriers. … More Facing down the wind
A little over a year ago I was in a bar celebrating the French Rugby team’s qualification for the 2016 Summer Olympics. It was monumental. Rugby 7s had never before been an olympic sport, and the French team had never set foot in an olympic arena. On the evening that I celebrated France’s qualification for the games, I celebrated … More The Olympian from Afar
I pass them every single day. I recognize them. The man in the metro who walks around with a small, dirty espresso cup after he plays the same, disjointed melody that might be Frank Sinatra, might be his own composition, on his clarinet. The heavy set woman with her hair covered who sits on a little … More The War on Pain
It’s raining again. The weather has become a popular topic of conversation these days. When I pass the cleaning man in my apartment building as I head out for a run, and he asks how I’m doing, I smile and tell him that I’m doing well, and himself? And he tells me he’s well too, happy … More A Sunless Summer in Paris
Right now, I feel more myself than I have in a long time. Over the course of the past year, I have often found myself struggling with a sense of who I am in the context of different environments. I’ve been somewhat identified by my “background.” I’m Kate from Houston, Texas; Kate the American; Kate who is half … More A Cross Cultural Identity Crisis
Sometimes I try to remember what it felt like the first time I made a friend. The furthest back I can remember using the term “best friend” I think was when I told my parents and anybody who asked that a little girl I spent all my time running around and holding hands with in my first pre-school … More Making Friends on the Playground
Well, my last full day in Addis has come to an end and the feelings are bittersweet. I wished off a big group of country directors and coworkers this evening, and genuinely was sad to see them go. I’ve officially been invited to visit Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Congo with the promise of … More A Sweet, Caffeinated End to Ethiopia
I’ve made some pretty big promises about my intent to blog about my trip to Africa the past couple of weeks, and today’s technically my first day of travel (I flew to DC today and have a layover here until tomorrow), so this is the part where I follow through. I’ve had an incredible roller coaster of a week and … More Africa: The Background Story
I have a hard time explaining the feeling I get before I travel somewhere, whether I’ve visited before or not. I get this little knot of excitement somewhere deep inside my stomach that almost makes it impossible to sleep the night before I’m set to leave. As I get closer to my destination, the little … More A World Too Big for Small Minds: The Beauty in Travel
The Transition Artist 