writings by Rachel Rueckert
Despite my long-standing tradition of birthday goals, this year I hesitated to make a “28 Before 28” list. I’m in the process of trying to simplify my life. I’m slashing my ‘to-do’ lists and ‘to-be’ lists. But the good ol’ birthday goals seemed to make the cut, so long as...
SIX YEARS AGO I spent the summer in a remote village in Ghana on my first major international trip. I worked in a local high school where I volunteered and researched attitudes towards reading and the British education system. I loved the kids. I loved the community. This was the experience that...
“I have been convinced more than ever that human nature is much the same, no matter under what clime it flourishes, and that if you approached people with trust and affection you would have ten-fold trust and thousand-fold affection returned to you.” -M. K. Gandhi My friend Ashish swerved through...
Dear Sweden, I’m sorry I never really noticed you in the corner of the world. It was always Austin who wanted to be with you. I’ve spent the better part of my life oblivious to your charms. I’ll just come out and say it—after our latest get together I think...
Almost four hundred years ago my great, great+ grandpa, William Bradford, sailed on the Mayflower into Cape Cod into what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts. He later became the mayor of Plymouth Plantation and played a significant role in its history. Even though I have lived in this state for a...
ON THIS DAY one year ago I knelt at an altar, gripping the hand of my best friend who smiled across from me as I took the greatest leap of faith I have ever taken in my life. I remember walking out of the temple to a crowd of supportive friends and...
1. I now hate donuts. When I got home and bit into a gooey cream-filled donut my taste buds inexplicably revolted. Three years ago in Turkey I shocked my friend by confessing I didn’t eat vegetables, but now I find myself ditching ice cream, Ritz crackers, canned spaghetti sauce, and...
IT’S GOING TO BE hard to top last year’s birthday goals. I’ve planned on traveling the world for some time, and I got to live that dream for most of my 26th year. But now what? Luckily the world is a big place, but this year my goals are quieter and...
1 llama sweater from Peru 2 travel journals (completely filled) 1 XL sleeping sheet with new stains from the floor of the LaGuardia Airport 1 ribbed tank top from my wedding sporting Amazon River mud stains and the word “bride” written across the front 1 survivor of a D700 Nikon...
Hi! I'm Rachel. I'm a writer, photographer, educator, and world traveler. Read more about me and this website here.
