Learning to be an expat, part 2

Exhibit A: 2002. I’m in Turkmenistan, my first job that requires ongoing negotiation with government officials. I am in the anteroom at the Ministry of Health, for my introductory meeting. … more Blood & Milk…

Things I believe in #17 – recognizing and learning from failure

There are a whole lot of ways you can screw up a development program. I’ve talked about some of them in the past. You can make bad choices with the … more Blood & Milk…

Humbling Hospitality Experiences

1) I once did a focus group with women in rural Tajikistan, talking about increasing hunger and food insecurity. The women told terrible, desperate stories, of burning fruit trees for … more Blood & Milk…

Things I believe in #44 – Camels

Once upon a time, I was at a dinner in rural Turkmenistan. I’d been invited home by a local health official, after an award ceremony for the visiting health nurses … more Blood & Milk…

Turkmen gas

I would like to start off by saying that I really think Tariq Saeedi is a crackpot and I don’t trust a word he says. That being stated, this is … more Blood & Milk…

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article3356190.ece — I was afraid this article would take the mocking approach that ruined so much reporting on Turkmenistan in the days of Turkmenbashi — the wackiness overshadowing serious human … more Blood & Milk…