Once you leave, you're no longer of that country, but you are never actually of the country that you go to, and if you go back, you're not anywhere. You never belong to anything.

I would never tell anybody to get a divorce.

A wild appreciation of men and women . . . who passionately and fearlessly and recklessly redefine romance. . . . The passionate creatures who refuse to play it safe and settle down now have an intelligent, like-minded advocate.

Just send the emails and talk to people. Spend all your money on nail polish and opera tickets.

I knew my motivations for going to each place and what I was looking for. If I don't do that then I generally don't write about my travels.

I was twenty-one when I was hired by Planned Parenthood. It was my first work experience outside of either temping or working for my father at his store.

American culture never necessarily made sense to me, but they should warn you: leaving comes with a huge sense of alienation that never goes away.