SAM!!! I'm so glad to hear from you and to hear you're all safe. I thought of you a lot over this chaotic stretch. I had family stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi after the US and Israel attacked Iran and it was a scary time. Much remains up in the air.
I want to hear more about BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYBYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! I'll message you.
Noha!!! ❤️ I hope your family are all okay? It was (and continues to be) terrifying for the whole region. And I will talk your ear off re: baby literally anytime, he is the best!!
I was just thinking about you! Glad you are back. Glad you are working and writing the way you want to. Years ago, I was in the Foreign Service and then my world shrunk when I had kids. And yes, I wrote a book about it. So I find much of what you are experiencing relatable. Savor every moment. That old saw is true - it goes by very fast. And many things can be copy :)
I am so glad you are back again on Caravanseri. And that you are in the US. Although I'm sure the adjustment has been challenging. It's so much more fun to go discover a new country, even with all the difficulties, than to be back where you started. At least it was for me after 26 years in Rome.
Welcome back! New fan from your hiatus and very happy to hear that you and your family are safe.
Your previously locked posts can't be accessed without a subscription (first example in the archive - https://samanthachildress.substack.com/p/wandering-thoughts-3-what-adventures). Would you consider adding a subscription option for people who are interested in reading the archive even if there won't be new paid content?
Hi gc! So glad to have you here! I had never thought about adding a subscription option so people could view the archive, but it makes sense and I will definitely consider it! Thanks for the suggestion...I had been thinking about what a shame it was that my paid content would be locked going forward, and this might be a good solution.
and oofa your evacuation story. I thought of you when the war began but thought to myself oh they have surely moved onto their next post. I lived for 18 months in DC on what began as a medevac from Niamey to have my son. My husband was a USAID contractor then so not only had we lost our home he had lost his job! I feel for you in your uprooted nomadic chaos.
Enjoy that sweet boy of yours! (mine is coming home to me here in Venice in 7 days!)
Oh my goodness Gillian, I can't imagine rolling straight from postpartum into a period of limbo in DC. This lifestyle comes with plenty of privileges, but it demands an awful lot of us. I hope you have a wonderful visit with your son!
Sam, I’ve been thinking of you and your family often and awaiting an update! I’m so happy everyone is safe. and I’m THRILLED you’re back to the newsletter!
I am so happy to receive this update from you, Sam, and to know that you are going to continue with Caravanserai. You are the best travel writer on Substack, and I am really looking forward to reading your pieces again.
I have been really worried about you being in Jordan and am glad to hear that you are safe back in the States--but very sad that your life was so disrupted by this stupid war. Did you manage to get your wonderful dog out as well?
Thank you so much for this comment, Clarice—I’m so touched! I hope you’ve been well!
Boo is still in Jordan, which has been really hard…but she will be coming to the U.S. next month to be with us! When we first evacuated, we assumed we would eventually be going back to Jordan, and we couldn’t bear the thought of putting her on an international flight just to make her turn back around. So she’s been staying with our son’s nanny, whom she loves and whose apartment is in a safer area than ours was. We’ve missed her so much and can’t wait to see her.
We are in a rented house! It was every man for themselves when the evacuation happened, so we took the first thing we found. It's worked out decently for us, whereas it sounds like the folks at the Arlington complex have had a huge number of problems staying in their housing. Though we're going to need to move to something more permanent soon...the fun never ends.
Welcome back! I was one of the readers at Consequence who first read your essay. I can't wait to see it in print! :)
kayo, it's so good to be connected here! I'm honored that you all chose to run my piece and am super excited to see it come out!
SAM!!! I'm so glad to hear from you and to hear you're all safe. I thought of you a lot over this chaotic stretch. I had family stranded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi after the US and Israel attacked Iran and it was a scary time. Much remains up in the air.
I want to hear more about BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYBYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! I'll message you.
Noha!!! ❤️ I hope your family are all okay? It was (and continues to be) terrifying for the whole region. And I will talk your ear off re: baby literally anytime, he is the best!!
I was just thinking about you! Glad you are back. Glad you are working and writing the way you want to. Years ago, I was in the Foreign Service and then my world shrunk when I had kids. And yes, I wrote a book about it. So I find much of what you are experiencing relatable. Savor every moment. That old saw is true - it goes by very fast. And many things can be copy :)
Good to hear from you, Alison! I'll have to check out your book--the Foreign Service life gives us writers plenty of fodder, ha.
❣️❣️❣️ Ah my gorl is back!!! 🥹
A reward for ten rejections! Love it! I really enjoyed reading this update. And yes, your son is the best baby ever. <3
Congratulations, Sam! Wonderful to have you back on here :)
I am so glad you are back again on Caravanseri. And that you are in the US. Although I'm sure the adjustment has been challenging. It's so much more fun to go discover a new country, even with all the difficulties, than to be back where you started. At least it was for me after 26 years in Rome.
Welcome back! New fan from your hiatus and very happy to hear that you and your family are safe.
Your previously locked posts can't be accessed without a subscription (first example in the archive - https://samanthachildress.substack.com/p/wandering-thoughts-3-what-adventures). Would you consider adding a subscription option for people who are interested in reading the archive even if there won't be new paid content?
Hi gc! So glad to have you here! I had never thought about adding a subscription option so people could view the archive, but it makes sense and I will definitely consider it! Thanks for the suggestion...I had been thinking about what a shame it was that my paid content would be locked going forward, and this might be a good solution.
Welcome back and good to know that you and the family are safe and well.
Thank you, Jeffrey! It's been quite the journey.
SO lovely to find your note in my inbox – welcome back, dear @Samantha Childress; I have SO missed reading your beautiful essays.
Narina! So good to see your name pop up!! The best thing about being back is reconnecting with old Substack friends :)
Oh what a delight to hear from you!
and oofa your evacuation story. I thought of you when the war began but thought to myself oh they have surely moved onto their next post. I lived for 18 months in DC on what began as a medevac from Niamey to have my son. My husband was a USAID contractor then so not only had we lost our home he had lost his job! I feel for you in your uprooted nomadic chaos.
Enjoy that sweet boy of yours! (mine is coming home to me here in Venice in 7 days!)
Oh my goodness Gillian, I can't imagine rolling straight from postpartum into a period of limbo in DC. This lifestyle comes with plenty of privileges, but it demands an awful lot of us. I hope you have a wonderful visit with your son!
Sam, I’ve been thinking of you and your family often and awaiting an update! I’m so happy everyone is safe. and I’m THRILLED you’re back to the newsletter!
Erin! So delightful to hear from you and to be back in the fold! Hope all is well with you :)
I am so happy to receive this update from you, Sam, and to know that you are going to continue with Caravanserai. You are the best travel writer on Substack, and I am really looking forward to reading your pieces again.
I have been really worried about you being in Jordan and am glad to hear that you are safe back in the States--but very sad that your life was so disrupted by this stupid war. Did you manage to get your wonderful dog out as well?
Thank you so much for this comment, Clarice—I’m so touched! I hope you’ve been well!
Boo is still in Jordan, which has been really hard…but she will be coming to the U.S. next month to be with us! When we first evacuated, we assumed we would eventually be going back to Jordan, and we couldn’t bear the thought of putting her on an international flight just to make her turn back around. So she’s been staying with our son’s nanny, whom she loves and whose apartment is in a safer area than ours was. We’ve missed her so much and can’t wait to see her.
I'm glad you'll be reunited soon!
Ughh...Are you in your own house or do they have you at that complex in Arlington?
We are in a rented house! It was every man for themselves when the evacuation happened, so we took the first thing we found. It's worked out decently for us, whereas it sounds like the folks at the Arlington complex have had a huge number of problems staying in their housing. Though we're going to need to move to something more permanent soon...the fun never ends.
Congratulations on the birth of your son! It was nice to see your name pop up in my inbox. Good luck with your writing projects and feeling settled.
Thank you so much, Vicki! It's good to see your name pop up in my inbox, too! Hope you've been well :)
Welcome back! Congratulations on the birth of your son, on your novel in progress, and on your essays.
Thank you so much, Claire! Good to hear from you, I hope you've been well!!