Author Archives: The Next Dinner Party

Say ‘Cheese!’

You know how people sometimes ask “If you had to pick, would you rather be deaf or blind?” (Which is a dumb question, because obviously you’d pick deaf. No offense, blind people. Who probably aren’t reading this anyway). Well sometimes I ask “If you had to pick, would you rather never eat cheese again, orContinue reading “Say ‘Cheese!’”

The Western Lens

For my job, I recently had to pick out a photo that illustrates how the U.S. is working to improve health in Yemen. While the U.S. really does a lot to improve health here, the photo selection was slim. I asked a Yemeni co-worker where I might find some pics and he led me intoContinue reading “The Western Lens”

To Sleep Perchance to Dream Crazy Things

I had the craziest dream a few nights ago. And I really mean it. Not like when people say “Oh man, I had the craziest dream. I was eating nachos in my middle school but it wasn’t my middle school, it was 7-11 and I was talking to my friend Jen and then her faceContinue reading “To Sleep Perchance to Dream Crazy Things”

Locked Up Abroad

Well it appears to have calmed down a great deal here in Sana’a and today actually feels like a normal weekend. Which is somewhat notable because it’s not a weekend here, it’s the weekday. But still, the lockdown in our hotel was lifted for a few hours today. I used my reprieve from the confinesContinue reading “Locked Up Abroad”

In the Morning Light

Mr. YemenEm and I just woke up here in Sana’a. We slept with the windows open because the air conditioning wasn’t working and I wanted to hear what was going on outside (don’t worry – curtains shut!) and it’s the first time that our hotelpartment is nice and cool. Right now our room feels likeContinue reading “In the Morning Light”

Protests in Yemen

Hi everyone, I started to write a blog about free speech and the anti-Islam video made by an American and the protests and killings that stemmed from it (including the tragic deaths of the U.S. ambassador to Libya). But as I was opining on my support for the First Amendment, a friend came in toContinue reading “Protests in Yemen”

Channel Surfing

I’m an avid TV watcher and I’m not ashamed. I am proud of my love for TV In the same way that certain people are proud of their shunning of TV when I’m like “Did you SEE that episode of ’30 Rock’ last night? I’m still Lizzing over it!” and they’re all smug and goContinue reading “Channel Surfing”

Tupac Lives! (in Yemen)

You know how it seems that people all over the world listen to American music? Even if they hardly speak English, people are most likely jamming out to “Call me Maybe” in Budapest (and hating themselves for it). But that doesn’t seem to be case in Sana’a. Most of the music I’ve heard wafting fromContinue reading “Tupac Lives! (in Yemen)”