gambia

How the Peace Corps Changed My Life (In Every Way That Matters)

It’s the oldest cliché in the book: “The Peace Corps changed my life.” And yet, like most clichés, it’s absolutely true. I think of all the movies and TV shows where a bright-eyed American shows up in a remote village in West Africa, armed with idealism and granola bars, determined to “help.” It’s a ridiculousContinue reading “How the Peace Corps Changed My Life (In Every Way That Matters)”

Indian-Pakistani Love in the Time of War

I remember the first time I laid eyes on my husband in West Africa. In a sea of beautiful, unfamiliar faces, his was the first that looked familiar—not in appearance, but in spirit. We immediately saw the similarities: the language we shared, the childhoods shaped by immigrant parents, the cultural shorthand that made everything feelContinue reading “Indian-Pakistani Love in the Time of War”

I Finally Did It. What it Feels Like Serving in the Peace Corps!

Peace Corps is the single best thing I’ve done in my life. It sounds cliché but it’s true. Every thought that I have, every decision I make, and every social connection I create is related to my Peace Corps service. It feels strange to even begin to describe those 2 years I spent in TheContinue reading “I Finally Did It. What it Feels Like Serving in the Peace Corps!”