Dispatches Archives - Page 18 of 21

June 9, 2009November 21, 2019

Zu Hause in Berlin

It’s nice to begin to settle–settling is an often underappreciated activity. It’s nice to settle into your favorite chair; it’s nice to settle in to a soft, warm bed before a well-deserved rest; and it’s certainly wonderful to settle into a new home, albeit thousands of miles from your last one.

So far, Schmargendorf has treated us fine with its captivating views and convenient shopping layout. With our ever improving German, we’ve navigated the worlds of finance, electronics, retail, postal services and public transportation with little trouble and few casualties. And today brought my first full day of life in German.

May 20, 2009January 20, 2017

Baby Goes Transatlantic

It may come as no surprise to those learned in the ways of babies, but our 3-month-old is growing. His occasional smiles have turned into regular smiles, and his scattered coos have turned into a sort of talking, and laughing, and whining, and sharing. Small things have become exciting for me–like describing all of the items in a grocery store, or narrating the curious characters who may cross our paths.

But these developmental events will be compounded by an even grander experience for our young one: As of June 2, our family will be residents of Berlin, Germany!

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December 31, 2008June 18, 2023

New Year, Some Old Problems

The festive holiday season had clearly arrived, along with the commercials for payday loans or video games, there were more homeless men and women seeming to flood vacant street corners with sometimes curious signs.

Phoenix is an anomaly because of its climate.

A warm summer prevents homeless residents from panhandling during the day. It’s just too hot, and every year people literally die from the 115 degree highs.

But during the holiday season homelessness is more evident, though the legitimacy of those in need is not always clear.

December 17, 2008January 20, 2017

Renewing Our Energy: Berlin to Hamburg

From an empty darkness came strands of golden, glowing lace, curving through the black night like an ancient language atop a lit canvas. It was only the Irish coast, and Manchester, England at 4 a.m. But the beauty was vivid, and the reality clear: my long day was about to get longer. I had left Phoenix 14 hours before, and was set to land in Berlin to tour the country’s renewable energy sites. I was eager to learn, and open to experience a European perspective on energy as presented by the German government and NGO InWent.

So as the passport official had me lift my cap as he compared passport photo to real guy, I hopped on the TXL bus toward Prenzlauerberg. That evening I’d meet my colleagues, and begin the Transatlantic Climate Bridge.

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November 28, 2008April 29, 2021

In Search of Energy

I didn’t ask for this chance.

When I returned from two months in Germany after a still-productive stint as a Burns Fellow, I planned to continue life in the states, maybe apply for a few transatlantic awards, maybe try to sell a few of my European stories to the networks here, maybe drink a smoothie or two.

But then something happened. Networking happened.

The local honorary German consul had helped me story storm before heading abroad, and I’ve worked with him on a few feature stories in the past. The German Embassy in Washington was looking for a handful of nominations from consular offices, of journalists with an interest in Germany and renewable energy.

And with my journalistic dossier continuing to fill with internationally-focused radio stories, my name happened to make it into the mix…

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November 16, 2008August 15, 2020

Adapting to “Normal”

You could call this a precursor to the much-anticipated “In Search of Blue Water: Part 2.” I’m sure my reflections on sailing the coastal waters of Catalina/Santa Barbara Islands will be just as potent, if not more introspective. This post is my warm-up. The last weeks re-acclimating to the U.S., to another time zone, to “standard” food, entertainment, and everyday trials have been interestingly frustrating. No thanks to, but not exclusively because of, the Sandman.

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November 15, 2008January 20, 2017

The World Is Flat

Being as hip as I am, I’m now reading Thomas Friedman’s 2006 book on globalization “The World is Flat.” The New York Times Columnist is sharp in international affairs, and tells the tale of outsourcing from many perspectives: the Chinese learning Japanese to serve Japanese companies; the Mormon housewives and retirees hired by Jet Blue airlines to work the company’s reservation system; the call centers in India serving any number of U.S. companies.

Friedman tells of how Indians earn about $300 a month to work in these places, with full medical coverage for ALL family and free dinners every night. Most of these workers have MBA’s, and at minimum undergraduate degrees in something impressive like engineering or mathematics.

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