Set in modern day Turkey this is the true story of a woman who, after taking stock of her life, asked the proverbial question, "Is that all there is?" She had a devoted husband, a comfortable lifestyle in an upscale suburb of a Midwestern town, a bevy of close friends and a stellar career as an educator. She and her husband spent their holidays jetting around the world to exotic locations. She was respected and loved in her community. Yet, none of this was enough. In the midst of a crowded room, she felt alone. She was haunted by the fear that she was never good enough. She needed the constant rush of adrenaline that comes from living on the edge. After feeling that she had exhausted all of the possibilities that her Midwestern setting provided for this, she decided to accept a teaching position in southeastern Turkey and signed a two year contract. Little did she know that this decision would end up altering the course of her life forever . It describes in exquisite detail many of the startling differences she encountered as she attempted to assimilate into the Turkish culture It's a humorous, compelling, and heart-wrenching true story about one woman's struggle to finally find happiness and fulfillment.

Set in modern day Turkey this is the true story of a woman who, after taking stock of her life, asked the proverbial question, "Is that all there is?" She had a devoted husband, a comfortable lifestyle in an upscale suburb of a Midwestern town, a bevy of close friends and a stellar career as an educator. She and her husband spent their holidays jetting around the world to exotic locations. She was respected and loved in her community. Yet, none of this was enough. In the midst of a crowded room, she felt alone. She was haunted by the fear that she was never good enough. She needed the constant rush of adrenaline that comes from living on the edge. After feeling that she had exhausted all of the possibilities that her Midwestern setting provided for this, she decided to accept a teaching position in southeastern Turkey and signed a two year contract. Little did she know that this decision would end up altering the course of her life forever . It describes in exquisite detail many of the startling differences she encountered as she attempted to assimilate into the Turkish culture It's a humorous, compelling, and heart-wrenching true story about one woman's struggle to finally find happiness and fulfillment.

This essay collection explores the life and work of science fiction doyen Ray Bradbury from a variety of perspectives. Noting the impact of the Southwest on Bradbury, some of the essays analyze Bradbury's southwest metaphors: colonial pollution of a pristine ecology, the impacts of a colonial invasion upon an indigenous population, the meeting of cultures with different values and physical aspects. Other essays view Bradbury via the lens of post-colonialism, drawing parallels between such works as The Martian Chronicles and real-life colonialism and its effects. Another essay views Bradbury sociologically, analyzing border issues in his 1947 New Yorker story "I See You Never," written long before the issue of Mexican deportees appeared on the American literary horizon. From the scientific side, four essays by astronomers document how Bradbury formed the minds of many budding scientists with his vision. On August 22, 2012, the Martian landing site of the Curiosity rover in the Gale Crater was named "Bradbury." This honor shows that Bradbury forms a significant link between the worlds of fiction and planetary science.