curiosity kindled the kat @katvangerpen - Tumblr Blog

Casually cheering on both American teams in the World Championships for Beach Volleyball. We totally planned this! 🇺🇸 (at Vienna, Austria)

Budapest, you da best. Thanks for reuniting me with my best friend. (at Budapest, Hungary)

So sad to be leaving these crazies today. Bali, it's been good. (at Badung, Bali, Indonesia)

🇦🇺🇺🇸🇦🇺 (at Perth, Western Australia)

Home is where you can sit in the sand, in the middle of winter, and in the company of good friends. Australia never disappoints. (at Dalyellup Beach)

These two crazy kids just got engaged and are leaving for a year to teach in the Marshall Islands! Congratulations and good luck, Jasmin and Frank. Sending you so much love ❤️

You know you're in Scotland when they hand you a beer at the end of a half marathon. #IsleofSkyeHalfMarathon (at Isle of Skye Half Marathon)

#isleofskyehalfmarathon

Pinkies up for an afternoon tea! (at The Dome)

Edinburgh meets the family. (at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)

Happy graduation weekend, Andrew! Watching you grow up has been a joy. Throw your cap high tomorrow, and we'll celebrate Scottish-style next week! Love you bro ❤️

Here's a rare photo of me in Scotland--the place where strangers sing to you when it's sunny outside. (at Craigvinean Forest)

Happy Mother's Day to the woman who has always encouraged me to create and explore, even if it meant messing up her hair.

Lost in the right direction. (at Sahara Desert, Morocco)

I've searched the world over and never found a mom as amazing as you! Happy Birthday, Mom! ❤️

Shukran

Sometimes it takes a small effort to overflow your empty cup. On Saturday, my small effort to make it to Waverly Station by 1:30 pm completely replenished a draining bucket. Once a month, a group from my church organizes a get-together for Syrian families to encourage friendships and to help them become acquainted to Scotland. Beneath an umbrella of azure heaven, forty-five Syrians and a handful of Episcopalians climbed into a carriage destined for North Berwick, a seaside village northeast of Edinburgh. Last month we visited North Berwick with another group, and beautiful weather blessed both gatherings.

I chose a gym trip over lunch, knowing I could grab something in a shop after we reached the beach. As everyone spread out their blankets and released the toddlers from their prams, I made a quick trip to the local grocery store to purchase a protein bar and crackers. When I returned to the sand, one group gestured for me to join them. They made space on their blanket and handed me something enveloped in a paper towel. The homemade wrap erased all eagerness toward my protein bar. After sharing their food, the two couples also shared their music, dance moves, and children with me. We clapped and boogied to Arabic party tunes, and one of my new friends questioned, “Are you sure Kat isn’t from Syria?”

Thanking them for showing and sharing their culture with me, I remembered one of the few Arabic phrases I learned in Morocco: “Shukran.” I told them thank you in Arabic, and they clapped and wooed with glee! “Kat is from Syria!” To allow the parents time to themselves, I chased and carried children for the rest of the afternoon. A toddler of two immediately found comfort in my arms and rested her head on my shoulder. In my effort to accompany others, I’ve once again been shown love and compassion from them.

The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. –Leviticus 19:34

Thankful for this friend and this country. #AuRevoirFrance (at France)

#aurevoirfrance

C'est bon! 🇫🇷 (at Rocamadour, France)

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curiosity kindled the kat