Boots, Bikes and Border Crossings
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My Dreams of Becoming Wife Number 63
Before I came to Paraguay, I told several friends that I was going to stay with the Mennonites. Their response? “Well, don’t be surprised if you come home as the 63rd wife of a Mennonite!” Apparently they had a very interesting idea of Mennonite culture. I have now done my research and, sadly, I have…
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The Women and Children Behind the Silence
There is another, much darker side to the history of the strict traditional Mennonite colonies of Paraguay. This is not a story about all Mennonites or every Mennonite family. Many are loving, hardworking and deeply committed to their families. But in a society built around obedience, religious authority, conformity and family reputation, women and children…
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Beyond the Bonnet: Marilyn and the Progressive Mennonites
After everything I have been learning about Mennonite history and the much stricter traditions of some conservative communities, staying here with Marilyn and her family has given me a rather different perspective. Marilyn comes from a Mennonite family whose parents were among the founders of a more progressive Mennonite community. They kept many of the…
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When Community Comes Before the Individual
The traditional Mennonite way of life was built around a simple but extraordinarily powerful principle: the community came before the individual. Faith wasn’t confined to Sunday worship. It governed how you dressed, who you married, how you raised your children, what you learned, what technology you used, how you behaved and even who you could…
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The Goose That Got Away From the Puma (Then Ended Up in Curry)
It’s your day off. The plan is simple, noble even: sit quietly and finish that urgent sewing job due next Wednesday. No drama, no deadlines other than the one already breathing down your neck. Just you, fabric, and the sweet silence of productivity. Enter Marilyn … “Do you like to cook?” she asks, in that…
Visited Countries
Interactive World Map
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Route Plan (Eastern Europe)
Here’s the planned route PDF. Download below.
Route Map
About Me
Happy, grateful, and full of joy – that’s how I see my life. Growing up in the small country town of Karaka, New Zealand, I was a curious little girl who dreamed of seeing the world. At 14, I took my first trip overseas to Fiji, and since then I’ve explored 66 countries, each adventure filling me with wonder at new cultures, unexpected moments, and the thrill of discovery.
I’ve leapt from planes, dived into unseen depths of the ocean, pedaled across borders, and roared through deserts on motorbikes. From crossing the Gobi Desert on two wheels to cruising down to Antarctica, from riding through roads less traveled to moments that took my breath away, I collect memories, not possessions.
Contact Me
Have a question or want to collaborate? Drop me a line.