Crossing Kalimantan

Where in the world is Jeff Volk?

2009-12-26T09:33:00.000-08:00

In the last 5 years I have only seen Jeff Volk twice. In 2005, having spent two years working with him in Senegal, I said goodbye to him in the capitol of Dakar. Along with Will Brendecke, the two of them set out on their bicycles heading to Accra, Ghana. After months on the road traversing mountains, deserts, and jungle, the two of them arrived at their destination. Will flew back to the US.

Existing in a Place You Don't Belong

2009-12-07T01:59:00.000-08:00

FSAN_2007.indb

A Death in the Village

2009-11-10T23:51:00.000-08:00

As I start to write more about my life living in Indonesia, I'm often reminded of my experiences living abroad, especially in Senegal. Last month, I found myself unexpectedly in the ER of a small hospital on the remote island of Lombok, Indonesia looking after a friend who was in a moped accident. Then the sounds of crying and wailing filled the air like thunder and I was instantly transported

Saya Mouride

2009-10-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

The word Mouride in Indonesia means student. When I heard the word the first time in this country, it was not new to me. It comes from the Arabic word murīd (literally "one who desires"), a term used generally in Sufism to designate a disciple of a spiritual guide. I first heard the word Mouride in Senegal where it is the name of the largest Muslim Brotherhood in the country. The brotherhood

15 Seconds of Fame in Indonesia

2009-10-07T01:17:00.000-07:00

This is a clip from my TV debut in Indonesia. It's not Letterman but it is one of the most popular shows in Indonesia. The show is called The Master and it's best described as an American Idol type show for magicians. Through a friend who is the manager for one of the magicians, I ended up sitting in the front row. I've waited for months to put this clip up on the internet because of course I

Peace Corps comes to Indonesia and Pinworms Revisited

2009-10-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

When I arrived in Indonesia in January, I met a consultant working for the USAID contractor, DAI. After talking for a few minutes we realized that we both served as Peace Corps volunteers in Senegal and that his wife was a volunteer in Mauritania. Even though we had served many years apart, he quickly invited me to a Peace Corps party at his house which was attended by the current US Ambassador

An Article About a Life Changing Decision

2009-09-25T00:09:00.000-07:00

While a student living on campus at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., I read the student run newspaper named The Hatchet. When I got back from the Peace Corps, they called and were interested in doing a story about my decision to join the Peace Corps. The title of the article was "Ditching the office to promote peace abroad". At the time I left for the Peace Corps, I was working