Category Archives: Blog

I had the opportunity to admire the brilliant mosaics decorating the Jameh Mosque of Yazd this fall while a guest speaker for Harvard University in the Islamic Republic of Iran…

Whenever I travel as a guest speaker to the Islamic Republic of Iran — as I did this fall for Harvard University — I like to whirl through Eram Garden, the template for paradise…

Seriously come to the ruins of Persepolis in the Islamic Republic of Iran — my friendly gatekeeper friends await you!

Looking forward to sharing more about this image and research endeavor soon in my academic work, stay tuned…

Iranians gather every year on October 29th to celebrate the unofficial holiday of “Cyrus Day.” I was at his tomb last year just hours before the large gathering emerged and evolved into a protest. As a result, the authorities were fearing what might unfold there this year. According to the powers that be, they foiled an online plan yesterday to organize an “illegal gathering” at the site. All roads to leading to Pasargad were closed.

I had the joy of seeing Gioachino Rossini’s L’Occasione fa il Ladro (Opportunity Makes a Thief) last night at the Royal Opera House in Muscat — great show (even wore some of my new Turkmen jewelry)! If you visit the Sultanate of Oman, definitely book a ticket to see a show at the Opera House or at least take a tour of it — it’s not to be missed!

I was very happy and grateful to be the expert guest speaker in Central Asia for the Commonwealth Club of California, the oldest and largest public affairs forum in the United States. Some of the many notable speakers in the history of the Club have included U.S. presidents back to Teddy Roosevelt (too many to count), Hillary Clinton, Desmond Tutu, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Gates, Mikhail Gorbachev, Kofi Annan, Robert F. Kennedy, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The mission of The Commonwealth Club of California is to be the leading national forum open to all for the impartial discussion of important public issues. Having spent significant periods of time in all five Central Asian Republics, I was elated to have the opportunity to share my expertise and experience in situ on the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan. Since I lived twice in Turkmenistan, I was especially delighted to share my experiences there with such an adventurous and enlightened group.

I was humbled and honored to be the expert guest speaker for Harvard University in the Islamic Republic of Iran this fall. Being with this adventurous and intelligent group brought back fond memories of my time teaching Near Eastern Studies at Harvard. It always brings me great pleasure to introduce Americans to Iranian literature, history, art, archaeology, culture, and film to increase understanding between our two nations. I’m looking forward to returning soon to Iran, inshallah…

I was honored to share my Iranian expertise and experience with adventurous folks from Stanford in Dubai on their way to travel through the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I had the opportunity to visit this beautiful and unique building — Gonbad-e Jabaliye — while an expert guest speaker for Harvard University in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The original purpose of this octagonal stone masterpiece in Kerman remains a mystery. I’m happy to share that I will now start posting photos more regularly (upon request!) from my far-flung travels from Mongolia to Rwanda and many places in between.

If you enjoyed my new NPR essay for On Being, “Performing ‘Our Town’ in Oman,” you might also like my previous On Being essay “Refugee Yoga in Beirut.”

I am so grateful that NPR’s stellar program On Being has published my latest essay — “Performing Our Town in Oman.” Thank you for any help in sharing the piece/peace via Facebook/Twitter/email. Here is a link as well to my previous On Being piece, “Refugee Yoga in Beirut.” Enjoy!

I’ve been overwhelmed (in a good way) this summer and fall with speaking engagements, fellowships, upcoming publications, and travel — so I’m looking forward to sharing all of my photos from the road soon when I catch up to myself!

Gorillas in the mist — and me! Here is a photo of me with my gorilla family this week in Uganda. I have so much to share from these past few months. My recent adventurous travels have carried me to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Mongolia, Rwanda, Uganda, Congo, Burundi, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the United Arab Emirates — so I’m a bit behind on sharing snapshots from the road. Stay tuned though, as I will soon be sharing unique glimpses of everything from yurt life in Mongolia to gorilla babies in Uganda. Never a dull moment!