Naughty Nat

Naughty Nat

“What are YOU doing here?” This is my greeting as I wriggle through the mountains of boots, mitts and snow jackets in the entranceway at Matt and Holly’s. It’s Sunday night, and I’ve been invited for dinner, for which, miraculously, I’ve made it on time. I’m...
Cappadocia: Utterly Magical, Authentically Turkey

Cappadocia: Utterly Magical, Authentically Turkey

It’s 5:30 a.m. and I’m climbing out of a van in the middle of a large field in central Turkey. It’s still dark, but I can see the silhouettes of half-filled hot air balloons scattered about on their sides. We watch a man inject the closest one with...
Day 28: Tribe

Day 28: Tribe

This morning is one of those mornings. Nothing terrible happens, shit just goes wrong. Then I find out that the friend I’m supposed to meet in Bucharest, where I’m headed today, can’t make it. At lunchtime, Pietro drives me to the train station, even though I could...

Day 27: Tiramisu

I had to stay home and work today. Someone’s gotta be productive around this place. Maria and Pietro were out all day, including for both lunch and dinner (gasp!), so I was left to my own devices. Sort of. “You take food from the fridge,” Maria commanded, before they...
Day 22: Two Bathrobes

Day 22: Two Bathrobes

This morning, my Italian mama, Maria, makes me a cappuccino. On the bus 20 minutes later, I feel like a cracked out windup toy. This is why I do not drink coffee. This is also why I have two pages of notes in my notepad which I can’t make out. At the time,...