We use the expression “herding cats” to refer to refers to an attempt to control or organize a group which is uncontrollable or chaotic.  It depicts something difficult, challenging, and nearly impossible.  However on the island of Lana’i “herding cats” is common place – and the volunteers of Lana’i Animal Rescue Center (LARC) make it [...]

Smoke billowed throughout the tent and left the area a-glow in orange. The flames lapped up from beneath the metal spherical disk. She pounded the dough into a flat pizza like form and simultaneously stoked the fire with more wood with her free hand. The spherical metal ‘griddle’ was just the right temperature…thwak! The flattened [...]

Jordanians, no matter what God they believe in, all huddle around it worshiping the black metal God. There’s one in every house I’ve been to…and it always seems to be the center of attention. It’s the most used appliance in Jordan’s homes. Ladies and gentlemen…I bring you the gas heater. Let me shatter a stereotype [...]

As you know, I’m volunteering in Jordan through GeoVisions Conversation Corps. This is a program in which you converse with/tutor a family in exchange for room and board and a fee. I recently shared my initial volunteering experiences at my Briefcase to Backpack website. You may be interested to find out exactly what Conversation Corps [...]

You never forget your first impressions – right? That’s why they are so important. My first impressions of Jordan.

Dhal Bhat Days – vol. 9 9/9/08 During a break at school one afternoon, I noticed a big crowd in the village. I asked the children what was going on and they said “buffalo kill”. The village was slaughtering a buffalo and from my vantage point it looked like a lot of work as they [...]

Dhal Bhat Days – Vol. 8 9/8/08 To see snapshots of the school and the kids – click here! (opens new window) To view all Village Photography click here! (opens new window) The whole reason I came to Nepal was to volunteer and teach. In some way I was trying to recapture my rewarding experience [...]

Dhal Bhat Days Vol 7 9/5/08 To view snapshots of Barbot – click here! (opens new window) To view the photography of Nepalese village life – click here! (opens new window) What the F have I done? Just when I was starting to settle in – I agreed to turn my little village world upside [...]