Author Archives: Liz Barron

Unknown's avatar

About Liz Barron

Returned US Peace Corps Volunteer (Armenia 17-19). Permanent address in Washington DC. Deep roots in Northern Ireland and persistent Belfast accent. Blogger, cook, painter, mother, grandma, Scrabble-player and enthusiastic world traveller.

Where am I? It looks familiar

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Liz Barron

Sitting on a chair in Ani’s kitchen, I had a flashback. Ani, my new next door neighbor,was drying my hair and was about to style Elsa’s. It reminded me of when we were children in Belfast, and used to go … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Belfast, Borders, Cross-cultural understanding, family, Food, Northern Ireland, Nostalgia, Peace Corps, Terrorism, Village life, Women | Leave a comment

From Anne Arundel County to Armenia: Week One as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Liz Barron

I have a view of Mount Ararat from my bedroom near Artashat in Armenia. The mountain, the national icon of Armenia, is now in territory claimed by Turkey, but the people here still consider it very much their own. The … Continue reading →

Posted in America, apricots, Armenia, family, Food, friendship, Mount Ararat, Peace Corps, personal failings, travel | 4 Comments

Home thoughts from abroad

Posted on March 26, 2017 by Liz Barron

  I didn’t hear about the Westminster bombing until 24 hours after it happened. I was in transit, and then in a place without papers, TV or internet. This saved me hours of worry because the dead and maimed had … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Northern Ireland, Politics, Terrorism | Leave a comment

Tarragon soda and salad with sorrel

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Liz Barron

Milhous is my beef-up buddy. It will be his role to stiffen my spine and strengthen my resolve when I have a wobble in the Caucasus. For more than thirty years he has provided bracing advice and general bucking up … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Cooking, Food, Milhous, Peace Corps, travel | 2 Comments

From Washington DC to Yerevan

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Liz Barron

You’ll have heard of the Smithsonian of course. And the Lincoln Memorial. And the US Capitol. These are the icons and institutions for which Washington DC is rightly famous. You will not have heard of the Hyatt Place hotel, built … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Armenia, eating out, Peace Corps, travel, Washington DC | 2 Comments

For my daughter, with thanks

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Liz Barron

Ever since she was nine years old, my daughter has held my hand when we are out and about. She does this to stop me tripping or, worse, running  headlong into traffic. Her caution is well-advised for I can fall … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, family, Great weekends, joy, Mother/daughter dynamic, packing, Peace Corps, personal failings, travel | 7 Comments

Amnesia and Arafat: The World According to Barkis

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Liz Barron

Margie, a docent and all-round decent person, led the learning at my going-away dinner. Her project board featured maps of Armenia. A pop-quiz quickly confirmed that no one knew where it was. Kevin was closest and Michael (who couldn’t join … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, drinking, errors of judgement, friendship, packing, Peace Corps, travel | Leave a comment

 Pack up your troubles…

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Liz Barron

“If you haven’t got it by now, you don’t need it–just relax.” This advice came from a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) currently serving in Armenia. It is three weeks before my own service begins.  Ah yes, relaxing. In preparation for Peace … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, joy, Peace Corps, personal failings, shopping, travel | Leave a comment

Learning to Travel Light

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Liz Barron

My straight-talking sister, having requested an update on my whereabouts, texted me just one word: gypsy. My guess is that she did not mean this in a “respect for the Romanies”, or even a “banjo-playing, gaily- coloured flounces, and horse-drawn … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Armenia, clothes, know thyself, packing, Peace Corps, personal failings, shopping, straight-talking sister, travel, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

On being American 

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Liz Barron

  I am back in America and am in language rehab, trying to practice US pronunciation (to-MAY-to)  and to remember to say sweater instead of jumper. I have landed not far from Plymouth Rock and am staying with a descendant … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Politics, Washington DC | 2 Comments