Grand Canyon to the Mojave, via the DMV
America is gorgeous. GORGEOUS. I already knew that, but I'm refining my understanding. America's Southwest is nothing like the lush forests, soft beaches, and blossoming springtimes of the South and East, nor the silky golden grasses and misty redwoods of Northern...
Speed Limit 75
Buying a car may be the best idea I've had in recent history. Not just because I haven't owned a car in 15 years (since I left to join the Peace Corps). Not just for all the things it will allow me to do (from trail running to easily getting home after a party). Three...
Parshu Visits The U.S.
Part of our philosophy at Changing Lives Nepal is to find highly motivated and effective local individuals and support them in their efforts to create change in their own communities because they are committed for the long-term and are best positioned to have a...
Good As Gold
More than 1000 guides nominated worldwide. Only 1 winner. Me? Me. #1 in the Wanderlust World Guide Awards!! Many thanks to Mark and the team at Mountain Madness in Seattle; to Kili, Sagar, Dawa and the team in Nepal; and to my clients who, in addition to saying...
GOING TO LONDON (in the Top 3!)
Wow. WOW!!! I am thrilled to tell you that I am going to London as one of the top 3 finalists for the Wanderlust World Guide Award!!! I am honored and humbled by the outpouring of support from so many of my clients, who wrote testimonials about why they thought...
Computers, Classrooms, and More!
The Changing Lives Nepal update is here! Details about all our grants in the last year plus computers we've placed at rural schools, high school expansion and classroom constructions, and what we have planned in the coming months!!
Coming to America!
This is my friend Parsu and I about 13 years ago, in front of the college campus where we worked in rural Nepal. While I was a Peace Corps Volunteer, we taught English together, wrote grants for new classrooms, and started a grassroots non-profit…which we've...
Back And Better Than Ever
Returning home feels better than ever! (Except that maybe it always feels this good.) It's a joy and a relief--a smooth season with no emergencies and a return to the sweet sanctuary of home. I buy blueberries and strawberries, cook quinoa and kale, reunite...
Relax & Repeat
After a few days R&R in Kathmandu, it's time to turn around and do it all over again...the stiff climbs, the steep descents, the landscape turning from lush to stark, the stars extra crisp in the sky with less intervening atmosphere. We meet Lama...
Refund
When I visited the family in Phakding who had originally taken Maya in, I learned that Maya's father had heard she'd been placed in a foreign-run orphanage in Kathmandu. He had come to demand some money (now that rich foreigners were involved). The strong wife of the...
6 years, 6 months, and 3 days
Having a 6-year-old is exhausting but fun. It has caused me to learn 6 months of parenting lessons, fears, and joys in about 3 days: --No clothes will ever be clean for a second day of wear. Ever again. --Tying your own shoes is supremely important, even if they come...
Maya In Action
Here's the video. Need I say more?