After a too-long hiatus, T&S is happy to announce that our guest-blogging machinery is slowly creaking back to life…. And we’re especially happy to announce that the first of (what we hope to be) several guest-bloggers familiar to our readers is Erica Merrell–better known to almost all as “Amira,” the thoughtful writer behind The Golden Road to Samarqand and the ringleader of the group blog Conversation. Erica currently lives in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, about as far away from a Mormon community of any size as you can possibly get; her husband is teaching law on a Fulbright there, and her adventures make for delightful reading (try this one, and this one), and sometimes heartbreaking reading too (see here and here). She has degrees in international reations, Near Eastern studies and Arabic, loves to read and learn about “anything international” and watch geysers erupt. Erica will be sharing her thoughts with us for the next couple weeks. Erica, welcome aboard!
LDS Newsroom
- Concern Over Changes to Home Storage Centers Unnecessary June 17, 2013
- Social Media Gives New Twist to Tabernacle Choir’s 2013 Tour June 17, 2013
- Mormonism in Pictures: Temple Square Attracts Millions of Visitors | 14 June 2013 June 14, 2013
- Father's Day Video: Remember What It Takes to Be a Good Father June 12, 2013
- Church Providing Relief After Most Recent Oklahoma Tornadoes June 6, 2013
- VIDEO: Moore, Oklahoma, Woman Leaves For Mormon Mission in Wake of Tornado June 6, 2013
- Mormons Around the World: Country Newsroom Websites | 5 June June 5, 2013
- Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Donate Wisconsin Historical Marker June 5, 2013
- "On Faith" Column: Scouts Policy Should Be Seen for What It Is: A Reaffirmation of Core Values May 31, 2013
- Mormonism in the News: Getting It Right | 30 May 2013 May 30, 2013
Return of the Guest-Bloggers: T&S Welcomes Erica (Amira) Merrell
11 Responses to Return of the Guest-Bloggers: T&S Welcomes Erica (Amira) Merrell
Conferences and Events
- LDS Semi-Annual General Conference
- Book of Mormon Lands Conference
- BYU Religious Education Student Symposium
- Reid L. Nielson: "The Latter-day Saints and the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair"
- Joseph and Marilyn Bentley: "Mormons and the Holy Land"
- Armand L. Mauss: "The Intellectual Journey of a Mormon Academic"
- Mormon Theology Seminar
- American Society of Church History Annual Meeting
- American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting
- Communal Studies Association Annual Meeting
Welcome Erica! We’re so glad you’ve agreed to guest at T&S for awhile. I’m looking forward to your posts.
Erica, given how much we’ve enjoyed your responses here and the intelligence, compassion, and wit of your posts other places, I’m looking forward to your “visit” with us. Thanks.
Awesome!
Although I thought Amira was your real first name.
Welcome!
Cool! I’m surprised she hasn’t been doing this earlier.
Thanks! What a nice welcome to wake up to. I am looking foward to this.
Hooray, I’m anxiously looking forward to reading your posts. I’m already a big Amira fan!
Yup, me, too. I had no idea you were so educated. I thought you were just an ordinary girl in a foreign country. :)
I thought your name was Amira, too! One of my best friends is named Amira and for a moment when I first saw your comments I thought you were her. :-)
uhhh… she. (blushes)
annegb, I’m not quite as educated as it sounds. I actually just have a BA in international relations and NES with a minor in Arabic. And since I don’t know if we’ll ever live near a school that offers anything like Central Asian politics, I’m probably out of luck for a masters degree.