In 1974, Douglas Hergert landed in Kabul, Afghanistan, to begin what would become a five-year, two-country tour in the Peace Corps. He lived and worked for two years in Afghanistan - when the country was still a peaceful and beautiful place to visit. Then he transferred to Senegal, in West Africa. During his Peace Corps years, Hergert had great adventures, which, now many years later, he shares with humor and warm attention to detail: Living in a mud house in rural Afghanistan Attending a village Afghan wedding Learning to barter in Pashto in the bazaars of Afghanistan Eating in a kabaab shop in Kandahar, the only foreigner present Experiencing an earthquake in southern Afghanistan Teaching at the University of Dakar Getting married at the Cathedral of Dakar Shopping for a Thanksgiving turkey in Kaolack, Senegal Mastering the art of Senegalese cuisine Living with the mysteries of cross-linguistic meaning Nurturing an African son"