Swimmers, Snorkelers and Fish

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Alleke at the pool last summer
Living in a foreign country often feels like that game we would play at the pool as kids where we would try to see how long we could hold our breath under water. Mostly we played to see who could last the longest, […]

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April 22nd, 2008 | No Comments

Giving Birth in Spain

My wife April and I are American, and our daughter Alleke was born in Spain. We often get asked questions about April’s pregnancy, the hospital where April was born, whether it is possible to have a natural birth in Spain, and in general what April’s experience was like giving birth in Spain.
So, I asked […]

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October 12th, 2007 | 3 Comments

Bottled Up

My brother Chad at the lake.
This past June my family of fourteen swarmed a two-bedroom cabin by a nearby lake like it was an anthill. We were everywhere. My youngest nephews were on the floor wrecking Matchbox cars. My youngest niece was doing her usual happy baby aerobics in her high chair hanging off […]

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November 23rd, 2005 | 1 Comment

On Mystery, Curiosity, and the Mediterranean Sunbather

My wife April and I have been living in Spain for almost three years, and one month ago we moved to a small town on the Mediterranean called Castell贸n de la Plana. The phenomenon in Spain of topless sunbathers used to be a once a year experience, but now has become a nearly daily […]

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September 23rd, 2005 | No Comments

Night fishing

Our first night in Castell贸n April and I found ourselves by accident walking down the beach just as the moon climbed out of the water in full bloom. It was beautiful, romantic, and mystical. The moon lifted lazily into the sky like a helium balloon, and the realization sunk deeper inside of us that this […]

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August 23rd, 2005 | No Comments

Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes

April and I don鈥檛 look Spanish. No olive complexion. No brown hair. No brown eyes. No mullet.
Yesterday we went to the supermarket to get some food to stock our mini fridge at the hotel. As we were waiting at the meat counter to buy some cheese, an older lady walked […]

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August 22nd, 2005 | No Comments

Everybody Knows Everybody

April and I checked into our hotel yesterday, and in the afternoon met two students from the Masters program, Leah and Tim, as well as Tim鈥檚 three room mates.
Today as we were waiting in line to get on the bus to the beach, I noticed someone on the bus waving to me through the glass […]

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August 22nd, 2005 | No Comments

Bigger is Not Always Better

The problem with small towns is they always want to be bigger. Even big cities usually have a big brother they look up to. Of course they鈥檇 never tell you that, but that鈥檚 the way brothers are. I get the impression here in Spain that it鈥檚 like this: Barcelona wants to be as big as […]

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August 22nd, 2005 | No Comments

1st Impressions of My New Life on the Mediterranean

After over a year of planning and waiting from Madrid, my wife April and I have finally arrived at our new home, Castell贸n de la Plana, where April will be doing a Masters degree in Peace and Development. We鈥檝e been at a hotel for two days, haven鈥檛 even begun to start looking for an apartment […]

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August 22nd, 2005 | No Comments

Red Frisbee

I gave my frisbee away today. It was the yellow one Case Boot gave me at his garage sale just before we moved to Madrid, the one with the hand-painted Garfield’s head on the back.My friend Kelly didn’t ask me for the frisbee or anything. I just gave it to her like a kid giving […]

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May 5th, 2005 | No Comments