In preparation for repatriation, and to try to decide where I belong in the US after this, I just took that What American Accent Do You Have Quiz - and it says I’ve got a Philadelphia accent. Which is funny because I grew up in Rhode Island, home to the most wicked awesome […]

I was just about to write something about the delight of Singapore dog cafes and the writing of articles about Singapore dog cafes, along with the writing of books, the writing of other travel articles, and how exciting India is, when these two blonde Mormon missionaries sat down next to me at the cafe […]

It’s been five years since I turned up on this island. Five years! When I got here I was expecting to be in Saipan for one year - I came thinking I’d go back to New York (or possibly head for Florida or New Mexico or Estonia or Australia or Mexico or Iceland, you see) […]

Tina Sablan’s manifesto - published today - is a very brave and very intelligent look at what’s gone wrong in the CNMI, and how things might improve.
I hope this is the start of smarter and more honest political talk here. I hope it’s also the start of Tina’s political career.

Here is a quote from the […]

Here are a few photos from yesterday’s Dekada rally
Dekada is a group of alien workers in the CNMI
They are trying to get long-term residency rights here in the islands
as well as an increase in the minimum wage
which is currently $3.05 an hour

this man is wearing a picture of George Miller on the back of his […]

Last time I was in Bali for New Year’s, I ran into some trouble.
This time, I ran into some people at the royal family’s temple near Ubud- I must shamefully admit to having forgotten this lovely place’s name - who were making Hindu icons out of meat.
To wit:

meat!

Barbara Sher, a friend here on Saipan, is putting together a show of monologues about life on the island (the show is called Voices - it used to be called Marianas Monologues but the Vagina Monologues people asked Barbara to change the name).
A piece of mine is being used in the show - it’s a […]

two new stories came out last week, both about the past:
one, in Preservation Online is about a couple of Rhode Island paranormal investigators named Tom D’Agostino and Arlene Nicholson. One day last June, Tom, Arlene, and I went to see the Nine Men’s Misery monument in Cumberland, Rhode Island - the monument marks the […]

it’s been raining for three weeks straight
even arnold is getting antsy

B. and I were eating dinner at the middle eastern restaurant last night. The restaurant is owned by a husband and wife - she is from Iraq, he is from Syria (they cook and serve fabulous food, just FYI). Her sister and brother in law are in Saipan right now, visiting for three […]