Category Archives: Politics

Glad Tidings of Comfort and Joy?

Posted on January 9, 2018 by Liz Barron

It is always a white Christmas in my part of Armenia. Last year there was a meter of snow on the ground for the Apostolic celebration of Christ’s birth on January 6, and the first flakes fell back in October. … Continue reading →

Posted in America, apricots, Armenia, Beauty, Borders, Christianity, Christmas, Church, Cooking, Cross-cultural understanding, Food, Great weekends, History, identity, Islam, life lessons, Nagorno-Karabakh, National pride, Nostalgia, Peace Corps, Politics, Religion, Soviet Union, Syunik Marz, travel, Village life | Leave a comment

Border Post: Part Two

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Liz Barron

May 9 is a public holiday in Armenia and is known as Victory Day.  The day marks triumph over the Germans in the Second World War, where Armenians fought as part of the Russian Army, joining the allies to defeat Hitler. … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Borders, Caucausus, Cross-cultural understanding, identity, Nagorno-Karabakh, Northern Ireland, Politics, war | Leave a comment

Some dance to remember. Some dance to forget.

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Liz Barron

We are not allowed to travel after dark. We may not leave our villages without permission. We will never drive a car in our country of service. The rules governing the lives of incoming Peace Corps Volunteers are strict and … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Borders, Cooking, Cross-cultural understanding, family, Food, friendship, Great weekends, joy, Mount Ararat, Peace Corps, Politics, shopping, travel, Village life, Women | 1 Comment

Border Post: Part One

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Liz Barron

I have been thinking a lot about borders. This is the first post in a series of four that threatens to be quite boring, but which is at least topical. Brace yourself and persevere if you can.  Borders are like … Continue reading →

Posted in Belfast, Borders, Cross-cultural understanding, errors of judgement, Northern Ireland, Politics, Terrorism | 2 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

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

You’ll probably hate this, but…

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Liz Barron

My Thanksgiving day lunch was a Veggie Christmas sandwich, eaten at my desk in London where the holiday is not celebrated. Bleak, with a side of bathos. Three thousand miles away, my friends and family tucked into turkey, mashed potato, mac … Continue reading →

Posted in America, know thyself, personal failings, Politics, Washington DC | 3 Comments