Travel – Ben East Books

Profile: Frank Almaguer

Feb 24, 2026

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in Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Latin America, Nonfiction, Peace Corps, Profiles in Service, Writing

You Peace Corps people know so much more about the country than most of our politicians do. -attributed to Honduran President Carlos Roberto FloresView post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

Profile: Donald Bliss

Feb 18, 2026

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Ben East

in Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Government Studies, history, Nonfiction, Peace Corps, Profiles in Service, publishing, Reading, Storytelling, Washington, Writing

Profiles in Service: Peace Corps Roots in American Diplomacy is now available and I’m reviving the practice of sharing memorable stories from the collection.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

New Year Cornerstone

Jan 2, 2026

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Ben East

in Calendar, Health, Holidays, India, Mumbai, Time

“Happy New Year.” A simple admonition, a statement of hope and promise, but also of purpose. A happy year won’t just occur. You must make it occur.

Happy New Year

Dec 30, 2025

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Ben East

in Books, Foreign Affairs, Holidays, Nonfiction, Peace Corps, Podcast, Profiles in Service, Virginia Writers Club, Writing

I wanted to reflect on what 2025 meant for me as a newly retired diplomat & RPCV, and and how SoftPower/FulStories contributed to that transition

Christmas Sanctuary

Dec 26, 2025

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Ben East

in Blogs, Christmas, Family, Health, Holidays, India, Inspiration, Nature, Peace, Seasons, Time, Travel, Writing

A boating excursion on India’s Kavery River brought unexpected sightings and peaceful reflection as we move from the holidays to preparing for the new yearView post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

Last December, a Post a Day

Dec 1, 2025

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Ben East

in Blogs, Book Reviews, Books, Calendar, Christmas, Crime, Fiction, Holidays, Inspiration, Nonfiction, Travel, Writing

Reviving last year’s tradition of a blog post every day in December. This might get nutty.

Backstory: Hope and Tragedy

Nov 11, 2025

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Ben East

in Blogs, Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, India, Movies, Mumbai, Music, Nonfiction, Podcast, Profiles in Service, Storytelling

Former diplomat Ben East tries his hand at podcasting when his nonfiction fails to take hold. Will fellow public servant Rob Batchelder bail him out? Can the Great Indian Bustard help?View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

Education in Cameroon and Mali

Nov 6, 2025

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Ben East

in Africa, Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Government Studies, Inspiration, Nonfiction, Peace Corps, Podcast, Profiles in Service, Reading, Storytelling, Travel

Ambassador White’s story, and the energy with which she told it, revealed the first, cleanest line from Peace Corps service to successful diplomacyView post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

Profile: Pamela White

Nov 4, 2025

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Ben East

in Africa, Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Government Studies, Inspiration, Nonfiction, Peace Corps, Podcast, Profiles in Service, Recipes, Travel

Peace Corps taught Pamela White that learning English was no fun in Cameroon with Eurocentric texts filled with poodles. So she generated her own materials.View post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

Hostage Crisis III and the Ghosts of Camelot

Oct 31, 2025

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Ben East

in Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Government Studies, history, Middle East, Nonfiction, Peace Corps, Politics, Profiles in Service, Travel, War, Washington

Metrinko was cleaned up and brought to meet Tehran’s Friday prayer leader Ali Khamenei. In the room were a camera crew and the SFIL spokesperson, Niloufar EbtekarView post to subscribe to the site’s newsletter.

Tag: Travel