The first time I went to Turkey, I was traveling with my mom. We might never have made it east of Austria were it not for the patron saint of Edmonds, Rick Steves. Under his benevolent guidance, Mom and I struck out for lands unknown. The trip began with a minor disaster: Our shuttle didn’t…
Right now, I’m living away from home. It’s the third time I’ve gone into exile abroad, striking out into unfamiliar territory for reasons I can’t fully explain. Now more than ever, I miss the wet green-gray of an Edmonds autumn. I miss the dark, wild mornings of yellow leaves. In my mind’s eye I can…
When did I first realize there was a country called Georgia? I remember reading about the Russian invasion in 2008. Unlike an embarrassing number of Americans, I didn’t jump to the conclusion that Putin’s forces were advancing on Atlanta. My first introduction to Georgia was probably a year earlier, as a precocious teen aboard the…
Lithuania is a little like the Edmonds of the globe. It’s a small, scenic nation with a temperate climate and a bit of coastline; its overgrown neighbors have often threatened to swallow it up; and, while lovely, it’s not exactly a hot tourist destination (sorry, Edmonds). This past July I bucked the trend and spent…
