About

This blog a way for me to store in one place the essays I write, which are mostly about my personal and family history. My mother is a Finnish-American immigrant and my father was a college professor raised in a small rural community of Downey, Idaho. I grew up in Utah but married a farmer-turned sociology teacher and high school counselor from Brocket, North Dakota. Because of the many cultures that produced me, I’ve never felt I really fit in any one of them. In fact, I thought about naming the blog “Misfits International” but decided to go with a more positive “Friends Without Borders” in hopes that my stories will promote cross-cultural understanding.   I encourage readers to share their stories in the comments section.