A Reason To Write

Meg
14:09 PM December 04, 2012

I loved reading "A Reason to Write" while the family was living in India. Some days were about something funny that happened, the next day it would be about a gut wrenching experience. I still think about the fact that the locals there thought it was crazy that the family had a pet cat and I'm occassionally haunted about the story of the man asking for $$ and the driver not allowing the author and her friend to stop. While I may never travel to India, I was able to through A Reason to Write!

Holly Michael
14:16 PM December 04, 2012

Love reading your blog. Hope you win the award!

Christy
15:19 PM December 04, 2012

I love reading reason to write blog. Though I never lived in India, her stories gave you inside experience of what it really is like to be there. Her writing is so interesting and funny at times that I always looked foward to her new stories.

Courtney
15:21 PM December 04, 2012

Well written, thoughtful, witty and reflective...everything you want in an expat blog...

Bryn Benning
15:24 PM December 04, 2012

Ellen, It has been so wonderful following your adventures in India. It's a rare expat who takes the time to share their experiences with those of us back home who aren't able to live abroad. Thank you!

Bob
15:27 PM December 04, 2012

Your blog provided a unique and thought provoking perspective for all of us who may never get the opportunity to travel or experience life like that. While often humorous, the entries that caused me to be introspective and consider my "place" on the planet were the most memorable. Congrats on the nomination. You are deserving of the award.

Carol
15:28 PM December 04, 2012

I've never been to India so when I found this blog it took me there. Places I have only read about in books, food I never seen or heard about, situations that made me sad and happy. Things you should never leave the USA without, peanut butter, hand wipes, toilet paper and any of your favorite foods. The writer explained how it felt for her and her family living in another country and give lots of information to anyone coming to India to live or for a visit. The blog made you want to read it every day.

Kali Hamlin
15:35 PM December 04, 2012

India came alive for me thanks to Ellen's incredible writing. I looked forward to it every day and was disappointed if there wasn't an entry that day!

Elizabeth
16:03 PM December 04, 2012

I loved reading this blog! Some days were funny, some thoughtful but all of them were very insightful in to a culture that I was not very familiar.

Mo
16:11 PM December 04, 2012

Love reading this blog! Ellen's writing is superb and engaging.

Debbie Lyman
16:12 PM December 04, 2012

I loved reading about your family's experiences in India. Many days your blog helped put my "problems" in perspective, and many, many other days, you put a smile on my face!

Linda
16:16 PM December 04, 2012

So happy to experience India with this girl!! She has a gift of putting pen to paper all of the good and not so good parts of India.

Rita Chakrabarti
16:47 PM December 04, 2012

Ellen is an excellent writer - always seems to capture my interest along with the wittiness and humor she incorporates in her writing!! She deserves to win!! GO ELLEN!!

Lyndia
16:55 PM December 04, 2012

Your humor infused blog is always a treat and an educational experience. Go Ellen!

Rosemary Graham
17:22 PM December 04, 2012

I was especially impressed with the sensitivity evidenced in the writing style of Ellen's blog. This along with the enthusiasm and insightfulness made their journey seem like I was a part of it.

Linda
17:59 PM December 04, 2012

Love reading this blog. Ellen's writing is charming and full of humor.

Alex Graham
18:41 PM December 04, 2012

A very insightful look at life outside of the USA and a culture we are accustomed to.

Gray Dowell
18:47 PM December 04, 2012

It was as if I was on the journey along with Ellen and her family. Her writing is insightful along with a twist of humour.

Joanna
19:12 PM December 04, 2012

I've never been to India, but Ellen's writing makes me want to go, to experience all this first hand!

Pat
20:06 PM December 04, 2012

Ellen's writing kept her friends close at heart while educating us about different cultures and customs, and, as always, she found a way to make us laugh!

J
21:16 PM December 04, 2012

Loved reading as Ellen and her family maneuvered their way around India!

J
21:38 PM December 04, 2012

Great blog!! I enjoyed the "mom" perspective the writer provided as she and her family zigzagged through India.

Pam Linne
00:13 AM December 05, 2012

Ellen's blog ROCKS! I can't wait for it to be a book - it's that good. Ellen is knowledgeable, insightful and tells a story with great humor. I love her pespective! Thanks for sharing your life with us! :)

Diane
00:52 AM December 05, 2012

Ellen's writing helped me feel as if I had an inside view into a culture that is totally foreign, and probably misunderstood, to me. Her storytelling was engaging and made even better reading knowing that what she wrote was "real life".

J
02:11 AM December 05, 2012

Absolutely superb, felt like I was there with her!

Michelle
02:13 AM December 05, 2012

This blog is amazing! I felt like I was a part of the journey with Ellen and her family. Thank you so much for sharing your insights, Ellen. You are a great writer!

Sheri
03:01 AM December 05, 2012

I loved reading Ellen's blog when she and her family where in India! It was fun to explore the country and other places they visited along with her and her family. Of course, we are glad to have them back home where they belong now though!

Naomi
10:13 AM December 05, 2012

Your blog was what got me through the early days - pre-move to Delhi!! I remember asking what I could do to repay you and you said to simply "pass it on" ... and DelhiBound was born! Thank you for sharing all of your wisdom and experience about India!

Carol Graham
10:25 AM December 05, 2012

This blog is absolutely wonderful! What experiences the whole family had. I journed to places that I have not visited. Hope Ellen will continue to write - she is very talented.

Julia
13:37 PM December 05, 2012

At turns funny, touching, and revealing, Ellen always brought you with her as she discovered and experienced India. What a terrific vicarious journey. Thanks!

Carol
14:09 PM December 05, 2012

Our whole family enjoyed Ellen's retelling of her experiences in India! We love her honesty, her wit, and her unique way of reflecting on whatever the day may bring.

Mary
14:16 PM December 05, 2012

I loved keeping up with Ellen's blog and experiences in India! What great insight she provided us all back in the US! She is a thoughtful writer with rare insight!

Liz
15:14 PM December 05, 2012

Ellen offers a unique lens to any story she composes. These authentic perspectives keep me coming back for more! Inspiring....

Mary Ann
19:06 PM December 05, 2012

I shall never eat another grapefruit and not think of Ellen trying to hide the grapefruit one of the help had so meticulously prepared for her (unaware that Ellen does not like grapefruit)!

Holly
21:10 PM December 05, 2012

I loved reading about Ellen and her family's experiences in India!

Mary
21:55 PM December 05, 2012

I loved experiencing life in India with Ellen though this blog. A wonderful, funny, and touching look into life as an expat!!

Sally
23:34 PM December 05, 2012

Insightful, personal, and always witty, Ellen writes with just the right combination to pull you in and keep you there. She made a seemingly unreal India very real for her readers. Bravo Ellen!

Sherry Baldwin
18:50 PM December 06, 2012

Love Ellen and love her blog!

Shaista
19:58 PM December 06, 2012

Loved the journey with Ellen!

Amy Reeves
00:33 AM December 07, 2012

I think Ellen's writing is awesome. I have learned so much from her posts :-)

Andrea
19:01 PM December 08, 2012

Ellen's writing is as inspirational as she is - please keep the ink flowing ~ or the keyboard tapping!!

Lee Kersey
14:37 PM December 09, 2012

Interesting, informative, heart-warming, and fun all at the same time.

Scott
16:57 PM December 10, 2012

I lived this experience with Ellen and still enjoyed recapturing the moments through her writing.

Michelle Shoaf
15:51 PM December 11, 2012

I really enjoyed reading about the adventures of Ellen and her family in India. Her writing took me to a place I have never been and gave me glimpses into the country, the people and customs. Great blog, thanks so much for sharing!

Amy S.
16:00 PM December 11, 2012

Ellen has a refreshing pespective on daily family activities and tourism. Her writing is truthful and engaging. I enjoyed reading her observational approach to sharing the reality of living in India. Ellen never disappoints her readers.

Connie Janke
17:17 PM December 11, 2012

Ellen, I love reading about India through your unique lens. YOu make me laugh and think! And your posts about family life make me smile. Hugs to the kids!

Bruce Peters
20:42 PM December 11, 2012

Great reading, very insightful. Your situations made me laugh, since I can sort of relate after having done a fair amount of traveling to Asia over the years.

Megan
02:46 AM December 12, 2012

I love reading Ellen's blog. It really taught me things about the culture of India that I didn't know. Thank you!!

Vik Balani
02:52 AM December 13, 2012

She writes as she experiences the events and you can "see" the place along with the local culture. I am original from Delhi, I could relive my days of the places in Delhi. Very well written blogs. Must read