Communicating across the boundaries of faith, work, culture, values & more
- Facts:Married with 5 Kids.Public Health Nurse.
- Loves:God.family.Middle East.Pakistan.my passport.curry.travel
- Passions: communication.truth.living cross-culturally
- Desires: To know God.love people.make a difference
From Boston to Pakistan and many points in between, this third culture kid blogs about life, faith, travel, third culture kid peculiarities, cross-cultural communication, Pakistan, the Middle East and more. With a love of people, books, film, and the world, she invites others to join in the conversation.
Communicating Across Boundaries is about learning to express views on culture, faith, values, beliefs, and more in order to arrive at points of understanding . This blog is one of millions of blogs available on the internet. My hope is that it will be of interest to many and serve as a voice for Readers as well as Authors. That it will become an “interchange of thoughts and feelings through writing that takes us to, and across the outer limits”.
com·mu·ni·cate [kuh-myoo-ni-keyt] –verb to give or interchange thoughts, feelings, information, or the like, by writing or speaking; bound·a·ry [boun-duh-ree, -dree] –noun, plural -ries something that indicates bounds or limits; outer limits
The creator of this blog respects, appreciates, and wants honest dialogue.
The author was born in Massachusetts in a small town called Winchendon, known for it’s famous Toy Factory. At 3-months of age she was packed up with diapers and dollies and taken on a 6-week ocean journey to the country of Pakistan. Pakistan became her adopted home and she had less and less in common with her passport country. She moved to the United States after graduation from high-school and became a Registered Nurse. She was fortunate to marry her soul-mate and they embarked on a life of adventure and surprise which has continued through 5 kids, 3 continents and many houses. Her international experience includes growing up in Pakistan, working as a nurse in Pakistan, raising a family for 3 years in Pakistan and 7 years in Egypt, numerous medical missions trips to various countries – (the latest in October 2010 to Pakistan to participate in Medical flood relief) and a host of other just plain fun trips all over the world.
The author would love to hear from you! Please fill out the form below and submit!
Hi, I really love reading your blog. You have a singularly unique outlook and perspective on the world that is so refreshing to encounter. Your posts never fail to make me think and deliberate deeply, which I think is the mark of a brilliant blog.
So, I’ve nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award, to find out more, check out http://versatilebloggeraward.wordpress.com/ or http://laurasdimension.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/versatile-blogger-award/.
Thanks, and I look forward to reading more of your fantastic posts.
:-D
Laura – yesterday was a crazy day of work for me and I woke up this morning to read this message! Thank.you.SO.much! Your words are full of affirmation. I’m heading over to your blog and please know you made my day!
Thank you for finding me today. You sound like you’ve had some pretty incredible experiences. I am looking forward to reading your blog!
Hi Marilyn, so glad to have discovered your wonderful blog. I think your photo at the top is fabulous and says it all. Can’t wait to read more and more. All the Best, Terri Vance
What a welcome comment on a bleak day! Thank you!
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Delighted to find your blog through Melissa at Outbound Mom. It’s a fascinating life, that of an expat! I enjoyed a few years as a child and now am going on my 26th as an adult. Looking forward to reading my way through your blog.
Thanks for sharing!
Stacy
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Marilyn-
It looks like I’m a little late to the party, but I’m glad I found you (not sure how I got here). I work for a non-profit that raises money for international humanitarian and environmental projects around the world. I appreciate the voice you bring to the discussion that reminds us all that the world is a much bigger place than we can even comprehend.
Laura
Laura – you so are NOT late for the party :) So glad you came by and your site looks like something to blog about! I would love to have you do a guest post or I could write something and link up. Right now I’m trying to raise awareness and money for fistula operations. I think I do this mostly because when I forget how big the world is I get petty over some pretty stupid stuff….so thank you for your affirmation on the voice. Would love to hear more about your work. Thanks again for coming by!
I would love to do a guest post. You can contact me directly at laura@alternativegifts.org. Thanks for the reply – I love how the web makes new friendships possible.
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Hello Marilyn, you’ve just received a One Lovely Blog Award! Congratulations! You can check it out here: http://jrlim.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/and-the-award-goes-to/
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Massively impressed – what an eventful life you’ve led! I came over through a third party link to ‘saudade’- which made my day, week and month by the way!- and will certainly be back to read more. Great read.
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Nice blog you have got here! well done! :-)
Have a lovely day! :-)
Subhan Zein
Subhan – huge thanks for this compliment. thanks for reading.
Dear Marilyn,
There are a few people who make a difference in our lives through their words and you are one of them. Even though it may seem insignificant, I have nominated you for the Creative Chaos Award.
http://yousufbawany.wordpress.com/awards/creative-chaos/
All the best!
Yousuf
I am incredibly honored and touched by this award and the words in the comment. Thank you so much! It is significant…!
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Dear (Aunt-in-Law) Marilyn,
I’m not sure you know that I’m one of the many subscribers to your blog, but I am certain you don’t know that you’ve become a part of my every morning. Your blogs make me smile, make me think, make me learn and make me share. I couldn’t be more “California Girl” if I tried, but your writing not only takes me places I’ve never been but it shows me those places through different eyes. I love it. Thanks!
Maggie – I read this comment….then I read it again..and again..and…! I loved it. I had no idea you read it, and that you find it interesting and worth reading is unbelievably wonderful and affirming. Thank you seems inadequate. This is indeed a gift. Hugs to you, Mark, and the cutest little girl on ever earth. I am jealous that my brother had this amazing granddaughter!
Love your blog Marilyn and the passion with which you approach the subjects you address. Your compassion, understanding and love of all creatures great and small makes you one of my choices for the Versatile Blogger Award here… http://averilgomes.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/the-versatile-blogger-award/
To peace on earth
Averil
Congratulations on your recent nomination for the Hope Unites Globally HUG Award. To accept the award, please visit and follow the HUG Award Guidelines at http://ahopefortoday.com/2012/01/14/hope-unites-globally-hug-award-guidelines/. Please continue to let me know the names of persons and/or sites you nominate for this award by posting a comment on the HUG Award Guidelines page at http://ahopefortoday.com. May you be blessed as you continue the positive work you do for the good of all humanity. I am really looking forward to becoming more familiar with you and your site.
Blessings, Connie
Thank you so much – what a lovely surprise! I look forward to taking a look and thinking of others to nominate. Again – thank you!
It’s so cool to see people who are so open minded, and who lack the restrictions of past generations. You’ve had a fascinating life. I hope you continue being able to be so open minded to all cultures!
(:
SarahAlice – thank you so much for stopping by and for this comment. It’s funny how when it’s your own life you think “not fascinating at all” because it’s taken place in your own shoes and skin. I have been incredibly blessed I will say. Mark Twain has this great quote about travel being fatal to bigotry, narrow mindedness and prejudice, and while I know as a human being I still struggle with all those – I would agree with him that it makes you think twice and see through a different lens. Thanks again.
Marilyn, what a fascinating life you’ve had. So great to see your heart for people and your faith. I’m following your blog now.
I’m very new to blogging. I love to read blogs where the writer has a clear voice, like yours.
So delighted to have you read! Welcome. I’m actually only 11 months into blogging and it has been a good learning journey so delighted to have you comment. It’s interesting that I use the word fascinating about other peoples lives but never think of it for my own! It was a dentist who said to me once “You have had a fascinating life – use it!” Still don’t use the word but definitely want to continue developing a voice. I look forward to getting to your blog as well.
Hello Marilyn,
I just replied to your comment on my blog but felt compelled to say something here as well. First, I really like the image on top of this page. Second, I ended up reading a couple of your posts because I liked the way you wrote, with openness & ease. Third, your most recent post (I have put up a link to it on my blog) sort of helped me figure out something I am going through currently.
I look forward to more visits from you. And I hope to come back to read more insightful posts here. Thank you for visiting me!
P.S. – By the way, I have an immaculate coffee table (am obssessed with de-cluttering). I guess you know what that means :) If you would still like to risk coming over to my blog, I would welcome you!
Hahaha!! I loved the PS part best of all! Are you kidding – I LOVE people with immaculate coffee tables…it was just such a good title that I risked offense :)
Thanks for coming over and I am so glad that the latest post helped. I am sure you can relate that there are times when I think why do I do this? And then I read a comment like this and am encouraged to move forward. So thank you!
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Dear Marilyn,
I am thrilled to read your history in Pakistan as I was there at BCH at the same time. I may have been at your graduation from MCS! I will keep enjoying your stories. Maylenes father was our field chairman. She painted a picture for me to earn money in HS. I treasure it. Bless you. Barb(Evans) Knoll
Barb – thank you so much for finding my blog and reading! I also have what I call my “early Maylene” (If there can be early Picasso’s there can certainly be early Maylene’s!”) So glad you read and commented and you probably were at my graduation. Did you know Ralph & Polly Brown perchance?
Hi Marily,
Yes, I did know your parents. Not sure they would remember me as we worked in different areas, but I knew them and recognized your Dad’s picture. If I am right they were with CBFMS. I worked in Shikarpur twice so they could go to AFC. I know Nate and Marty and many others of that era. Have been in contact with Arlene since Bill passed away, plus Mark and Donna, and Jon Mitchell and his parents and bro and sis. Love re-connecting. my favorite is Mosoor ki Dal and I drink Chai every morning and use Basmati rice and use curry spices a lot. I also love Pakistan with many good memories. Barb
Dear Marilyn,
please forgive my mistakes, I’m not used to write in english. Your blog is very nice, and I thank internet I can read about a so interesting experiences! I’m sure I can learn a lot from it.
Regards from Italy,
Giorgia
Thank you so much for this comment. My daughter just returned from 6months in Italy and loved it so much. Your English is beautiful….I wish I could say the same for my Italian!
What a rich and textured heritage and background! Fabulous blog x
Just discovered your blog, Marilyn, through a link posted by a mutual friend. Happy to have found it and look forward to checking back in from time to time.
Thanks so much Joel! Good to hear from you and so glad you read.
Your blog is fabulous! Just reading it takes me places! Please keep sharing your experiences. They’re truly worth telling.
Sampurna – thankyou! I’m so glad you found it and so glad you read and commented.
So glad to come across you Marilyn. i am sure i am goign to enjoy your posts extensively and end up learning a lot.
Pari
Dear Marilyn,
it is truly wonderful to see your blog. You look truly happy and lovely as ever. How long will you stay in Pakistan? Hoping that you can touch the lives of many people in a positive way.
Have an enchanting and magical 2011,
Petra and Jacqueline (Phoenix)