The Inauguration, He Said: Of Mobs and Men
Think a press pass to the 2009 Presidential Inauguration meant that crowds parted at security gates like the Red Sea did for Moses?

Think again. Continue Reading »
Think a press pass to the 2009 Presidential Inauguration meant that crowds parted at security gates like the Red Sea did for Moses?

Think again. Continue Reading »
Start: 5:30 AM. Finish: 7:00 PM. Time actually spent marching in the inaugural parade: 30 minutes. Was it all worth it?
You bet.
The possibility of participating in the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade hadn’t even entered my mind two months ago. However, a series of well-timed and serendipitous events resulted in the inclusion of my name on a list of returned Peace Corps volunteers (RPCVs) who were to march in the parade. I was honored and humbled, both to represent the Peace Corps and to take part in this historic day.
And what a day it was.
Continue Reading »
At 5:30 AM on inauguration day – in a haze of sleep deprivation and anticipation – Audrey and I parted. She headed to the inaugural parade staging area to join the Peace Corps contingent and I, with a Pennsylvania Ave and 10th Street press pass in hand, headed toward the parade route.

Before we share our stories, we offer a taste of our 2009 Presidential Inauguration experiences in images. Continue Reading »
We find ourselves in the midst of another holiday season. Before it slips away, we offer a hearty Happy Holidays to all our friends and readers.
Last year at this time we were in Beijing, China. Our holiday nostalgia took the form of a top ten favorite European Christmas markets list from our time living and traveling in Europe, including memories of the Andalucian Cabalgatas in Spain to the epic markets of Central Europe. For those of you who weren’t with us then, check out our Best European Christmas Markets article and the photo slideshow at the bottom of this post. Continue Reading »
I come from Scranton, Pennsylvania and that’s as hardscrabble a place as you’re gonna find.
- An actor playing Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live
Ah, Scranton, Pennsylvania. My hometown.

I told a friend the other day that we were in Scranton and he responded, “Are you from there? How did it feel to be in America’s most famous political city?” Continue Reading »
Thanksgiving is our favorite American holiday and favorite American meal, hands down.
Last year we enjoyed Thanksgiving with expats from around the world in Beijing, China. This year we share Thanksgiving dinner with family in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Continue Reading »
Ever wish those gadgets in Star Trek were real? As the U.S. Presidential election results streamed in on Tuesday night, we sure did. We were desperate for a transporter to beam us across Europe and the Atlantic Ocean to the United States.
We didn’t go to sleep here in Budapest, Hungary until 7 AM on Wednesday morning, after the election results were in and the concession and victory speeches were delivered. Continue Reading »