Tag: citizen diplomacy
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Around the World in 18 Barbers’ Chairs
Take a tour of traditional barber shops as Shawn gets his hair trimmed. From Bulgaria and Malta to Thailand and Vietnam, discover how local culture and grooming traditions intersect around the world.
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Kalofer, Bulgaria: A Story of Life, Lavender, & Lace
During a 2-month stay in Kalofer, Bulgaria, Shawn and I connect with a local goat-herder, cook traditional recipes, learn about lacemaking, and feel the deep kindness of strangers.
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An Apple for an Apple: An International Tale of Citizen Diplomacy
Rumbling through Moldova on a midnight train, Shawn and I find unexpected human connection over a simple piece of fruit, creating “apple diplomacy.”
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Grape Diplomacy in the Moldovan Countryside
In the late-afternoon light, the gingerbread homes of the Moldovan village, Rosu, were bathed in golden hues. The homes’ green and periwinkle-blue fences, and wooden adornments on their gables cast frilly shadows on the dirt road, as Shawn and I embarked on an evening stroll. The wire arbors over the homes’ driveways were brimming with…
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Culinary Diplomacy Through Spanakopita in Meteora, Greece
In her Greek kitchen, guesthouse hostess Marina shows us that spanakopita is more than a dish; it’s an act of culinary diplomacy.
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Finding Harmony on an Accordion in Shkodër, Albania
The moment we stepped into the tiny Albanian bar bearing mint-green walls, I regretted having not been more studious when learning Italian several years earlier. The five gentlemen inside the Shkodër establishment spoke Albanian of course, but between the two of us, Shawn and I only knew about five Albanian words. The seven of us quickly defaulted to Italian. When that…
