The More You Learn, The Harder it Gets

I’m three-quarters of the way through the low-residency MFA program at New York University and I can say with some confidence that after three intensive residencies in Paris, monthly writing deadlines, and the mentorship of several accomplished authors, I am now a better writer. I can also say with confidence that because I am aContinue reading “The More You Learn, The Harder it Gets”

The Cultural Adjustment Cycle

Wednesday was a red letter day for me in Spain. I successfully asked for all of my desired vegetables in the market, got my hair cut and highlighted (and even cracked a joke with my stylist!), and, most importantly, after spending four hours over the past several days on the truly terrible RENFE website (Spain’sContinue reading “The Cultural Adjustment Cycle”

Everything You’ve Heard About Madrid is True

Hola from Madrid! We’ve been here just over one week and we’ve settled into our spacious, wonderful apartment. Our “HHE” – government-speak for all of our stuff – probably won’t arrive until sometime in February. Until then, I spend about 50% of my brain power thinking about how I want to decorate the apartment.  InContinue reading “Everything You’ve Heard About Madrid is True”

Best of 2013

I stared writing this post on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve from our apartment in New York City. The walls were white and bare, mildly pockmarked from the few posters we had hung for our three-month stay. You could tell we had lived here for a short time by the gray and orange catContinue reading “Best of 2013”

The Summer of Spanish

Hola amigos! Mr.YemenEm and I arrived back in one of my favorite places, Washington DC, to spend the summer in government training. The U.S. government is generous enough (ie, you taxpayers are) to provide spouses of Foreign Service Officers language training for upcoming posts. So that means I have spent the last seven weeks immersedContinue reading “The Summer of Spanish”