living abroad

This is really awkward. I probably should have drank wine first because I was really nervous. Anyways, it’s the first time I ever filmed myself (and what is going on with my hair again?). Enjoy! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngif1Zen1oE&w=960&h=720] Italian Hand Gestures And…

This story has two parts. Here is part 1: My Persian Father And My Italian In-Laws Part 1 The next day after my dad woke up AT FIVE A.M. and F, my dad, and I, sped off towards the Rome airport…

My father was born in Iran. He moved to the US when he was eighteen and I came along shortly after that, as my father says, “if I even touch a woman she gets pregnant, it’s a gift, mostly.” Judging…

I’d like to welcome guest writer Vincent Zandri and thank him for contributing to my new “expat essays” section. Violà! —————————- The first time I came to Florence it was for love. At least, being in love was the plan…

So, this post is kind of late but I’ve been  depressed this week and have been whining and feeling all self-loathing. I haven’t been in the mood to write. However, I just got a sudden burst of gumption! Alas, Halloween!…

I spent the day out with my husband stalking people in the center of Florence. My husband finds it highly inappropriate to take pictures of people I don’t know and he followed me around whispering, “stop DOING THAT!”. He needs…

This morning I awoke around eight a.m., early for me since my insomnia didn’t allow me to fall asleep until around four a.m. I stretched and felt warm pressure on my right leg.  Oliver in his usual place, behind my…

I often write from a cynical point of view in a tone that is best described as sardonic when I write about Italy. At some point, and this happens to everyone, the acid haze of expatriate living eventually turns into…

While most of us in the western world think of mosquitos as being a simple pest, the rest of the world is terrified of them. The small insect has been credited with being one of the most dangerous creatures in…